Korean Living Culture, Food, and Transportation Vocabulary

Transportation Vocabulary

Transportation vocabulary is a field in which the names of vehicles, the places where you get on and off them, and the words for fares and tickets are learned together. Picture items ask you to choose a name by looking at a vehicle's shape and where it moves, and blank items ask you to choose a place or action that fits the context, so you need to learn the meanings of words together with the words that go with them.

Vehicles are distinguished by where they move, how many wheels they have, and whether they use human power. A vehicle that runs on roads on the ground is a car or bus, one that runs on rails underground is a subway, and one that flies in the sky is an airplane. A vehicle that moves when a person pedals is a bicycle. If you think of this criterion first, you can quickly rule out wrong choices in picture items.

• 자전거 (bicycle) — A vehicle with two wheels, a seat, and pedals that a person pushes to move. Example) 주말마다 자전거를 타고 강변을 달린다.
• 오토바이 (motorcycle) — A vehicle that runs on two wheels driven by an engine; it must be distinguished from a bicycle, which is moved by pedaling. Example) 오토바이를 타면 좁은 골목도 쉽게 지나갈 수 있다.
• 자동차 (car) — A general term for vehicles that run on roads with four wheels. Example) 가족과 자동차를 타고 바닷가에 갔다.
• 생산 (production) — Means making goods; when referring to where something was made, it is used as in '한국에서 생산된 차' ('car produced in Korea'). A car produced in Korea is called 국산차 (domestic car), and a car produced in a foreign country is called 수입차 (imported car).
• 택시 (taxi) — A passenger car that carries customers, charges a fare, and runs on roads. Example) 짐이 많아서 택시를 불러 집까지 갔다.
• 비행기 (airplane) — A vehicle with wings and engines that flies in the sky; people get on and off it at an airport. Example) 방학에 비행기를 타고 고향에 다녀왔다.
• 고속버스 (express bus) — A large bus that runs quickly between cities and carries many people. Example) 고속버스 터미널에서 친구를 만났다.
• 기차와 열차 (train and train service) — 기차 is a vehicle that runs on railway tracks. When referring to a train that arrives at or leaves a station, the word 열차 is often used. Example) 열차가 역에 들어오고 있어서 승강장 안전선 밖에서 기다렸다.
• 케이티엑스(KTX) (Korea Train Express) — The fastest high-speed train among trains. It is faster than 무궁화호 (Mugunghwa) and 새마을호 (Saemaeul), but its fare tends to be expensive. Example) 케이티엑스를 타면 장거리 이동 시간이 크게 줄어든다.
• 지하철 (subway) — An urban railway that runs on tracks underground. Unlike roads, where traffic jams occur, it runs along tracks, so it can move quickly. Example) 지하철을 타고 회사에 출근했다.
• 편리하다와 불편하다 (convenient and inconvenient) — 편리하다 means easy to use and good, and 불편하다 means difficult to use. Example) 역이 집 가까이 있어서 지하철이 편리하다.
• 지하도, 육교, 횡단보도 (underpass, footbridge, crosswalk) — Facilities for people to cross or walk along roads, so they are not vehicles one rides. Example) 횡단보도에서 초록불을 기다렸다.
• 공항과 항구 (airport and port) — An airport is where airplanes take off and land, and a port is where ships come and go. Example) 외국에서 오는 동생을 공항에서 기다렸다.
• 정류장 (bus stop) — A place where you get on and off a bus. Example) 정류장에서 버스를 기다렸다.
• 매표소 (ticket office) — A place that sells train or subway tickets. The sign for a ticket office is shown with a picture of a hand holding out a ticket.
• 편도와 왕복 (one-way and round-trip) — 편도 is a ticket for travel in one direction only, and 왕복 means both the outbound and return trips. Example) 왕복 표를 사면 돌아오는 길도 함께 이용할 수 있다.
• 예매 (advance booking) — Buying a ticket in advance. Example) 명절 전에 기차표를 예매해 두었다.
• 요금, 잔돈, 현금 (fare, change, cash) — 요금 is the money paid to use transportation, 잔돈 is the money returned to you as change, and 현금 is a way of paying with money. Example) 택시 요금이 생각보다 많이 나왔다.
• 나이에 따른 요금 (age-based fares) — Transportation fares are often set differently depending on whether the passenger is an adult or a child. Example) 어린이는 어른보다 싼 요금을 낸다.
• 시티 투어 버스 (city tour bus) — A sightseeing bus operated to take passengers around the tourist spots of a city in order. Example) 시티 투어 버스로 시내의 명소를 한 바퀴 돌았다.
• 구경하다와 보다 (to sightsee and to watch) — 구경하다 means to walk around and look at famous places or sites, and it must be distinguished from watching a drama or movie on a screen. Example) 주말에 고궁을 구경했다.
• 교통카드와 표 (transit card and ticket) — Subway tickets differ in shape and material by country and city. In Korea, besides paper tickets, you can ride using a transit card.
• 노선과 노선도 (route and route map) — 노선 refers to one fixed path that a bus or subway follows. 노선도 is a map that shows, with pictures, the route a subway runs on, station names, and transfer stations. However, bus stop names do not appear on the subway route map.
• 버스 노선 안내판 (bus route information board) — The board set up at a stop shows the bus numbers that pass that stop and their destinations. Example) 안내판을 보고 도서관 쪽으로 가는 버스 번호를 확인했다.
• 항공편 요금 비교 (comparing airfares) — In guides that show travel time and fare for each airline together, compare only the fare column to choose the airline with the lowest fare.
• 열차 안내판과 지연 (train information board and delay) — The train board shows departure time, arrival time, and delay time. 지연 means being later than the scheduled time. Example) 열차가 지연되어 한 시간 뒤에 도착했다.
• 역 표지와 화살표 (station sign and arrow) — The arrow on a station sign points in the direction the train is traveling, so the station on the opposite side of the arrow is the station already passed. Example) 화살표가 가리키는 역이 다음 역이다.

Korean Food Vocabulary

Food vocabulary centers on distinguishing words that broadly refer to things that are eaten from words that refer to the role something plays within a meal. If the two levels are mixed, it becomes difficult to choose the correct answer.

음식(food) is a broad term for anything that people can eat. When referring to 김치찌개(kimchi jjigae) and 비빔밥(bibimbap) together, 「음식」(food) is used.

반찬(side dish) refers to food eaten together with rice. 김치(kimchi), 고기(meat), 생선(fish), 나물(seasoned vegetables), and so on belong to 반찬. The ingredients of 반찬 are usually meat, fish, and vegetables. 우유(milk) is a drink, so it is not included in 반찬.

후식(dessert) is food eaten after finishing a meal. Sweet fruit or tea falls into this category, so it must be distinguished from 반찬 eaten with rice. 과자(confectionery) is a kind of 간식(snack), and 식당(restaurant) is a place that sells food, so it does not refer to the act of eating itself.

간식(snack) is light food eaten between meals. 떡볶이(tteokbokki) is 떡(rice cake) cooked in 고추장(red chili paste) seasoning. It is spicy, easy to make, and a representative snack sold even on the street.

국(soup) is food cooked with a lot of water. 미역국(seaweed soup) and 콩나물국(bean sprout soup) are representative examples, and there is more broth than in 찌개. 찌개(stew) is food cooked with a small amount of water, with 된장(soybean paste), 고추장, 소금(salt), 간장(soy sauce), and so on added. Therefore, 찌개 tends to have a stronger salty taste than 국. Like 된장찌개(soybean paste stew) and 순두부찌개(soft tofu stew), 찌개 is named according to its ingredients and seasonings.

Koreans usually eat 국 or 찌개 together when eating rice. A meal consists of 밥(rice), 국 or 찌개, and various 반찬, and 국 and 찌개 are usually eaten hot.

