Korean Reading Strategies Vocabulary읽기 전략

reading

읽기 시험은 총 50분입니다.The reading exam is 50 minutes total.

💡 Memory tip: 읽다 (to read) + -기 (noun form) = the act of reading. This is one of the three core TOPIK sections alongside 듣기 and 쓰기.

Pronunciation: 읽기 is pronounced [일끼]. The ㄺ double batchim in 읽 reduces to ㄹ before ㄱ, and the ㄱ of 기 becomes tensed [ㄲ].

passage / text (exam)

다음 지문을 읽고 질문에 답하십시오.Read the following passage and answer the questions.

💡 Memory tip: 지 (paper/document) + 문 (writing/text) = a written text or passage. This is the standard term used in Korean exams for reading passages.

context

모르는 단어는 문맥을 통해 추측할 수 있어요.You can guess unknown words through context.

💡 Memory tip: 문 (writing/text) + 맥 (vein/flow) = the flow of a text, i.e., context. Just like blood flows through veins, meaning flows through context.

paragraph / section

첫 번째 단락에서 주제를 찾으세요.Find the topic in the first paragraph.

💡 Memory tip: 단 (section/step) + 락 (fall/break) = a section break in writing. Each paragraph is a distinct section of a longer text.

Pronunciation: 단락 is pronounced [달락]. The ㄴ batchim in 단 assimilates to ㄹ before the ㄹ in 락 (nasalization).

topic / subject

이 글의 주제는 무엇입니까?What is the topic of this text?

💡 Memory tip: 주 (main/primary) + 제 (topic/subject) = the main subject. TOPIK frequently asks "이 글의 주제는?" -- What is the topic of this text?

summary

지문의 내용을 요약하십시오.Summarize the content of the passage.

💡 Memory tip: 요 (essential/key) + 약 (brief/compact) = essential points made brief. A summary captures only what matters most.

core / key point

핵심 내용을 파악하는 것이 중요합니다.It is important to grasp the key points.

💡 Memory tip: 핵 (nucleus/core) + 심 (heart/center) = the very core, the heart of the matter. Like a nucleus in a cell, the 핵심 is what everything else revolves around.

conjunction

접속사를 잘 보면 글의 흐름을 알 수 있어요.If you look at conjunctions carefully, you can understand the flow of the text.

💡 Memory tip: 접속 (connection) + 사 (word/part of speech) = a connecting word. Conjunctions like 그러나, 그래서, 그리고 connect ideas in a passage.

Pronunciation: 접속사 is pronounced [접쏙싸]. The ㅂ batchim in 접 causes tensing of ㅅ in 속, and the ㄱ batchim in 속 causes tensing of ㅅ in 사.

meaning

밑줄 친 부분의 의미를 고르십시오.Choose the meaning of the underlined part.

💡 Memory tip: 의 (meaning/intention) + 미 (taste/subtlety) = the subtle intention behind something. Understanding 의미 means grasping what something truly conveys.

sentence

빈칸에 들어갈 문장을 고르십시오.Choose the sentence that goes in the blank.

💡 Memory tip: 문 (writing/text) + 장 (chapter/section) = a unit of writing. A sentence is the fundamental building block of any passage.

vocabulary

TOPIK을 위해 어휘를 많이 외워야 해요.You need to memorize a lot of vocabulary for TOPIK.

💡 Memory tip: 어 (language/word) + 휘 (collection/gathering) = a collection of words. Building your 어휘 is the foundation of all language skills.

interpretation / analysis (of text)

이 문장의 올바른 해석은 무엇입니까?What is the correct interpretation of this sentence?

💡 Memory tip: 해 (explain/solve) + 석 (analyze/unravel) = to unravel and explain something. Interpreting a passage means breaking it down to understand its true meaning.

answer (on a test)

답을 고른 후 답안지에 표시하세요.After choosing an answer, mark it on the answer sheet.

💡 Memory tip: Short and direct -- 답 is just "answer." It appears constantly in test instructions: 답을 고르다 (to choose an answer), 답을 쓰다 (to write an answer).

correct answer

정답은 3번입니다.The correct answer is number 3.

💡 Memory tip: 정 (correct/right) + 답 (answer) = the correct answer. On exams, 정답 is what you are looking for, and 오답 is what you want to avoid.