LESSON 10
Some Handy Nouns
Korean nouns occur in three different types of construction:
(1) Followed by a PARTICLE (Lessons 12, 13, 14) which shows the grammatical relationship of the noun to the rest of the sentence— whether it is the subject or object or place of the action.
Hakgyo-ga keoyo.
학교가 커요.
The school is big.
Hakgyo-reul bwayo.
학교를 봐요.
I see the school.
Hakgyo-eseo gongbu haeyo.
학교에서 공부해요.
I study at school.
(2) Followed by the verb ieyo equals: is (Lesson 8) as the B part of the formula (A) = B.
Geu geonmul hakgyo-ieyo. That (building) is a school.
그 건물 학교예요.
(3) Before another noun or a noun phrase which it modifies (describes).
Hakgyo seonsaeng.
학교 선생.
A school teacher.
A Korean noun like chaek = book means all of these: a book, some books, any books, the books. You usually have to tell from the context whether the noun is plural, definite, or whatnot. There is a plural indicator deul = group often added at the end of a noun or noun phrase, but you can’t count. The plural deul (들) is almost always used when referring to a group of people (e.g. 그 사람들, geu saramdeul—it would be weird to just say 그 사람 geu saram, to mean more than one person). However, it is only sometimes used for other nouns, usually only when the speaker wants to clarify/emphasize that there are several of an object. Chaek deul means books but then so does chaek all by itself.
Here are some handy common nouns:
| yeonpil | pencil | 연필 |
| jongi | paper | 종이 |
| sinmun | newspaper | 신문 |
| dambae | cigarette | 담배 |
| gabang | briefcase, suitcase, handbag | 가방 |
| gongchaek | notebook | 공책 |
| jip | house | 집 |
| maejeom | stand, small shop | 매점 |
| sangjeom | store | 상점 |
| jang, sijang | market | 장, 시장 |
| ucheguk | post office | 우체국 |
| eumsikjeom | restaurant | 음식점 |
| gongjang | factory | 공장 |
| samusil | office | 사무실 |
| sang | table | 상 |
| chaeksang | desk | 책상 |
| uija | chair | 의자 |
| hwajangsil | toilet | 화장실 |
| jumeoni | 주머니 | |
| bul | fire | 불 |
| mul | water | 물 |
| sul | liquor | 술 |
| binu | soap | 비누 |
| sugeon | towel | 수건 |
| utdori | shirt | 웃도리 |
| baji | trousers | 바지 |
| yangmal | socks | 양말 |
| gudu | dress shoes | 구두 |
| sinbal | shoes | 신발 |
| jaket, koteu | overcoat | 자켓, 코트 |
| moja | hat | 모자 |
| keompyuteo | computer | 컴퓨터 |
| hyudaepon / haendeupon | cell phone | 휴대폰/핸드폰 |
| gonghang | airport | 공항 |
| taeksi | taxi | 택시 |
| hotel | hotel | 호텔 |
| namja | man, boy | 남자 |
| yoeja | woman, girl | 여자 |
| chima | skirt | 치마 |