차림표(menu) is a list of the names and prices of food sold at a restaurant. Food that is not on the 차림표 is not sold at that restaurant. 인분(serving) is a unit for counting the number of people who eat food. 찌개 3인분 means an amount for three people to eat.

Words describing the taste of food include 짜다(salty), 싱겁다(bland), 맵다(spicy), 달다(sweet), 시다(sour), and so on. 짜다 means a strong taste of salt or soy sauce, and 싱겁다 means not salty, so the taste is weak. 맵다(spicy) refers to a hot taste from 고춧가루(red pepper powder) or 고추장. When you make 김치, if you add a lot of 고춧가루, the 김치 becomes 맵다. 달다 is a sweet taste and 시다 is a sour taste, so these taste words must be used carefully and distinguished from each other.

김치(kimchi) is made by adding 소금(salt), 고춧가루(red pepper powder), 마늘(garlic), 파(green onion), and so on to vegetables such as 배추(napa cabbage), 무(radish), and 오이(cucumber). 배추김치(napa cabbage kimchi), made with 배추, is the most representative kimchi.

• 깍두기 — Kimchi made by cutting radish into small square pieces. 예) 깍두기는 밥과 잘 어울리는 반찬이다.
• 오이김치 — Kimchi made with cucumber. 예) 오이김치는 아삭한 식감이 특징이다.
• 총각김치 — Kimchi made with 총각무(young radish). 예) 총각김치는 무를 통째로 담근다.

국수(noodles) has different names and features depending on how it is eaten. 온면(warm noodles) is eaten with warm broth, and 냉면(cold noodles) is eaten cold. Noodles eaten without broth, mixed with seasoning, are 비빔국수(mixed noodles). 콩국수(noodles in cold soy milk) is noodles eaten in broth made by grinding soybeans, so you must remember that the main ingredient is soybeans.

In the past, Koreans mainly ate rice cooked from grain. 국수 was eaten as a special food at festive occasions such as birthdays or weddings.

비빔밥(bibimbap) is food made by placing 나물(seasoned vegetables) and meat on top of rice, adding 고추장 and other seasonings, and mixing everything together before eating. Since the name comes from 「비비다」(to mix), it is easy to remember by thinking of the way it is mixed and eaten. The ingredients of 비빔밥 are rice, meat, and 나물 such as 콩나물(bean sprouts) and 도라지(bellflower root). Fish is not an ingredient in typical 비빔밥. It is considered a one-dish meal because it contains many 나물, so no separate 반찬 is needed.

파전(green onion pancake) is food made by cutting 파(green onion), mixing it with a flour batter, and cooking it in a frying pan with 식용유(cooking oil) added. Its basic ingredients are 파 and 밀가루(flour). When 해물(seafood) such as 오징어(squid), 새우(shrimp), and 굴(oyster) are added, it becomes 해물파전(seafood green onion pancake). 해물 refers to food ingredients from the sea.

When counting food, you must choose a unit that fits the container or the nature of the object.

• 공기 — Used to count bowls of rice. 예) 밥 두 공기를 준비했다.
• 그릇 — Used to count food served in a bowl, such as noodles, soup, or cold noodles. 예) 국수 한 그릇을 먹었다.
• 병 — Used to count bottles of drinks or alcohol. 예) 우유 한 병을 마셨다.
• 마리 — Used to count animals such as fish or chickens. 예) 생선 한 마리를 구웠다.
• 켤레 — Used to count things that come in pairs, such as shoes or socks. 예) 양말 두 켤레를 샀다.
• 송이 — Used to count things bunched together on one stem, such as flowers or grapes. 예) 포도 두 송이를 씻었다.

If the total value of several bowls is written, divide it by the number of bowls to find the price of one bowl.

The verb used with a noun depends on the object. 음식(food) and 약(medicine) are used with 「먹다」(to eat), and 물(water) and 음료(drinks) are used with 「마시다」(to drink). 「고기를 먹다」(to eat meat) is correct, but 「고기를 마시다」 is not. 「입다」(to wear) is used for clothes, and 「가르치다」(to teach) is used for knowledge or skills. Negation is expressed by inserting 「안」(not) as in 「돼지고기를 안 먹다」(to not eat pork).

Texts that explain how to cook present the ingredients, the order, and the method in sequence. For the title of such a text, it is appropriate to combine the name of the dish with 「만들기」(making). A title that refers to a broader category, such as 「김치 만들기」(making kimchi), does not match a text about one dish.

Whether a restaurant mentioned in a text is a place visited yesterday or a place one plans to visit today is distinguished by time expressions. 「어제 갔다」(went yesterday) and 「오늘 가려고 한다」(plan to go today) refer to events at different times. 쌀국수(rice noodle soup) is a Vietnamese food, while 불고기(bulgogi) and 냉면 are Korean foods.

불고기(bulgogi) is a Korean dish of grilled marinated beef. When saying which food you like best, express it as 「그중에서 ○○을 제일 좋아하다」(Among them, I like ○○ the best). 「-기 때문에」(because) is an expression that indicates a reason. Write it by attaching the reason before it, as in 「비싸기 때문에 자주 먹지 못하다」(cannot eat it often because it is expensive).

김밥(gimbap) is food made by rolling 밥 and various ingredients in 김(dried seaweed sheets). It is divided into types according to the filling, such as 소고기 김밥(beef gimbap) and 참치 김밥(tuna gimbap).

In a pie chart, the largest slice is the item that was chosen most often. Comparing the proportions of the slices shows which food people like best.

Transportation Vocabulary

Transportation vocabulary asks about the names of vehicles that carry people and goods, the places where vehicles come and go, fares and tickets, and signs that guide the way. To choose the correct answer, you must distinguish vehicle names by where they run, how many people they carry, and what goods they carry.

• 택시(taxi) — A passenger car that carries customers to their destination and charges a fare. A car with a light on its roof is a taxi, so it must be distinguished from an ordinary passenger car.
• 요금과 표(fare and ticket) — A fare is the money you pay when using a means of transportation, and a ticket is the boarding pass or admission ticket you buy when using a train, airplane, theater, and so on. Example: 택시 요금이 비싸서 버스를 탄다. (I take the bus because the taxi fare is expensive.)
• 잔돈·현금·예매(change, cash, advance booking) — Change is the coins or bills you get back after paying for something and having money left over. Cash is the method of paying money directly, and advance booking (예매) means buying a ticket in advance. When booking an airline ticket, check the departure and arrival places, seat class, and passenger category.
• 공항(airport) — A place where airplanes take off and land. It must be distinguished from a port or train station because it is where you go to meet people arriving by airplane.
• 항구·정류장·기차역(port, stop, train station) — A port is where ships come and go, a stop is where you get on and off a bus or taxi, and a train station is where trains come and go. When train tickets are sold out, you can check seats for other transportation at the 고속버스 터미널(intercity bus terminal).
• 열차(train) — 열차 is another word for train, used when announcing that a train is entering the platform at the train station.
• 화물차·지게차·승합차·구급차(truck, forklift, van, ambulance) — A 화물차(truck) is a truck with a wide cargo bed at the back for loading and carrying goods. A 지게차(forklift) is equipment that lifts and moves loads, a 승합차(van) is a vehicle that carries many people, and a 구급차(ambulance) is a vehicle that carries patients to a hospital.
• 표지(signs) — A sign for the subway combines the letter 'M' with a train picture. Parking is shown as 'P', bicycles are shown by a picture of a person riding a bicycle, and trucks are shown by a truck picture.
• 방향 표지(direction sign) — On a direction sign on a subway station wall, the arrow points in the direction the train is going. The next station is on the side the arrow points to, and the station just before the current one is on the opposite side.
• 지하철 노선도(subway route map) — A subway route map shows the lines, station names, and stations where you can transfer. Stations where two lines meet are marked with a '갈아타는 곳'(transfer point) sign.
• 지하철의 특징과 노선도의 한계(features of the subway and limits of the route map) — The subway is a train that mainly runs underground, and you check how many lines there are on the route map. Bus stop names do not appear on the subway route map, so you cannot find a bus stop using the route map.
• 버스 노선 안내판(bus route information board) — Find the route number that passes the destination from your current location. Each route passes different stops, so you must choose the number on which the destination is written.
• 탈것을 타고 가는 표현(expressions for traveling by vehicle) — Transportation is expressed with '-을/를 타고'(by riding), as in '버스를 타고 학교에 가다'(to go to school by bus). In questions asking which vehicle someone travels by, choose the answer based on this expression.
• 오토바이와 자전거(motorcycle and bicycle) — A motorcycle is a vehicle that runs on two wheels, and saying you commute by motorcycle is the same as '오토바이로 출근하다'(to commute by motorcycle). A bicycle is a vehicle that a person moves by pressing the pedals, and it is used as '자전거를 타다'(to ride a bicycle).
• 교통수단 비교(comparison of transportation) — The subway is not affected by road congestion, so it does not get stuck in traffic. Buses take a long time when roads are jammed, and taxis are fast and convenient but expensive. When choosing transportation, compare speed, traffic jams, and fares.
• 교통 형용사(transportation adjectives) — 편리하다(convenient) means that something can be used quickly and easily, and 불편하다(inconvenient) is the opposite. 가깝다(near) is used for distance, and 빠르다(fast) is used for time. When filling in a blank, choose the meaning based on the grounds in the sentences before and after.
• 지하철 요금과 교통카드(subway fare and transportation card) — Subway fare depends on the distance traveled, so it becomes more expensive the farther you go. A transportation card is a card you tap when boarding the subway, and there are single-use transportation cards and regular transportation cards. Ticket designs and fare methods differ by city, so you must distinguish which city a description refers to.
• 자동차 생산지(place of car production) — Cars made in Korea are called 국산차(domestic car), and cars made in other countries are called 수입차(imported car). When a question asks about the place of production, you must know that '생산되다'(to be produced) and '만들다'(to make) are used with the same meaning.

