Confusing Words · 12 pairs
Click a Korean word to hear it
1
to teach
to point at
가르치다 = teach a subject or skill. 가리키다 = point to something with a finger.
2
to increase
to stretch, lengthen
늘리다 = make more or bigger (time, money, people). 늘이다 = stretch something longer (rope, rubber band).
3
to forget
to lose (an item)
잊어버리다 = it leaves your memory. 잃어버리다 = it leaves your hands (wallet, phone).
4
to fit, match, adjust
to guess right, hit a target
맞추다 = make two things fit (시간을 맞추다). 맞히다 = get the answer right or hit a target (정답을 맞히다).
5
to hope, wish
to fade (colour)
바라다 = hope (합격하기 바라요). 바래다 = colour fading in the sun.
6
not (before the verb)
not (after -지)
Both make a sentence negative. 안 goes before the verb (안 가요). 않다 comes after -지 (가지 않아요).
7
become (stem 되-)
short for 되어
돼 is short for 되어: if 되어 fits, write 돼 (안 돼요, 됐어요). Before other endings keep 되 (되고, 되면, 될 거예요).
8
a little later
stay, and then
이따가 = later today (이따가 전화할게요). 있다가 = stay somewhere, then do something (집에 있다가 나갔어요).
9
to iron (clothes)
to boil down (medicine, tea)
다리다 = iron clothes (옷을 다리다). 달이다 = boil herbal medicine down (약을 달이다).
10
to be numb, have pins and needles
to salt, pickle
저리다 = 다리가 저려요 (my legs are numb). 절이다 = 배추를 절이다 (salt cabbage for kimchi).
11
to open wide, widen
to start, hold (an event, business)
벌리다 = widen a gap (입을 벌리다, 간격을 벌리다). 벌이다 = start something (사업을 벌이다, 잔치를 벌이다).
12
to pass through, go via
to clear up (fog, clouds)
거치다 = 부산을 거쳐서 왔어요 (came via Busan). 걷히다 = 안개가 걷혔어요 (the fog cleared).
