Level 2 · Basic Conversation
Learn to describe people's appearance and personality in Korean. Master adjective-noun modification and talk about what someone looks like or acts like.
13 words · tap 🔊 to hear native-speaker pronunciation
In Korea, talking about appearance and personality is a natural part of everyday conversation. Whether you're describing a friend to someone, complimenting a colleague, or explaining who you're meeting, you'll need vocabulary for physical features and character traits. In this unit, you'll learn 13 essential words for describing people, plus two powerful grammar patterns that let you turn any adjective or verb into a modifier -- like going from "pretty" to "the pretty person." Let's get started with 사람 묘사하기!
height
키가 커요.He/She is tall. (Literally: The height is big.)
💡 Memory tip: Think of a "key" -- you need to be the right height to reach the key on a high shelf!
Pronunciation: In Korean, height uses 크다 (big) and 작다 (small), not "tall" or "short."
hair
머리카락이 길어요.The hair is long.
💡 Memory tip: 머리 means "head" and 카락 means "strand" -- so 머리카락 is literally "head strands."
Pronunciation: 머리 alone can also mean "hair" in casual speech, but 머리카락 is more specific.
face
얼굴이 작아요.The face is small.
💡 Memory tip: Sounds a bit like "oil gul(p)" -- imagine gulping oil that splashes on your face!
Pronunciation: In Korea, having a "small face" (얼굴이 작다) is a common compliment.
eye
눈이 커요.The eyes are big.
💡 Memory tip: Same spelling as 눈 (snow) -- big eyes sparkle like snow! Context makes the meaning clear.
Pronunciation: 눈 means both "eye" and "snow." 눈이 크다 (big eyes) vs. 눈이 오다 (snow falls).
to be handsome
그 남자는 정말 잘생겼어요.That man is really handsome.
💡 Memory tip: 잘 (well) + 생기다 (to be formed/born) = "well-formed" = handsome!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [잘생기다]. The past tense form 잘생겼어요 is the standard way to say "is handsome."
to be pretty
그 여자가 정말 예뻐요.That woman is really pretty.
💡 Memory tip: "Yep! Beautiful!" -- "Yep" sounds like the start of 예쁘다.
Pronunciation: ㅃ is a tense double consonant. The conjugated form 예뻐요 has an irregular vowel contraction (ㅡ drops).
to be cute
아기가 정말 귀여워요!The baby is really cute!
💡 Memory tip: Think "gooey" -- cute things make your heart go gooey!
Pronunciation: ㅂ irregular: 귀엽다 → 귀여워요. The ㅂ changes to 우 before a vowel.
to be kind
선생님이 아주 친절해요.The teacher is very kind.
💡 Memory tip: 친 (close/friendly) + 절 (manners) + 하다 (to do) = someone with friendly manners = kind!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [친절하다]. A -하다 adjective, so it conjugates regularly: 친절해요, 친절한.
to be funny / interesting
그 사람은 정말 재미있어요.That person is really funny.
💡 Memory tip: 재미 (fun/interest) + 있다 (to have/exist) = "fun exists" = funny/interesting!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [재미읻따] with the ㅆ tensing the following ㄷ. Opposite: 재미없다 (boring).
to be quiet
동생은 조용한 성격이에요.My younger sibling has a quiet personality.
💡 Memory tip: "Joy + young + ha-da" -- a quiet young person brings joy to the room.
to be active / lively
언니는 성격이 활발해요.My older sister has a lively personality.
💡 Memory tip: 활 (active/vigor) + 발 (emit/send out) = radiating energy = lively!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [활발하다]. The ㄹ before ㅂ makes a clear [l] sound.
personality
성격이 좋아요.He/She has a good personality.
💡 Memory tip: 성 (nature/character) + 격 (quality/standard) = the quality of one's nature = personality!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [성껵]. The ㄱ before ㄱ causes the second one to become tense [ㄲ].
to resemble
엄마를 많이 닮았어요.I resemble my mom a lot.
💡 Memory tip: Think "doll-da" -- you resemble a doll version of your parents!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [담따]. 닮 has the double batchim ㄻ, which is realized as [ㅁ] (the ㄹ drops, the ㅁ stays); the following ㄷ then tenses to [ㄸ].
In Korean culture, talking about appearance is much more common and direct than in many Western countries. Here are some key aspects:
-- K-Beauty & Skincare: Korea is famous for its multi-step skincare routines (sometimes called the "10-step routine"). Skincare is considered self-care for everyone, not just women. Products like 선크림 (sunscreen), 토너 (toner), and 세럼 (serum) are everyday essentials. K-Beauty has become a global phenomenon.
-- 성형수술 (Cosmetic Surgery): South Korea has one of the highest rates of cosmetic surgery in the world. It's socially accepted and openly discussed -- not taboo like in some other cultures. Common procedures include double eyelid surgery (쌍꺼풀 수술) and rhinoplasty. Gangnam district in Seoul is famous for its plastic surgery clinics.
-- 외모 (Appearance) in Daily Life: Koreans may comment on weight, skin, or appearance more directly than Westerners expect. "You gained weight" (살 쪘다) or "Your skin looks good" (피부 좋다) are common casual remarks, often meant without offense.
-- 혈액형 성격론 (Blood Type Personality Theory): Many Koreans believe blood type influences personality. Type A = careful and organized, Type B = creative but selfish, Type O = confident leader, Type AB = unpredictable genius. It's a popular conversation topic, similar to zodiac signs in the West.
-- 이미지 (Image): Koreans often describe people by their overall "image" -- 차가운 이미지 (cold image), 따뜻한 이미지 (warm image), 귀여운 이미지 (cute image). This goes beyond physical appearance to include vibe and personality impression.
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