Korean Food Vocabulary

For foods whose names reveal how they are cooked or eaten, such as '비빔밥'(bibimbap, mixed rice), you must know the meaning of that action. Korean food names often include the way the ingredients are handled.

• 비비다(to mix) — To mix several ingredients together by stirring them with the hands or a spoon. Bibimbap is eaten by mixing rice and ingredients together, which is why it has this name. Example: 밥에 나물과 고추장을 넣고 비벼 먹었다. (I added namul and gochujang to the rice and mixed them before eating.)
• 비빔밥의 재료(ingredients of bibimbap) — The basic ingredients of bibimbap are rice, meat, namul, and gochujang. Fish is not an ingredient of bibimbap, so you must distinguish it when choosing ingredients.
• 나물(namul) — A side dish made by blanching or stir-frying vegetables, mushrooms, and so on, then seasoning and dressing them. Example: 시금치나물을 참기름에 무쳤다. (I seasoned spinach namul with sesame oil.)
• 고추장(gochujang) — A red paste made from red pepper powder, glutinous rice, and so on. When added to bibimbap, it gives a spicy and sweet flavor.

Exercise and Leisure Activity Vocabulary

Vocabulary for exercise and leisure activities must be learned together with the verb used alongside it, not as a noun by itself, so that you can choose the correct answer. Even for the same activity, the verb changes: '하다' (to do), '타다' (to ride), '보다' (to watch), and '부르다' (to sing).

• Choosing among 하다, 타다, 보다, and 부르다 — Sports games and activities are expressed with '하다' (to do). Things you ride by climbing onto them and moving, such as bicycles or skis, are expressed with '타다' (to ride). Movies are used with '보다' (to watch), and singing aloud is expressed with '부르다' (to sing). Ex) 친구와 축구를 하고 자전거를 탄다. (I play soccer with a friend and ride a bicycle.)
• Doing gymnastics (체조를 하다) — This means moving the body regularly to loosen and train the muscles. Exercises in which several people move their arms and legs together also belong to gymnastics. Ex) 아침마다 공원에서 체조를 한다. (Every morning I do gymnastics in the park.)
• Neck, waist, and leg exercises — You must learn the body part together with the movement. Turning or tilting the neck sideways is a neck exercise, and bending the waist or lifting the legs are waist exercises and leg exercises, respectively. Ex) 목을 돌리는 운동을 하면 뻣뻣한 목이 풀린다. (Doing neck-rolling exercises loosens a stiff neck.)
• Riding a bicycle (자전거를 타다) — This is an activity of getting on a bicycle and pedaling to move. For bicycles, the verb is '타다', not '하다'. You can also ride a bicycle along a riverside path or on a riverbank. Ex) 휴일 아침에 강변 길에서 자전거를 탄다. (On a holiday morning I ride a bicycle along the riverside path.)
• Hiking (등산을 하다, 등산을 가다) — This is an activity of climbing a mountain. Since '등산' is a noun, it is used as '등산을 하다' or '등산을 가다'. Hiking is a typical leisure activity done with friends on days off. Ex) 휴일에 친구와 산에 등산을 간다. (On a holiday I go hiking in the mountains with a friend.)
• Playground and soccer (운동장과 축구) — A 운동장 is a large place where sports games such as soccer and basketball are played. You must learn the place and the activity together. Ex) 방과 후에 운동장에서 축구를 한다. (After school I play soccer on the playground.)
• Kinds of sports — Games and activities that move the body, such as soccer, basketball, badminton, and swimming, are all called 운동 (exercise or sport). So when asked what sport you like, you answer with a sport name such as 축구 (soccer). Ex) 나는 농구를 가장 좋아한다. (I like basketball the most.)
• The largest item on a graph — In a pie graph, the item occupying the largest section is the answer chosen by the most people. Therefore, in a survey about favorite sports or things people want to do, you must find the largest section of the graph. Ex) 조사에서 가장 큰 부분을 차지하는 운동이 가장 인기가 많은 운동이다. (The sport that occupies the largest part of the survey is the most popular sport.)
• Going on a trip (여행을 가다), resting at home (집에서 쉬다) — These phrases describe leisure activities done on weekends. Travel is an activity of going to a faraway place, and resting is an activity of taking a break at home. Both activities appear in leisure activity survey graphs. Ex) 휴가에는 여행을 가려고 계획한다. (For the vacation, I plan to go on a trip.)
• Fishing (낚시를 하다) — This is an activity of dropping a fishing rod and line into the water to catch fish. It is done at waterside places such as the sea or a river, and also on breakwaters or rocks by the sea. Ex) 바다에서 낚시를 하며 하루를 보낸다. (I spend the day fishing in the sea.)
• Skiing (스키를 타다) — This is a winter activity of sliding down snow while wearing skis. The place where you ski is a 스키장 (ski resort). Ex) 겨울에 스키장에서 스키를 타 보고 싶다. (I want to try skiing at a ski resort in winter.)
• Facility names and activities — 수영장 (swimming pool) is where you swim, 축구장 (soccer field) is where you play soccer, and 농구장 (basketball court) is where you play basketball. Civic parks often have these exercise facilities together. However, the facilities and activities of a civic park differ from region to region, so you must check the list of facilities. Ex) 이 공원에는 수영장과 농구장이 있다. (This park has a swimming pool and a basketball court.)
• Watching (구경하다) — This means watching without taking part directly. It is used when watching a game or exhibition, and also when looking at goods without buying them. Ex) 전시회에 가서 그림을 구경만 하고 돌아왔다. (I went to the exhibition, only looked at the paintings, and came back.)
• Watching a movie (영화를 보다) — A movie is something you see with your eyes, so it is paired with '보다' (to watch). You cannot say '영화를 하다' or '영화를 쓰다'. Ex) 주말에 집에서 영화를 본다. (On weekends I watch movies at home.)
• Singing a song (노래를 부르다) — This means singing by producing sound with your voice. It is used when you sing at a karaoke room. You can also express how well or poorly you sing, as in '노래를 잘 못 부르다' (to not sing well). Ex) 노래방에 가면 친구들과 노래를 부른다. (When we go to a karaoke room, I sing songs with my friends.)
• Hobby (취미) — This means an activity that you enjoy doing. It must be distinguished from name, age, and personality. Ex) 나의 취미는 사진 찍기이다. (My hobby is taking photographs.)
• Taking a walk (산책하다) — This is an activity of walking lightly while looking around you. It differs from walking exercise in that you walk slowly. Ex) 저녁을 먹고 공원을 산책한다. (After dinner I take a walk in the park.)
• Relieving stress (스트레스를 풀다) — This means removing tension and fatigue through exercise, walks, hiking, or meeting friends. Talking with friends while drinking alcohol can also be a way to relieve stress. Ex) 산책을 하면 하루의 스트레스가 풀린다. (Taking a walk relieves the stress of the day.)
• Walking exercise and fitness clubs — Walking exercise is walking at a brisk pace for a set amount of time. A 헬스클럽 (fitness club) is a place where you exercise indoors using exercise equipment. Some people go to a fitness club when there is no park or mountain near their home. Ex) 퇴근 후 집 근처를 빠르게 걷는 운동을 한다. (After work I do walking exercise by walking quickly near my home.)
• Exercise done in a park (공원에서 하는 운동) — In parks, many people do exercises such as badminton and running. A park is a place where you can exercise and rest at the same time. Ex) 아침에 공원에서 달리기를 하는 사람이 많다. (Many people run in the park in the morning.)
• Athlete (선수) — This means a person who competes in technical skill in a sports event. It is attached after the name of the event, as in 축구 선수 (soccer player), 달리기 선수 (runner), and 높이뛰기 선수 (high jumper). Ex) 그는 어릴 때부터 꿈이 야구 선수이다. (Since childhood, his dream has been to become a baseball player.)

