TOPIK I Vocabulary: 300 Korean Words With Examples
Hangul takes an afternoon. The 300 words behind TOPIK I are the actual work.
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Learners are told Hangul can be read in a day, and it can. Then the alphabet stops helping, because reading 비싸요 aloud does not tell you it means expensive, and nothing in the script warns you that Korean adjectives conjugate like verbs, that 있다 covers both having and existing, or that 배 is a stomach, a pear and a boat depending on the sentence around it. This deck covers the 300 words that carry TOPIK I. Every card shows the Korean, and the back gives the romanisation, the English meaning, the part of speech, and an original Korean sentence with its translation. Cards are tagged by theme — people, home, food, travel, time, position, questions — and by part of speech, so you can drill only verbs, or only the counters that trip up every beginner. Import it and the deck joins your spaced-repetition schedule, and what stays in rotation is the set you still have to stop and decode.
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What's inside
Showing 100 representative cards from the full 300-card deck.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| 저 | Romanisation: jeo. Meaning: I, me (polite) (pronoun). Example: 저는 학생입니다. — I am a student. |
| 너 | Romanisation: neo. Meaning: you (casual) (pronoun). Example: 너는 어디 가? — Where are you going? |
| 사람 | Romanisation: saram. Meaning: person (noun). Example: 저 사람은 누구예요? — Who is that person? |
| 여자 | Romanisation: yeoja. Meaning: woman (noun). Example: 여자 화장실은 저쪽이에요. — The women's toilet is over there. |
| 친구 | Romanisation: chingu. Meaning: friend (noun). Example: 친구를 만나요. — I am meeting a friend. |
| 아버지 | Romanisation: abeoji. Meaning: father (noun). Example: 아버지는 회사원이에요. — My father is an office worker. |
| 형 | Romanisation: hyeong. Meaning: older brother (male speaker) (noun). Example: 형은 대학생이에요. — My older brother is a university student. |
| 오빠 | Romanisation: oppa. Meaning: older brother (female speaker) (noun). Example: 오빠하고 같이 갔어요. — I went with my older brother. |
| 선생님 | Romanisation: seonsaengnim. Meaning: teacher (noun). Example: 선생님께 질문했어요. — I asked the teacher a question. |
| 대학교 | Romanisation: daehakgyo. Meaning: university (noun). Example: 대학교에서 한국어를 배워요. — I study Korean at university. |
| 숙제 | Romanisation: sukje. Meaning: homework (noun). Example: 숙제를 다 했어요. — I have finished my homework. |
| 공책 | Romanisation: gongchaek. Meaning: notebook (noun). Example: 공책에 쓰세요. — Please write in your notebook. |
| 회사 | Romanisation: hoesa. Meaning: company (noun). Example: 회사가 강남에 있어요. — The company is in Gangnam. |
| 회사원 | Romanisation: hoesawon. Meaning: office worker (noun). Example: 저는 회사원이에요. — I am an office worker. |
| 가게 | Romanisation: gage. Meaning: shop (noun). Example: 가게가 여덟 시에 닫아요. — The shop closes at eight. |
| 백화점 | Romanisation: baekhwajeom. Meaning: department store (noun). Example: 백화점에 갈까요? — Shall we go to the department store? |
| 집 | Romanisation: jip. Meaning: house, home (noun). Example: 집에 가요. — I am going home. |
| 화장실 | Romanisation: hwajangsil. Meaning: toilet (noun). Example: 화장실이 어디예요? — Where is the toilet? |
| 책상 | Romanisation: chaeksang. Meaning: desk (noun). Example: 책상 위에 책이 있어요. — There is a book on the desk. |
| 열쇠 | Romanisation: yeolsoe. Meaning: key (noun). Example: 열쇠를 잃어버렸어요. — I have lost my key. |
