Confusing Words · 13 pairs
Click a Korean word to hear it
1
to get hurt
to be closed
Both sound like [다치다]. 다치다 = injury at work. 닫히다 = a door or shop is closed.
2
to get better (illness)
to give birth
낫다 = recover (감기가 나았어요). 낳다 = give birth (아기를 낳았어요).
3
to send (by post)
to stick, attach
Both sound like [부치다]. 부치다 = send a letter or parcel. 붙이다 = attach a stamp or poster.
4
to be correct
to take charge of; to smell
Both sound like [맏따]. 맞다 = right. 맡다 = be responsible for a job, or smell something.
5
to build, make
to bark
Both sound like [짇따]. 집을 짓다 = build a house. 개가 짖다 = a dog barks.
6
surely, without fail
straight, neatly
Both sound like [반드시]. 반드시 = must, definitely. 반듯이 = put or stand something straight.
7
to be the same
to have (short for 가지다)
Both sound like [갇따]. 같다 = the same (나이가 같아요). 갖다 = have or own (시간을 갖다).
8
to forget
to connect, join
Both sound like [읻따]. 잊다 = forget (이름을 잊었어요). 잇다 = join two things (선을 잇다).
9
debt
light
Both sound like [빋]. 빚 = money you owe (빚을 갚다). 빛 = light (햇빛).
10
daytime
face; familiarity
Both sound like [낟]. 낮 = daytime (낮 근무 = day shift). 낯 = face, as in 낯설다 (unfamiliar).
11
to finish
to guess right, hit a target
Both sound like [마치다]. 마치다 = finish (일을 마치다). 맞히다 = get it right (정답을 맞히다).
12
to carry on the back
to turn over, knock over
Both sound like [업따]. 업다 = carry on your back (아이를 업다). 엎다 = knock or turn over (물을 엎었어요).
13
to be strong; to count
to leak
In everyday speech they sound the same. 세다 = strong (힘이 세다) or count (돈을 세다). 새다 = leak (물이 새요, 가스가 새요).