Payment and Calculation Vocabulary

Payment and calculation vocabulary refers to the ways of paying for goods or service fees and the words used in the calculation process. Learners should study it under four headings: types of money, means of payment, receipts and change, and price calculation on a menu.

Money is divided into paper bills (지폐) and metal coins (동전). A machine that takes coins, such as a public telephone, cannot be used with bills alone. A vending machine or ticket machine has separate slots for bills and coins. When the change return button is pressed, the remaining money comes out. Some machines accept only bills of a certain denomination, so the sign next to the slot shows which units of money can be accepted.

A means of payment is a way of paying for goods.

• Cash (현금) — Paying immediately with bills or coins. At shops where cards cannot be used, you ask to pay in cash. Example) 카드가 안 되면 현금으로 계산할게요. (If the card does not work, I will pay in cash.)
• Credit card (신용카드) — A card that lets you pay for goods later. It shows the card number and the logo of an international card brand, which distinguishes it from other cards.
• Easily confused cards (헷갈리는 카드) — A transportation card (교통카드) is used to pay bus or subway fares, an employee ID card (사원증) shows that you are a company employee, and a driver's license (운전면허증) proves your qualification to drive. Their uses differ from a credit card used for payment.

A receipt (영수증) is a certificate you receive when you pay money. It records the name of each item purchased, the unit price (단가), the quantity (수량), the amount (금액), the total (합계), the amount received (받은 돈), and the change (거스름돈). A receipt is needed to prove the purchase when exchanging or refunding goods, so it is good to keep the receipt after buying something.

The total on a receipt is the sum of the prices of all the goods bought. The amount received is the money the customer gave, so you must distinguish between the total the customer has to pay and the amount received.

Change is the amount left after subtracting the total from the amount received. In a formula, change = amount received − total. For example, if the total is 6,000 won and you paid 10,000 won, the change is 4,000 won. You must not mistake the change for the price of the goods. Change is money the customer gets back, so you should read the total, which is the price of the goods, and the change separately.

The unit price is the price of one item or one bowl, and the amount is the unit price multiplied by the quantity. In a formula, amount = unit price × quantity. When you buy several of the same bottle, the total value is found with this formula. When you know the total amount and want the price of one bowl, divide the total amount by the quantity. For example, if you bought 3 items for 6,000 won, the unit price of one item is 2,000 won. When you buy several different items, add the amounts of each item to find the total.

When comparing prices on a menu, you say things like '가장 비싼' (most expensive), '제일 싼' (cheapest), and '두 번째로 싼' (second cheapest). If the question sets a category, you must compare prices only within that range. If two dishes have the same price, you must judge them as '같다' (the same). Saying that one is more expensive when the prices are equal makes the description wrong. '2인분' (two servings) means the amount for two people, and the prices on a menu are listed based on that amount.

A fare (요금) is the money paid for a service such as a train or bus, while a price (가격) is the cost of buying a product. When asking the cost of a service, you ask '요금이 얼마인지' (how much the fare is). Example) 버스 요금은 얼마예요? (How much is the bus fare?)

For a target marked '무료' (free) on an admission fee table, you pay no money. Since '무료' means the fee is 0 won, it is not added when calculating the total.

The checkout counter (계산대) is the place in a shop where the price of the goods the customer has chosen is calculated. Unlike a bank or post office, it is the place where you pay for goods. '여기 있습니다' (Here you are) is what you say when handing ordered goods to a customer. It is used naturally in the flow of stating the total after handing over the goods.

Reading Airplane and Train Tickets

Tickets and boarding passes list the departure, destination, date, time, seat, and fare in designated boxes, so you must know what each box means in order to find the necessary information quickly.

Train tickets are written in the order '출발역(departure station) → 도착역(arrival station)'. The station at the front is the departure point, and the station at the end is the destination. Stations passed along the way are intermediate stations, so choosing them as the departure or destination is wrong. Example: 천안에서 출발해 조치원을 거쳐 대구에 도착하는 승차권이라면 출발지는 천안, 도착지는 대구이다.

The destination is where the passenger gets off, so questions asking '어디에서 내리는가'(Where does one get off?) call for the destination. The departure is where one boards, so choosing it as the place to get off is wrong.

Airplane boarding passes are read in the same way. The destination printed on the boarding pass is where the airplane is going, and the departure is where one boards, so the two must not be read in reverse.

Questions about travel time are solved by calculating the difference between the departure time and the arrival time. If minutes are included, calculate including the minutes, and then choose the closest time. Example: 15시에 출발해 17시 30분에 도착하면 약 두 시간 반이 걸린다.

A common mistake is choosing the arrival time when asked how long something takes, or choosing the travel time when asked for the arrival time. The two mean different things, so you must distinguish '얼마나 걸리는가'(How long does it take?) from '몇 시에 도착하는가'(What time does it arrive?).

On a ticket, 운임(fare) is the train fare, 영수액(amount received) is the amount of money received, and 차비(transportation fare) refers to money spent on getting around. If 영수액 is the same amount as 운임, it means the money actually paid equals the fare.

When asking about price in conversation, use an expression that asks for the amount, such as '요금이 얼마예요?'(How much is the fare?). Even on the same route, the fare differs by train type, such as 새마을호 and KTX, so the answer should give the amount for each train type.

On a ticket, 차실(cabin class) refers to the type of cabin, as in 일반실(standard class), and 차호-좌석(car-seat) shows which car and which seat number. You must read the cabin class, car number, and seat number together to know your seat exactly.

On airline booking screens, seats are divided into classes such as 일반석(economy) and 비즈니스석(business), and the number of passengers is entered separately for 성인(adult) and 소아(child). Each passenger needs one ticket, so adding up the number of passengers gives the number of tickets.

편도(one-way) means buying a ticket only for the outbound trip, and 왕복(round trip) means buying tickets for both the outbound and return trips together. A round-trip booking screen shows two trips in which the departure and destination are reversed.