| 물 | Romanisation: mul. Meaning: water (noun). Example: 물 한 잔 주세요. — One glass of water, please. |
| 커피 | Romanisation: keopi. Meaning: coffee (noun). Example: 커피를 자주 마셔요. — I often drink coffee. |
| 밥 | Romanisation: bap. Meaning: rice, meal (noun). Example: 밥 먹었어요? — Have you eaten? |
| 고기 | Romanisation: gogi. Meaning: meat (noun). Example: 고기를 안 먹어요. — I do not eat meat. |
| 야채 | Romanisation: yachae. Meaning: vegetables (noun). Example: 야채를 많이 먹어요. — I eat a lot of vegetables. |
| 김치 | Romanisation: gimchi. Meaning: kimchi (noun). Example: 김치가 조금 매워요. — The kimchi is a little spicy. |
| 아침 | Romanisation: achim. Meaning: morning; breakfast (noun). Example: 아침을 안 먹었어요. — I did not eat breakfast. |
| 저녁 | Romanisation: jeonyeok. Meaning: dinner; evening (noun). Example: 저녁을 만들어요. — I am making dinner. |
| 역 | Romanisation: yeok. Meaning: station (noun). Example: 역이 어디예요? — Where is the station? |
| 기차 | Romanisation: gicha. Meaning: train (noun). Example: 기차가 늦었어요. — The train was late. |
| 표 | Romanisation: pyo. Meaning: ticket (noun). Example: 표를 샀어요. — I bought a ticket. |
| 여행 | Romanisation: yeohaeng. Meaning: travel (noun). Example: 다음 달에 여행 가요. — I am travelling next month. |
| 병원 | Romanisation: byeongwon. Meaning: hospital (noun). Example: 병원에 가야 해요. — I have to go to the hospital. |
| 약 | Romanisation: yak. Meaning: medicine (noun). Example: 약을 드세요. — Please take the medicine. |
| 눈 | Romanisation: nun. Meaning: eye; snow (noun). Example: 눈이 아파요. — My eyes hurt. |
| 손 | Romanisation: son. Meaning: hand (noun). Example: 손을 씻으세요. — Please wash your hands. |
| 오늘 | Romanisation: oneul. Meaning: today (noun). Example: 오늘은 더워요. — It is hot today. |
| 어제 | Romanisation: eoje. Meaning: yesterday (noun). Example: 어제 비가 왔어요. — It rained yesterday. |
| 아침에 | Romanisation: achime. Meaning: in the morning (adverb). Example: 아침에 여섯 시에 일어나요. — I get up at six in the morning. |
| 시간 | Romanisation: sigan. Meaning: time, hour (noun). Example: 시간이 없어요. — I have no time. |
| 달 | Romanisation: dal. Meaning: month; moon (noun). Example: 다음 달에 가요. — I am going next month. |
| 날씨 | Romanisation: nalssi. Meaning: weather (noun). Example: 오늘 날씨가 좋아요. — The weather is good today. |
| 봄 | Romanisation: bom. Meaning: spring (noun). Example: 봄에 꽃이 피어요. — Flowers bloom in spring. |
| 가다 | Romanisation: gada. Meaning: to go (verb). Example: 학교에 가요. — I go to school. |
| 먹다 | Romanisation: meokda. Meaning: to eat (verb). Example: 아침을 먹어요. — I eat breakfast. |
| 듣다 | Romanisation: deutda. Meaning: to listen, to hear (verb). Example: 음악을 들어요. — I listen to music. |
| 쓰다 | Romanisation: sseuda. Meaning: to write; to use (verb). Example: 편지를 써요. — I write a letter. |
| 주다 | Romanisation: juda. Meaning: to give (verb). Example: 동생에게 책을 줬어요. — I gave my sibling a book. |
| 놓다 | Romanisation: nota. Meaning: to put down (verb). Example: 책상 위에 놓으세요. — Please put it on the desk. |
| 켜다 | Romanisation: kyeoda. Meaning: to turn on (verb). Example: 불을 켜 주세요. — Please turn on the light. |
| 청소하다 | Romanisation: cheongsohada. Meaning: to clean (verb). Example: 방을 청소해요. — I clean the room. |
| 자다 | Romanisation: jada. Meaning: to sleep (verb). Example: 열한 시에 자요. — I go to sleep at eleven. |
| 공부하다 | Romanisation: gongbuhada. Meaning: to study (verb). Example: 매일 공부해요. — I study every day. |
| 알다 | Romanisation: alda. Meaning: to know (verb). Example: 그 사람을 알아요. — I know that person. |
