Confusing Words · 13 pairs
Click a Korean word to hear it
1
to be different
to be wrong
다르다 compares two things that are not the same. 틀리다 means an answer or fact is incorrect. Say 생각이 달라요, not 생각이 틀려요.
2
to be small (size)
to be few, little (amount)
작다 is about size (작은 가방). 적다 is about quantity (월급이 적어요).
3
to borrow
to lend
빌리다 = you receive it. 빌려주다 = you give it to someone for a while.
4
to listen
to be heard
듣다 = you listen on purpose. 들리다 = a sound reaches you by itself.
5
to look, watch
to be seen, visible
보다 = you look on purpose. 보이다 = something comes into view.
6
to be late
to be slow
늦다 is about time (회사에 늦었어요). 느리다 is about speed (일이 느려요).
7
hours (how long)
o'clock (what time)
시간 counts how long (세 시간 일했어요 = worked 3 hours). 시 tells the time (세 시에 와요 = come at 3 o'clock).
8
to turn on
to open
켜다 = switch on a light or machine (불을 켜다). 열다 = open a door, window or box (문을 열다).
9
to turn off
to cut off, quit
끄다 = switch off a light, machine or fire (기계를 끄다). 끊다 = end a phone call or quit a habit (전화를 끊다, 담배를 끊다).
10
to wear (clothes)
to wear (shoes, socks)
입다 = clothes on the body (작업복을 입다). 신다 = on the feet (안전화를 신다). A hat or helmet is 쓰다.
11
to fix, repair
to change, exchange
고치다 = repair or correct the same thing (기계를 고치다). 바꾸다 = replace it with a different one (부품을 바꾸다).
12
to be sick, to hurt
to get injured
아프다 = pain or illness (머리가 아파요). 다치다 = an accident causes an injury (손을 다쳤어요).
13
to be easy
to be comfortable, convenient
쉽다 = not difficult (시험이 쉬워요). 편하다 = comfortable or convenient (신발이 편해요).