예매(advance booking) means buying a ticket in advance. In peak season, tickets sell out quickly, so use expressions for asking and answering whether one bought in advance, such as '예매했어요'(I booked it in advance). Similar verbs must also be distinguished. 연장하다(to extend) means increasing a period, 연락하다(to contact) means conveying news, and 도착하다(to arrive) means reaching a destination.

Tickets such as 승차권(train ticket) and 표(ticket) are thin paper, so they are counted with 장(counter for flat objects). Drinks in a cup are counted with 잔(counter for cups), floors of a building with 층(counter for floors), and cigarettes or small boxes with 갑(counter for packs), so the counting units must be distinguished.

Banking Vocabulary

Banking vocabulary refers to depositing, withdrawing, sending, and exchanging money. Even when dealing with the same money, the direction and object differ, so the meaning of each word must be distinguished.

환전(currency exchange) is changing one country's money into another country's money. Changing foreign money into Korean won is also 환전, and it takes place at a bank's exchange counter or at a sign labeled '환전'.

Bank counters are divided by service. 예금(deposit) means putting money into a bank, and 대출(loan) means borrowing money from a bank, so the two words have opposite directions. 송금(remittance) is a service for sending money to another person.

송금(remittance) is sending money to another person, and 계좌 이체(account transfer) is moving money from one bank account to another. Account transfers can also be done over the internet.

There are spelling errors that often occur in banking sentences. '찾다'(to find) is conjugated as '찾아요', and '만들다'(to make) as '만들어', so '찾어요' and '만드어' are incorrect spellings. Also, '-ㄹ게요'(polite promise ending) is written with a plain consonant, so '보낼게요' is correct, and the dependent noun '수' is written separated from the preceding word, as in '할 수 있어요'(can do).

입금(deposit) means putting money into a 통장(bankbook), and 출금(withdrawal) means taking money out of a 통장(bankbook). On an automated teller machine screen, press 출금(withdrawal) to take money out and 입금(deposit) to put money in.

조회(inquiry) means finding and checking information such as a balance or transaction history. 잔액(balance) is the money currently remaining in the account, so when you want to know how much money is left, press 잔액 조회(balance inquiry).

A bank is a place where you save money, send money to your hometown and others, and withdraw money when needed. Therefore, questions asking you to choose a place for saving money and remittance are answered based on the bank.

When opening a 통장(bankbook), an 신분증(ID card) is needed. '필요하다'(to need) means must have, so it is used when describing conditions. Its meaning differs from '위험하다'(to be dangerous), '조심하다'(to be careful), and '심심하다'(to be bored).

Bank hours should be read by distinguishing the opening time and the closing time separately. The opening time is the start of service hours, and the closing time is the end of service hours.

파출소(police box) is a police agency that directs traffic, helps lost children, and cracks down on vehicles that violate traffic laws. Lending money is the 대출(loan) business of a bank, so it is not the work of a 파출소.

Holiday Customs

A holiday (명절) is a major day that falls on a fixed date every year, when family and relatives gather and observe it according to tradition. The biggest holidays in Korea are Seollal (설날) and Chuseok (추석). '계절(season)' refers to the periods into which a year is divided, such as spring, summer, autumn, and winter, so it must be distinguished from 명절. Many people wear the traditional garment hanbok (한복) on holidays.

Seollal falls on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar and marks the first day of the new year. On the morning of Seollal, it is common to bow to ancestors and elders and to eat tteokguk (떡국, rice cake soup).

Bowing deeply to elders on Seollal to offer New Year greetings is called sebae (세배). Elders who receive sebae usually give children sebaetdon (세뱃돈, New Year's money). Because sebae is a Seollal custom, it is not a word for food or clothing. On Seollal, visitors also perform sebae for elders at the elders' homes, share holiday food, and enjoy yunnori (윷놀이, a traditional board game).

Chuseok falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month and is a holiday in autumn. Holiday dates are set according to the lunar calendar, so they should not be confused with solar calendar dates, which change every year. On Chuseok, songpyeon (송편, half-moon rice cakes) are made with rice harvested that year and eaten. Songpyeon represents Chuseok and must be distinguished from the tteokguk of Seollal.

On the morning of Chuseok, families prepare a charye table (차례상) and bow to their ancestors, and after charye is finished, they sometimes visit ancestral graves for seongmyo (성묘, grave visits). Because sebae is a Seollal custom, describing it as a Chuseok custom is an incorrect explanation.

After families gather and eat during a holiday, they sometimes dance and sing together. In this case, the verb '춤을 추다(to dance)' should be used, and '춤을 하다(to do a dance)' sounds unnatural. During the Seollal holiday, it is common to eat traditional foods and visit relatives' homes. Recently, more people enjoy exercise or travel during the holiday, but these activities should be distinguished from traditional customs.

• 명절 — A major day when families gather and observe traditions on a fixed date every year. Ex) 명절에는 고향에 내려가는 사람이 많다.
• 세배 — Bowing to elders on Seollal and offering New Year greetings. Ex) 아이들은 설날 아침에 할아버지께 세배를 드렸다.
• 세뱃돈 — Money that an elder gives to a child after receiving sebae. Ex) 설날이 지나면 받은 세뱃돈으로 학용품을 샀다.
• 차례 — A ritual of setting out food on the morning of a holiday and offering it to ancestors. Ex) 추석 아침이라 온 가족이 차례를 지냈다.
• 성묘 — Visiting an ancestor's grave to tend it and pay respects. Ex) 추석 연휴에 아버지와 함께 성묘를 갔다.
• 송편 — A rice cake made by steaming rice flour from newly harvested grain, eaten on Chuseok. Ex) 할머니는 추석 전날 송편을 빚으셨다.
• 떡국 — A soup with rice cake slices, eaten on the morning of Seollal. Ex) 설날 아침 가족들이 떡국을 나누어 먹었다.
• 윷놀이 — A representative traditional game played on Seollal. Ex) 설날 저녁에 온 가족이 윷놀이를 했다.

Transportation Cards and Bus Use

A transportation card (교통카드) is a card that is loaded in advance with money for paying public transportation fares, such as buses and subways. When boarding, the card is touched to the card reader (단말기), and the fare is deducted automatically. Because fares are lower than when paying with cash, many people use it.

A transportation card differs in use from a passport, an ID card, and a credit card. A passport is used when traveling between countries, an ID card is used to verify one's identity, and a credit card is used to pay for goods later. A transportation card is used to pay public transportation fares, so it is not used to open doors or withdraw money.

Transportation cards can be bought at subway stations, bus stops, convenience stores, and similar places, and when the fare runs out, the card can be recharged and used again. Taxi stands are not places that sell transportation cards.

Transportation cards can be used on buses, subways, and village buses, and fares can be discounted. Some taxis also accept transportation cards for payment. Trains cannot be boarded with a transportation card, so a ticket must be bought separately. A transportation card can be used for boarding even without cash, but it does not have a function for withdrawing cash from a bank.

A window that sells bus tickets or boarding tickets is called a maepyojo (매표소, ticket office). It differs in use from a bogwanso (보관소, luggage storage), where bags are left, so the two should be distinguished.

When getting off a bus, the stop bell must be pressed in advance for the bus to stop at the stop. If the bell is not pressed, the bus will not stop, and you may pass the place where you wanted to get off. Talking loudly on the phone inside a bus is against etiquette.

Subways are fast, but they are very crowded during commuting hours. Buses stop at every stop, so they take more time than subways. The two means of transportation differ in speed and crowding.

If a transportation card is lost, you can contact the card company to stop its use. There is also a transfer discount system, which allows you to switch to another means of transportation within the transfer time without paying an additional fare.