| 기다리다 | Romanisation: gidarida. Meaning: to wait (verb). Example: 여기서 기다려 주세요. — Please wait here. |
| 살다 | Romanisation: salda. Meaning: to live (verb). Example: 서울에 살아요. — I live in Seoul. |
| 걷다 | Romanisation: geotda. Meaning: to walk (verb). Example: 역까지 걸어요. — I walk to the station. |
| 들어가다 | Romanisation: deureogada. Meaning: to go in (verb). Example: 방에 들어가요. — I go into the room. |
| 좋아하다 | Romanisation: joahada. Meaning: to like (verb). Example: 한국 음식을 좋아해요. — I like Korean food. |
| 빌리다 | Romanisation: billida. Meaning: to borrow (verb). Example: 도서관에서 책을 빌려요. — I borrow books from the library. |
| 크다 | Romanisation: keuda. Meaning: to be big (adjective). Example: 가방이 커요. — The bag is big. |
| 적다 | Romanisation: jeokda. Meaning: to be few (adjective). Example: 학생이 적어요. — There are few students. |
| 새롭다 | Romanisation: saeropda. Meaning: to be new (adjective). Example: 새로운 자전거를 샀어요. — I bought a new bicycle. |
| 길다 | Romanisation: gilda. Meaning: to be long (adjective). Example: 길이 길어요. — The road is long. |
| 낮다 | Romanisation: natda. Meaning: to be low (adjective). Example: 책상이 낮아요. — The desk is low. |
| 무겁다 | Romanisation: mugeopda. Meaning: to be heavy (adjective). Example: 가방이 무거워요. — The bag is heavy. |
| 춥다 | Romanisation: chupda. Meaning: to be cold (weather) (adjective). Example: 겨울은 추워요. — Winter is cold. |
| 맛있다 | Romanisation: masitda. Meaning: to be delicious (adjective). Example: 이 음식은 맛있어요. — This food is delicious. |
| 달다 | Romanisation: dalda. Meaning: to be sweet (adjective). Example: 케이크가 달아요. — The cake is sweet. |
| 바쁘다 | Romanisation: bappeuda. Meaning: to be busy (adjective). Example: 이번 주는 바빠요. — I am busy this week. |
| 아프다 | Romanisation: apeuda. Meaning: to be sick, to hurt (adjective). Example: 배가 아파요. — My stomach hurts. |
| 기쁘다 | Romanisation: gippeuda. Meaning: to be glad (adjective). Example: 만나서 기뻐요. — I am glad to meet you. |
| 조용하다 | Romanisation: joyonghada. Meaning: to be quiet (adjective). Example: 도서관은 조용해요. — The library is quiet. |
| 더럽다 | Romanisation: deoreopda. Meaning: to be dirty (adjective). Example: 방이 더러워요. — The room is dirty. |
| 친절하다 | Romanisation: chinjeolhada. Meaning: to be kind (adjective). Example: 점원이 친절했어요. — The shop assistant was kind. |
| 중요하다 | Romanisation: jungyohada. Meaning: to be important (adjective). Example: 이건 아주 중요해요. — This is very important. |
| 멀다 | Romanisation: meolda. Meaning: to be far (adjective). Example: 공항이 멀어요. — The airport is far. |
| 하나 | Romanisation: hana. Meaning: one (numeral). Example: 하나 주세요. — One, please. |
| 넷 | Romanisation: net. Meaning: four (numeral). Example: 넷이 필요해요. — I need four. |
| 스물 | Romanisation: seumul. Meaning: twenty (numeral). Example: 스물 한 살이에요. — I am twenty-one. |
| 만 | Romanisation: man. Meaning: ten thousand (numeral). Example: 만 원이에요. — It is ten thousand won. |
| 살 | Romanisation: sal. Meaning: counter for age (noun). Example: 스무 살이에요. — I am twenty years old. |
| 위 | Romanisation: wi. Meaning: above, on (noun). Example: 책상 위에 있어요. — It is on the desk. |
| 밖 | Romanisation: bak. Meaning: outside (noun). Example: 밖이 추워요. — It is cold outside. |
| 옆 | Romanisation: yeop. Meaning: beside (noun). Example: 은행 옆에 있어요. — It is next to the bank. |
| 여기 | Romanisation: yeogi. Meaning: here (pronoun). Example: 여기에서 기다리세요. — Please wait here. |
| 어디 | Romanisation: eodi. Meaning: where (pronoun). Example: 화장실이 어디예요? — Where is the toilet? |
