Korean Health & Body Vocabulary건강과 몸

body

몸이 안 좋아요.I'm not feeling well. (Lit: My body is not good.)

💡 Memory tip: Sounds like "mom" -- your mom always worries about your body and health!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [몸]. The ㅁ batchim is a clear bilabial nasal.

arm

팔이 아파요.My arm hurts.

💡 Memory tip: Think of your "pal" giving you a friendly arm punch -- right on the 팔!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [팔]. The ㄹ batchim is a light "l" sound (not rolled).

leg

다리가 길어요.Your legs are long.

💡 Memory tip: "Dari" also means "bridge" -- your legs are like bridges that carry you across the ground!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [다리]. The ㄹ between vowels is a flap, similar to the "r" in American English "butter."

hand

손을 씻으세요.Please wash your hands.

💡 Memory tip: Sounds like "son" -- hold your son's hand when crossing the street!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [손]. The ㄴ batchim links smoothly to following vowels (e.g., 손을 → [소늘]).

foot

발이 시려요.My feet are cold.

💡 Memory tip: A "ball" is round like the bottom of your foot. 발 = foot!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [발]. Compare with 팔 (arm) -- the only difference is ㅂ vs ㅍ (plain vs aspirated).

waist / lower back

오래 앉아 있으면 허리가 아파요.If you sit for a long time, your lower back hurts.

💡 Memory tip: "Heo-ri" -- imagine saying "hurry!" while grabbing your aching lower back.

Pronunciation: Pronounced [허리]. The ㅎ is clearly aspirated, and the ㄹ between vowels is a flap.

shoulder

어깨가 뻣뻣해요.My shoulders are stiff.

💡 Memory tip: The double ㄲ in the middle gives it a strong, tense feel -- like tense shoulders!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [어깨]. The ㄲ is a tense consonant -- press harder and do not release air.

health

건강이 제일 중요해요.Health is the most important thing.

💡 Memory tip: 건강 has a rhythmic, strong sound -- like a strong heartbeat. 건 (strong) + 강 (sturdy) = health!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [건강]. Both ㄴ and ㅇ batchims are nasal sounds, giving it a resonant feel.

to exercise

매일 아침에 운동해요.I exercise every morning.

💡 Memory tip: 운동 (exercise/movement) + 하다 (to do). You already know 운동 as a hobby -- now use the verb form!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [운동하다]. 운 has the ㄴ batchim linking to 동. Polite form: 운동해요.

diet

다이어트 중이에요.I'm on a diet.

💡 Memory tip: Loanword from English "diet." In Korea, 다이어트 usually means losing weight, not just any eating plan.

Pronunciation: Loanword from English. Each syllable maps to Korean: da-i-eo-teu. Final ㅡ is the neutral vowel added to end consonants.

stretching

운동 전에 스트레칭을 해야 해요.You have to stretch before exercising.

💡 Memory tip: From English "stretching." Koreans love 스트레칭 before hiking and gym workouts.

Pronunciation: Loanword from English. The ㅊ maps to the English "ch" sound. Final ㅇ gives the "-ing" ending.

jogging

한강에서 조깅을 해요.I go jogging along the Han River.

💡 Memory tip: From English "jogging." The Han River parks are Korea's most popular 조깅 spots!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [조깅]. The ㄲ is a tense consonant -- English "j" maps to Korean ㅈ, "gg" to ㄲ.

muscle

운동하면 근육이 생겨요.If you exercise, you build muscle.

💡 Memory tip: 근 (sinew/tendon) + 육 (flesh) = muscle. The building blocks of strength!

Pronunciation: Pronounced [그뉵]. The ㄴ batchim of 근 nasalizes before 육, and ㅠ gives the "yu" sound.