• 교통카드 — A card loaded in advance to pay public transportation fares. Ex) 교통카드를 충전해 두면 버스 요금을 따로 준비하지 않아도 된다.
• 단말기 — A machine that processes fare payment when a card is touched to it. Ex) 하차할 때도 단말기에 카드를 대야 한다.
• 충전 — Adding money to a card. Ex) 잔액이 부족해서 카드를 충전했다.
• 하차 — Getting off a vehicle. Ex) 하차 벨을 누르고 출입문 쪽으로 이동했다.
• 환승 — Switching from one means of transportation to another. Ex) 지하철에서 내려 버스로 환승했다.
• 매표소 — A place that sells boarding tickets or bus tickets. Ex) 기차표를 사려고 매표소 앞에 줄을 섰다.
• 분실 — Losing an item. Ex) 교통카드를 분실해서 카드 회사에 신고했다.

Housing Contract Vocabulary (월세(monthly rent)·보증금(deposit))

보증금(deposit) is a lump sum paid and left with the landlord when you sign a contract to rent a home. Because the landlord returns the deposit when you move out, it must be distinguished from the monthly housing payment.

월세(monthly rent) is the housing payment you pay to the landlord every month after paying the deposit. An amount marked '한 달에 얼마(how much per month)' refers to 월세(monthly rent).

전세(jeonse, a lease with a large deposit and no monthly rent) is a method in which you pay the deposit once and do not pay a monthly housing payment. You can tell 월세 from 전세 by checking whether money must be paid every month.

요금(utility charges) is money paid separately for the amount used, such as electricity, water, and gas. It is separate from the housing payment 월세(monthly rent), so it is wrong to understand that utility charges are included in the monthly rent amount.

월세(monthly rent) is money paid on a monthly basis, so it must not be misunderstood as '매년(every year)' or as money paid all at once. If a room advertisement lists 월세, that amount is paid every month.

To mean looking for a house, use '구하다(to look for)'. '살다(to live)' means staying in a place and living there, '짓다(to build)' means making a house anew, and '팔다(to sell)' means handing something over in exchange for money. Ex) 회사 근처에서 방을 구하고 있어요.(I am looking for a room near my company.)

부동산 중개소(real estate agency) is a place that introduces information about houses, land, or homes to buy, sell, or rent. It must be distinguished from places that build houses, places that repair old buildings, and places that lend money.

하숙(boarding) is a way of living in which you rent a room and are provided with meals as well. Boarding advertisements sometimes list separate amounts for 1인실(single room) and 2인실(double room), and here 2인실 means two people share one room.

If only 아침(breakfast) and 저녁(dinner) are listed under meal provision, judge that 점심(lunch) is not provided. On the other hand, if the advertisement does not say who shares the room, that information cannot be known from the advertisement alone.

계약금(down payment) is the money paid first when signing a contract, and 잔금(balance payment) is the remaining amount paid when you move in. 기숙사(dormitory) is lodging arranged by a school or company, so it must be distinguished from a private home you enter by contract.

Expressions for Taking Transportation (타다(to ride, to take))

Transportation you climb onto to travel, such as 지하철(subway), 버스(bus), and 택시(taxi), is expressed with '타다(to ride, to take)'. The opposite of riding is '내리다(to get off)', and when naming a line, '타다' is also used, as in '지하철 2호선을 타다(to take subway Line 2)'. Ex) 버스를 타고 시장에 가요.(I go to the market by bus.)

'타다' is conjugated as '타고(and ride)', '타서(riding and then)', and '타는(riding, modifying a noun)'. '타고' is the form with '-고(and)' attached, which states the means of transportation and connects to the following sentence. '타서' is '타다' with '-아서/어서(because, and then)' attached. Writing '탔어서', which combines the past tense '-었-' with '-어서', is wrong. '타는' with '-는' attached modifies the following noun '것(thing)'.

The conjugated forms of '기다리다(to wait)', '누르다(to press)', '비싸다(to be expensive)', '사다(to buy)', and '많다(to be many)' must also be written according to spelling rules. '기다리다' becomes '기다려요(waits, polite form)', '누르다' becomes '눌러요(presses, polite form)', '비싸다' becomes '비싸요(is expensive, polite form)', the past of '사다' is '샀어요(bought, polite form)', and '많다' becomes '많아요(is many, polite form)'.

Hailing a taxi by raising your hand on the street and getting in is expressed with '잡다(to hail)'. In situations where taxis are hard to find, such as at rush hour, say '택시를 잡기 힘들다(it is hard to hail a taxi)'.

Failing to board a bus or subway you were trying to take is expressed with '놓치다(to miss)'. Replacing it with '떠나다(to leave)' or '버리다(to abandon)' does not fit the meaning. Ex) 지하철을 놓쳐서 조금 늦었어요.(I missed the subway, so I was a little late.)

To ask whether someone came by transportation, use '어떻게 오셨어요?(How did you come?)', and to ask how long it takes, use '얼마나 걸려요?(How long does it take?)'. Answer the former with the means, as in '버스로 왔어요(I came by bus)', and answer the latter with a time, as in '한 시간쯤요(about an hour)'.

When a taxi driver asks where to let you off, the driver says '어디쯤에서 내려 드릴까요?(Where should I let you off?)'. The passenger answers by stating the place to stop, as in '여기서 세워 주세요(Please stop here)'.

If a notice lists a walking time such as '걸어서 5분(5 minutes on foot)', that time is based on walking. Changing the time to another means of transportation makes it differ from the notice.

Expressions in Train and Airplane Announcements

Announcements consist of fixed expressions that ask passengers to do something or report the situation of trains and airplanes. When asking passengers to act, use '-시기 바랍니다' (please do ~). This expression attaches '-(으)시-' and '-기' to a verb stem and is followed by '바랍니다', so blanks in announcements often take forms such as '갈아타시기' (transfer, please) and '내리시기' (get off, please).

'갈아타다'(to transfer to another line or train) means to change to a different route or train. Passengers at a transfer station who want to go on another line must change trains, so this word appears in transfer announcements. Example: 환승역에서 3호선으로 갈아타시기 바랍니다 (Please transfer to Line 3 at the transfer station).

'내리다'(to get off) means to exit a vehicle such as a train, bus, or airplane. '내다'(to hand out or take out) means to put money or objects outside, so it is not used with vehicles. In an announcement warning about the gap between the platform and the train, the phrase is used as '열차에서 내리실 때' (when getting off the train).

'도착하다'(to arrive) means to reach a destination, and '출발하다'(to depart) means to leave. The two words are used as a pair but with different reference points. At the point of departure, use '출발하다', and at the destination, use '도착하다'. Flight attendants use '-겠습니다' (I will ~) to politely announce what they are about to do. Example: 잠시 후 목적지에 도착하겠습니다 (We will arrive at our destination shortly). '탑승하다'(to board) means to get on an airplane or train, and '숙박하다'(to stay overnight) means to stay and sleep somewhere, so it does not fit an announcement about arrival.

'행'(bound for) indicates the direction or destination of a train or bus. On a display board, '○○ 행' means that the train travels toward ○○, and it does not name the current station. '곧 출발합니다'(departing soon) announces that the train will leave shortly.

'이번 열차'(this train) refers to the train arriving right now, and '다음 열차'(next train) refers to the train arriving after it. Arrival information is displayed in the order of arrival, so the next train never arrives before this train.

Restaurant Work Vocabulary

Restaurant work vocabulary centers on words for actions when serving customers and for places. Bringing food to the table is called '가져다주다'(to bring over), and clearing away used dishes is called '치우다'(to clear). Example: 빈 그릇을 치우다 (to clear empty dishes). The space where food is made is called '주방'(kitchen), and a person who works there is called a 주방 직원(kitchen staff). Example: 주방에서 국을 끓이다 (to boil soup in the kitchen).

A person who comes to a restaurant to eat is '손님'(customer). The person who runs a restaurant is '주인'(owner). '친구'(friend) and '가족'(family) refer to people one is close to or people who live together in the same household, so they are not used for people who come to a restaurant.

A place where one pays to eat food is '식당'(restaurant). '커피숍'(coffee shop) is mainly a place that sells coffee or drinks, and '도서관'(library) is a place for reading or borrowing books, so neither is used as a place for a lunch meal.