| 저것 | Romanisation: jeogeot. Meaning: that over there (pronoun). Example: 저것은 제 가방이에요. — That over there is my bag. |
| 언제 | Romanisation: eonje. Meaning: when (adverb). Example: 언제 와요? — When are you coming? |
| 몇 | Romanisation: myeot. Meaning: how many (determiner). Example: 몇 시예요? — What time is it? |
| 아주 | Romanisation: aju. Meaning: very (adverb). Example: 아주 재미있어요. — It is very interesting. |
| 더 | Romanisation: deo. Meaning: more (adverb). Example: 더 천천히 말해 주세요. — Please speak more slowly. |
| 전혀 | Romanisation: jeonhyeo. Meaning: not at all (adverb). Example: 전혀 몰랐어요. — I had no idea at all. |
| 천천히 | Romanisation: cheoncheonhi. Meaning: slowly (adverb). Example: 천천히 말해 주세요. — Please speak slowly. |
| 안녕하세요 | Romanisation: annyeonghaseyo. Meaning: hello (phrase). Example: 안녕하세요, 반갑습니다. — Hello, nice to meet you. |
| 반갑습니다 | Romanisation: bangapseumnida. Meaning: nice to meet you (phrase). Example: 만나서 반갑습니다. — Nice to meet you. |
| 죄송합니다 | Romanisation: joesonghamnida. Meaning: I am sorry (phrase). Example: 늦어서 죄송합니다. — I am sorry I am late. |
| 잘 먹겠습니다 | Romanisation: jal meokgetseumnida. Meaning: said before eating (phrase). Example: 잘 먹겠습니다. — Thank you for the food. |
| 모르겠어요 | Romanisation: moreugesseoyo. Meaning: I do not know (phrase). Example: 잘 모르겠어요. — I really do not know. |
| 입다 | Romanisation: ipda. Meaning: to wear (verb). Example: 코트를 입으세요. — Please put your coat on. |
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Can I edit the cards after importing?
Yes. Imported cards are yours: you can edit both sides, delete cards you do not need, change tags, and move cards to another deck.
What is in the deck?
125 nouns, 60 verbs, 53 descriptive verbs, 21 adverbs, 14 pronouns, 10 numerals and 15 set phrases, 300 in total. One word per card, so nothing appears twice.
Do I need to read Hangul first?
It helps, but the romanisation on every card means you can start before you are fluent at reading. The fronts are Hangul only on purpose: recognising the written word is what the exam tests, and romanisation you lean on for too long becomes a habit that slows reading down.
Why are adjectives labelled descriptive verbs?
Because that is how they behave. 크다 is not used the way an English adjective is; it conjugates and can end a sentence on its own. Labelling it a verb on the card is a reminder every time you see it, which is more useful than learning the rule once and forgetting it in conversation.
Is this enough to pass TOPIK I?
It covers the vocabulary layer thoroughly. Import it and open it daily, and the only words that come up are the ones you cannot yet produce. Spend the time that frees up on listening practice and on reading short passages, which is where TOPIK I marks are usually lost.
Editorial method and sources
Memly's editors use the primary sources below to check scope and terminology, then independently write and review the cards.
TOPIK I Vocabulary: 300 Korean Words With Examples
Add every card on the free plan. Importing runs no AI generation and spends no AI credits. You'll need a Memly account.
Related tools
Selection reflects vocabulary commonly associated with TOPIK levels 1 and 2; the National Institute for International Education has not endorsed this deck and past papers are not reproduced. Every entry, example and translation is written by Memly. Romanisation follows the Revised Romanization of Korean. Scope reviewed 2026-08-17.