Chapter 9 of 17 · Explore the Korean path
Words · Chapter 9 of 17
Big, small, sad: describing words are verbs
A describing word is a verb: 크다 means “is big” and ends a sentence on its own. Learn eight of them, and the second shape each takes in front of a noun.
≈ 2 min of reading · Practise at your own pace
What’s in this chapter
- A describing word is a verb: 크다
keu-da means “is big” and finishes a sentence like any other verb — no is-word needed. - To lean one on a noun, swap the 다 for ㄴ or 은: 큰 나무
keun na-mu “a big tree”. - Most colours work the same way: 노랗다
no-ra-ta “is yellow” → 노란 새 no-ran sae “a yellow bird”.
The bear is big.
곰은 크다.
go-meun keu-da
No is-word anywhere, because the bigness is the verb.
Eight describing words that end a sentence
A describing word tells you what something is like. Notice that every English gloss starts with “is”, because each of these is a verb.
| English | Korean | English | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|
| is big | 크다 | is old | 늙다 |
| is small | 작다 | is pretty | 예쁘다 |
| is good | 좋다 | is happy | 행복하다 |
| is bad | 나쁘다 | is sad | 슬프다 |
The same word, leaning on a noun
Each of these words has a second shape for standing in front of a noun. Follow the row across, then read the example beside it.
크다
큰
큰 나무
작다
작은
작은 새
노랗다
노란
노란 새
Which shape is it wearing?
- 작은 집
One of the two shapes of 작다. Which job is it doing?
Show answer +Hide answer −
작은 집ja-geun jip “a small house”. The leaning shape. - 집은 작다.
The same word at the other end — so no is-word is needed.
Show answer +Hide answer −
ji-beun jak-tta — “The house is small.” - 좋은 친구다.
A leaning shape and a glued is-word in one line.
Show answer +Hide answer −
jo-eun chin-gu-da — “(He) is a good friend.”
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