When food has become '식다'(to go cold), its temperature has dropped. A customer asks for food to be reheated when the temperature of the food has fallen. In contrast, '짜다'(salty), '달다'(sweet), and '맵다'(spicy) describe taste, so they are not used to talk about changes in temperature.

'드리다' is the honorific form of '주다'(to give), so it is used when giving water or a menu to a customer, and '가져다 드리다' is the honorific expression of '가져다주다'. The verb '보다'(to see) conjugates as '보세요'(please look), not '보으세요'. '뜨겁다'(to be hot) follows the ㅂ irregular conjugation and becomes '뜨거워서'. The polite ending '-십시오'(please ~) is written as '오십시오' and not as '오십시요'.

When taking an order, explain the menu. Bring water and cups to the table before the food comes out, and pay at the cash register.

Fruit Vocabulary

Fruit vocabulary is distinguished by the outside appearance and inside features of fruit. A strawberry is a small red fruit with seeds dotted on its surface and a stem attached. An apple is a round, red fruit with a stem and leaves at the top.

A watermelon is a large fruit with green stripes on its outside and many black seeds inside. Grapes grow in clusters, with small berries forming a bunch. Even for the same kind of fruit, the outside appearance and the position of the seeds differ, so these differences should be remembered.

'과일'(fruit) is a word that refers collectively to plants whose seeds or flesh can be eaten. Strawberries, watermelons, and apples all belong to 과일. '과자'(snack) is food eaten as a snack, and '고기'(meat) means animal flesh, so both must be distinguished from fruit.

The goods a shop sells can be known from the items on display. A place where fruit is displayed full in boxes or baskets is a shop that sells fruit, which is different from a place where flowers or dishes are arranged.

In a pie chart showing proportions, the item with the widest slice takes up the largest share. In data showing the fruit that Korean people eat most often, the same principle is used to find the fruit eaten most. '귤'(tangerine) is a citrus fruit that is small and whose peel comes off easily.

Expressions for Movie Booking

'미리'(in advance), '아까'(a little while ago), '아직'(still, not yet), and '벌써'(already) are adverbs of time, but their meanings differ. '미리'(in advance) means preparing something before it happens, and '아까'(a little while ago) means a short time earlier. '아직'(still, not yet) means that something has not happened up to now, and '벌써'(already) means that something has already happened. Example) 영화표를 미리 예매하다.

Buying a movie ticket in advance by reserving it is called '예매'(advance booking), and buying it at the theater on the spot is called '매표'(on-site ticket purchase). Advance booking is convenient because it can be done by phone or on the internet.

The place where tickets are sold at a theater is the '매표소'(ticket booth), and the floor guide of a building shows which floor the ticket booth is on.

In a movie showtime schedule, '회차'(showing session) refers to the order of screenings of the same movie in one day, and it is written with numbers such as '1회'(1st showing) and '2회'(2nd showing). '이후'(after) means later than a standard time, so a showing after a standard time refers to a showing that starts later than that time.

Showtime schedules sometimes also show the status of each session. '매진'(sold out) means all tickets have been sold and no more can be bought, and '판매 중'(on sale) means tickets can be bought now. '상영 중'(now showing) means the movie is currently being screened.

Names of Tourist Sites in Korea

Tourist sites in Korea have clear features in each region, so you should learn place names together with their representative attractions. 서울(Seoul) is the capital and is named as the Korean tourist site that foreigners like most.

부산(Busan) is a port city facing the sea and is famous for its beaches and seafood markets. 경주(Gyeongju) was the former capital of 신라(Silla), and it is known as a historical tourist site because it has many ancient tombs and ruins.

제주도(Jeju Island) is an island in the southern sea of Korea, and its natural scenery formed by volcanic activity is outstanding. Because it is in the south, 제주도(Jeju Island) is somewhat warmer than 서울(Seoul). However, a warm climate does not mean there is no wind, so connecting warmth and wind as having the same meaning is a faulty inference.

한국민속촌(Hanguk Folk Village) is a traditional village in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, which recreates the houses and daily life of 조선(Joseon) times. It is also a representative traditional experience site whose name appeared in a survey of tourist sites for foreigners.

청계천(Cheonggyecheon) is a stream flowing through downtown 서울(Seoul). It was once covered with concrete and used as a road, but later the road was removed and the stream was restored. As a result, it has become a famous spot where people stroll along the water and enjoy the scenery.

서울시티투어버스(Seoul City Tour Bus) is a sightseeing bus that visits famous places on a set course in order. Fares are often set differently by age, so you must check the fare that applies before boarding.

인사동(Insadong), 경복궁(Gyeongbokgung), and 청와대(Cheong Wa Dae) are representative attractions in 서울(Seoul) that show tradition and history. A department store is a shopping facility, so its nature differs from attractions that show history or culture, and the two must be distinguished.

춘천(Chuncheon) is a city in Gangwon Province, and 닭갈비(dakgalbi) and 막국수(makguksu) are known as its representative foods. 남이섬(Namiseom) is an island in 춘천(Chuncheon) that has become a tourist site many people visit because it became known as a drama filming location. The statement that it became famous because of a drama does not mean that someone watched the drama on the island itself, so the two facts must be distinguished.

Seoul's Geography and the Han River

서울(Seoul) is the capital of the Republic of Korea and a large city with a very large population. Since it was the capital for a long time after the founding of 조선(Joseon), many cultural assets, including palaces, remain.

서울(Seoul) is administratively divided into 25 자치구(autonomous districts). Each district differs in area and population, so questions asking which district is the largest or has the most people require checking the distinctive features of each district separately.

The river that flows from east to west through the middle of 서울(Seoul) is the 한강(Han River). Based on the river, the north side is called '강북'(north of the Han River) and the south side is called '강남'(south of the Han River). Thinking that the river flows from north to south is incorrect.

There are islands such as 여의도(Yeouido) in the 한강(Han River), and many bridges cross the river and connect '강북'(north of the Han River) and '강남'(south of the Han River). You can ride a sightseeing boat on the river, and riding it at night lets you enjoy the night view of Seoul.

There are several citizen parks around the 한강(Han River), and many parks have sports facilities such as swimming pools, soccer fields, and basketball courts. A ski resort is not a facility of the Han River citizen parks, so it must be distinguished in a list of sports facilities.

Seoul also has the disadvantages of being crowded because of its large population, having expensive housing, and having complicated traffic. In a text, the sentence that follows '그렇지만'(however) often states a disadvantage opposite to a previous advantage, so you must pay attention to this expression.

청계천(Cheonggyecheon) is a stream flowing through downtown 서울(Seoul). It was once covered with concrete and used as a road, but the road was removed and the stream was restored. Now it has become a walking spot with clean water flowing through it.

Restaurant Ordering Expressions

When choosing food at a restaurant, attach '~주세요'(please give me ~) to the item you want. Ex) 냉면 한 그릇 주세요. Food quantities are counted with units suited to the type of food, such as 그릇 (bowl), 잔 (cup), and 개 (piece), so the unit must match.

The verb meaning to order food is '시키다'(to order). '시키다' is used when asking a restaurant to bring food, while '타다'(to ride) and '보내다'(to send) do not mean ordering, so do not confuse them. Ex) 치킨을 시켜서 함께 먹었다.

Staff ask customers whether they will order, as in '주문하시겠어요?'(Would you like to order?). A question about taste or a reservation, asked to a customer who will order later, does not fit the situation before ordering, so choose the question that fits the flow of the conversation.

When eating in the shop, ask as in '여기서 드실 거예요?'(Will you eat here?), and when taking food away, ask as in '가져가실 거예요?'(Will you take it out?). Answering '아니요, 가져갈 거예요'(No, I will take it out) to '여기서 드실 거예요?' flows naturally, so check that the meaning of the question and answer match.

