topik upgrade · topik, upgrade, people
People & roles: TOPIK I → II in Korean
Upgrade your Korean people words from TOPIK I to II! 🔴 사람 [saram] - person

How these words work together
This chart shows common Korean words for people and roles, comparing basic TOPIK I vocabulary with more advanced TOPIK II terms. TOPIK I words are simple and often used in daily conversation, while TOPIK II words are more formal or specific. Learning both helps you understand different levels of Korean and use the right word in various situations.
Words in this chart
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 사람 | saram | person (TOPIK I) |
| 인원 | inwon | person (TOPIK II) |
| 친구 | chingu | friend (TOPIK I) |
| 지인 | jiin | friend (TOPIK II) |
| 사장 | sajang | boss (TOPIK I) |
| 대표 | daepyo | boss (TOPIK II) |
| 직장 동료 | jikjang dongnyo | coworker (TOPIK I) |
| 동료 | dongnyo | coworker (TOPIK II) |
| 손님 | sonnim | customer (TOPIK I) |
| 고객 | gogaek | customer (TOPIK II) |
| 학생 | haksaeng | student (TOPIK I) |
| 수강생 | sugangsaeng | student (TOPIK II) |
| 선생님 | seonsaengnim | teacher (TOPIK I) |
| 강사 | gangsa | teacher (TOPIK II) |
| 가족 | gajok | family (TOPIK I) |
| 가족 구성원 | gajok guseongwon | family (TOPIK II) |
Example sentences
저는 친구와 함께 공원에 갔어요.
I went to the park with my friend.
우리 회사 대표님은 아주 친절하세요.
The boss of our company is very kind.
학생들은 선생님 말씀을 잘 들어요.
The students listen carefully to the teacher.
Practice these words in context? Open the vocab quiz · Browse how-to-say word guides.