'맵다'(to be spicy) is an ㅂ irregular verb, so it conjugates as '매워요'(it is spicy). A wrongly formed conjugation such as '맵어요' is not correct. '비싸다'(to be expensive) means the price is high, and '쉬다'(to rest) means to make the body comfortable, so neither is used as an ordering phrase.

In questions about who ate what in a restaurant story, you must distinguish the food ordered together from the food each person ate.

Weather Vocabulary

Weather refers together to the state of the sky, temperature, wind, and so on. 시간 (time) indicates a moment, as in '몇 시'(what time), 날짜 (date) indicates '며칠'(what day of the month), and 계절 (season) means spring, summer, autumn, and winter, so they must be distinguished from weather.

When talking about weather, use it with verbs that express weather, such as '비가 오다'(rain falls), '눈이 오다'(snow falls), '바람이 불다'(wind blows), and '구름이 끼다'(clouds gather). An umbrella is needed when it is raining. '오다' is used for rain or snow, so do not use it with clouds or fog.

'-아서/-어서'(because) connects cause and result. Ex) 눈이 와서 춥다, 바람이 불어서 시원하다. When choosing weather from a picture, first find phenomena such as snow, rain, or wind; if the picture shows falling snow, it means the weather is cold.

Korea's summer runs from June to August, and it has the 장마철 (rainy season) when much rain falls. After the rainy season ends, hot weather continues, so this period is the hottest of the year. The period with heavy rain and the hottest period may not be the same, so distinguish the two periods separately.

Summer in dry regions has almost no rain and strong sunlight, but summer in Korea has much rain because of the 장마 (monsoon rain). Each country's summer weather differs, so check the amount of rain and the hot period country by country.

Prohibition of Illegal Dumping in Public Places

Public places are spaces shared by many people, such as roads, parks, and plazas. Throwing away trash in such places without permission is called 무단투기 (illegal dumping), and illegal dumping is prohibited.

Public places must be kept clean, so you must not throw cigarette butts on the roadside. '-면 안 되다'(must not) expresses a prohibition against doing an action.

When putting items into a trash can, use '버리다'(to throw away). '버리다' means to get rid of unneeded items, while '쓰다'(to use), '꺼내다'(to take out), and '벗다'(to take off) do not match the act of putting trash in.

'-(으)십시오'(please do ~) is a polite expression requesting an action from the listener, so it is often used in notices and signs. A picture sign shows a specific action, so a person putting trash into a trash can means to throw trash away. Do not confuse it with signs indicating a fuel pump or currency exchange.

Trash is divided into general waste, recyclables, and food waste when thrown away. Items that can be recycled, such as cans, newspapers, and bottles, go into the recycling bin. In contrast, food cannot go into the recycling bin and must be thrown away separately as food waste.

Korean Etiquette in Daily Life

Korean etiquette refers to customs to observe in each situation, such as at home, during meals, in front of elders, and on transportation. A text that introduces several etiquette rules deals with etiquette rather than food or transportation, so you can find the topic by finding the subject repeated throughout the text.

When entering a house, it is polite to take off your shoes and step up from the entrance into the interior. Entering a house with shoes on goes against etiquette.

The name of a living person is not written with a red pen, because red is regarded as the color used when writing the name of a deceased person.

In Korea, there is a culture of treating older people with respect, so speak to elders using honorific speech. When drinking in front of an elder, it is polite to turn your head to the side, and do not smoke in front of elders.

On the subway or bus, give up your seat to elderly people. At meals, elders start eating first, and the rest eat afterward.

• 높임말(honorific speech) — language that raises the listener or the subject of conversation. Ex) 어른께는 높임말을 써야 한다.
• 반말(casual speech) — language used without honorific meaning, in a lowered manner. Ex) 윗사람에게 반말을 하면 예의에 어긋난다.

Choose the connecting expression for a blank by the relationship between the sentences before and after. '그리고'(and) is used to add another content to the preceding content, and '그래서'(so) is used when the preceding content is the cause and a result follows. '그러면'(then, if so) is used to state a result after a condition or assumption, and '그러니까'(therefore) is used to state a conclusion based on the preceding content.

KTX High-Speed Rail Information

KTX is Korea's high-speed rail, a train that is faster and more convenient than ordinary trains. High-speed rail exists not only in Korea but also in many other countries, including Japan, France, and Germany, so thinking that high-speed rail exists only in Korea is a wrong judgment.

KTX is faster than Mugunghwa-ho or Saemaeul-ho, and it is the fastest of all trains. KTX stations are mainly located in large cities, and the fare is higher than that of ordinary trains.

In questions about travel time, you must read expressions that include both hours and minutes, such as ‘두 시간 사십 분’ (two hours and forty minutes), accurately. A choice that gets only the hour correct and leaves out the minutes does not match the passage, so it cannot be the answer.

KTX tickets can be discounted if you reserve them in advance through the internet or by telephone.

• 고속철도 (high-speed rail) — A railway that runs at a speed of 200 km per hour or more. Ex) 고속철도를 타면 장거리 이동 시간이 줄어든다.
• 노선도 (route map) — A drawing that shows the path of trains and the locations of stations. Ex) 노선도를 보면 출발역과 도착역을 찾을 수 있다.
• 개통 (opening to traffic) — Opening a railway or road so that it can be used for the first time. Ex) 새 철도 노선이 개통되었다.
• 정차 (stopping) — A train stopping at a station. Ex) 이 열차는 작은 역에는 정차하지 않는다.
• 예매 (advance booking) — Buying a ticket in advance before using it. Ex) 기차표는 인터넷으로 예매할 수 있다.

Expressions for Bargaining over Prices

When asking a store to lower the price, use ‘깎다’ (to lower a price). Because ‘깎다’ means to reduce a set price by a certain amount, a request for a lower price is expressed as ‘깎아 주세요’ (please give me a discount).

When a customer asks for a discount, it means the customer feels the price is high, so it is used together with ‘비싸다’ (to be expensive). For example, one says ‘값이 너무 비싸요. 좀 깎아 주세요.’ (It is too expensive. Please give me a little discount.)

In a store, ‘이 사과 어떻게 해요?’ (how much is this apple?) is an expression asking how much the item is sold for. In this case, it is natural to answer by stating the price, as in ‘세 개에 얼마예요’ (how much for three?).

When a shopkeeper says they will accept a lower price than the original, they say ‘깎아서 드릴게요’ (I will give it to you at a discount). You must understand the conversation structure in which the original price is stated first and then a lower price is offered.

• 깎다 (to lower a price) — To reduce a value. Ex) 가격을 조금 깎아 주세요.
• 끄다 (to turn off) — To stop the operation of a fire or an electrical appliance. Ex) 에어컨을 끄고 나간다.
• 만나다 (to meet) — To face one another with a person. Ex) 친구를 만나러 시장에 간다.
• 싸다 (to be cheap) — An adjective meaning that the price is low. Ex) 이 신발은 값이 싸다.

Travel Package Advertisements

In travel package advertisements, the key information is the destination, the period, the price, the departure day, the places to see, and the contact information. When reading an advertisement, finding these items in advance lets you quickly choose the information you need.

You must distinguish between ‘박’ (nights) and ‘일’ (days) for the length of a trip. ‘박’ is the number of nights and ‘일’ is the number of dates, so in the ‘N박 N+1일’ format, the number of days is one more than the number of nights.

When comparing two packages, judge the one with the lower price as ‘싸다’ (cheap) and the one with the shorter period as ‘짧다’ (short). The package with the longer period has more nights or more days, so compare the numbers to reach a conclusion.

If the advertisement lists places to see or activities, you can choose a package that suits the purpose of your trip. A person who wants to swim in the sea should choose a package that includes a beach.

There are some things that cannot be known from the information in an advertisement alone. If there are only the travel agency's name, website, and contact number, the location of the travel agency cannot be known from the advertisement.

If the company name and consultation number appear at the bottom of an advertisement, you can judge whether the advertiser is a travel agency.