If you've watched even a few K-dramas, you already know more Korean than you think — you just don't know that you know it. These 100 words are the ones you've heard hundreds of times already: every drama cycle runs through the same greetings, the same reactions, the same "잠시만요!" from a character running down a corridor.
Learn these and you'll go from "I recognize that word" to understanding a good chunk of casual dialogue — and every drama becomes a study tool.
Greetings & politeness (1–10)#
| # | Hangul | Romanization | Meaning | Drama context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Hello (formal) | Said in every single episode, guaranteed |
| 2 | 안녕 | annyeong | Hi / bye (casual) | Between friends, siblings |
| 3 | 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Thank you (formal) | Bowing scenes |
| 4 | 고마워 | gomawo | Thanks (casual) | Friends, after a favor |
| 5 | 미안해 | mianae | Sorry (casual) | Most passionate apologies |
| 6 | 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida | I apologize (formal) | Workplace apologies |
| 7 | 네 | ne | Yes / okay | Everyone, constantly |
| 8 | 아니요 | aniyo | No / not at all | Denials, polite refusal |
| 9 | 여보세요 | yeoboseyo | Hello? (on phone) | Every phone call ever |
| 10 | 잠시만요 | jamsimanyo | One moment | Doorway interruptions |
Reactions & exclamations (11–25)#
| # | Hangul | Romanization | Meaning | Drama context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 진짜 | jinjja | Really? | Shock, disbelief |
| 12 | 정말 | jeongmal | Truly / seriously | Earnest emphasis |
| 13 | 대박 | daebak | Wow / jackpot | Sudden good news |
| 14 | 와 | wa | Wow | Admiration |
| 15 | 어 | eo | Huh? / oh | Confusion, realization |
| 16 | 아이고 | aigo | Oh dear | Older characters, exasperation |
| 17 | 어머 | eomeo | Oh my | The classic gasp |
| 18 | 완전 | wanjeon | Totally | Slang-y emphasis |
| 19 | 되게 | doegae | Really / very | Casual intensifier |
| 20 | 짜증나 | jjajeungna | So annoying | Frustration scenes |
| 21 | 걱정돼 | geokjeongdwae | I'm worried | Concern about the lead |
| 22 | 미치겠어 | michigesseo | Going crazy | Stress, comic or dramatic |
| 23 | 괜찮아 | gwaenchanha | It's okay / fine | Comfort scenes |
| 24 | 축하해 | chukhahae | Congrats | Celebrations |
| 25 | 세상에 | sesange | Oh my god | Huge reveals |
Time words (26–35)#
| # | Hangul | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 오늘 | oneul | Today |
| 27 | 내일 | naeil | Tomorrow |
| 28 | 어제 | eoje | Yesterday |
| 29 | 지금 | jigeum | Now |
| 30 | 시간 | sigan | Time |
| 31 | 나중에 | najunge | Later |
| 32 | 벌써 | beolsseo | Already |
| 33 | 아직 | ajik | Still / not yet |
| 34 | 바로 | baro | Right away / exactly |
| 35 | 항상 | hangsang | Always |
People & how to address them (36–48)#
| # | Hangul | Romanization | Meaning | Drama context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 사람 | saram | Person | |
| 37 | 친구 | chingu | Friend | |
| 38 | 가족 | gajok | Family | |
| 39 | 오빠 | oppa | Older brother (girl→boy) | The word half of pop culture knows |
| 40 | 언니 | eonni | Older sister (girl→girl) | Fights over who says this |
| 41 | 누나 | nuna | Older sister (boy→girl) | What male leads say |
| 42 | 형 | hyeong | Older brother (boy→boy) | Buddy cop energy |
| 43 | 아저씨 | ajeossi | Middle-aged man | Convenience store owners |
| 44 | 아줌마 | ajumma | Middle-aged woman | Market scenes |
| 45 | 선배 | seonbae | Senior / upperclassman | School & office dramas |
| 46 | 후배 | hubae | Junior | School & office dramas |
| 47 | 여자 | yeoja | Woman / girl | |
| 48 | 남자 | namja | Man / boy |
Everyday verbs (49–64)#
| # | Hangul | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 가다 | gada | To go |
| 50 | 오다 | oda | To come |
| 51 | 하다 | hada | To do |
| 52 | 먹다 | meokda | To eat |
| 53 | 마시다 | masida | To drink |
| 54 | 보다 | boda | To see / watch |
| 55 | 듣다 | deutda | To listen |
| 56 | 말하다 | malhada | To speak |
| 57 | 알다 | alda | To know |
| 58 | 모르다 | moreuda | To not know |
| 59 | 좋아하다 | joahada | To like |
| 60 | 싫어하다 | sireohada | To dislike |
| 61 | 주다 | juda | To give |
| 62 | 받다 | batda | To receive / get |
| 63 | 만나다 | mannada | To meet |
| 64 | 기다리다 | gidarida | To wait |
Everyday nouns (65–80)#
| # | Hangul | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | 집 | jip | House / home |
| 66 | 학교 | hakgyo | School |
| 67 | 회사 | hoesa | Company / office |
| 68 | 밥 | bap | Rice / a meal |
| 69 | 물 | mul | Water |
| 70 | 돈 | don | Money |
| 71 | 일 | il | Work / a task |
| 72 | 말 | mal | Words / language |
| 73 | 생각 | saenggak | Thought |
| 74 | 마음 | maeum | Heart / mind |
| 75 | 길 | gil | Road / path |
| 76 | 차 | cha | Car |
| 77 | 전화 | jeonhwa | Phone / call |
| 78 | 약속 | yaksok | Promise / appointment |
| 79 | 사진 | sajin | Photo |
| 80 | 이야기 | iyagi | Story / talk |
Feelings (81–92)#
| # | Hangul | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 사랑 | sarang | Love |
| 82 | 행복 | haengbok | Happiness |
| 83 | 슬프다 | seulpeuda | To be sad |
| 84 | 화나다 | hwanada | To be angry |
| 85 | 기쁘다 | gippeuda | To be glad |
| 86 | 심심하다 | simsimhada | To be bored |
| 87 | 피곤하다 | pigonhada | To be tired |
| 88 | 배고프다 | baegopeuda | To be hungry |
| 89 | 보고 싶다 | bogo sipda | To miss someone |
| 90 | 그립다 | geuripda | To long for |
| 91 | 두렵다 | duryeopda | To be scared |
| 92 | 설레다 | seolleda | To flutter / be excited (about love) |
Connectors & question words (93–100)#
| # | Hangul | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | 그래서 | geuraeseo | So / therefore |
| 94 | 그런데 | geureonde | But / by the way |
| 95 | 하지만 | hajiman | However (formal) |
| 96 | 그리고 | geurigo | And |
| 97 | 아니면 | animyeon | Or / otherwise |
| 98 | 왜 | wae | Why |
| 99 | 뭐 | mwo | What |
| 100 | 어떻게 | eotteoke | How |
How to actually absorb them#
Recognition is not recall, so turn your dramas into a drill:
- Keep a list of new words per episode — you'll find most of these 100 appear in your very first episode.
- Watch with Korean subtitles on, pausing at words you know. The moment of "I know that word!" strengthens the connection far more than any flashcard.
- Shadow the lines — replay a short line, repeat it aloud, match the intonation. This is speaking practice you get for free.
Start with the reactions (11–25) and politeness (1–10): they're the highest frequency, the shortest, and the ones you'll hear in every scene. By episode five you'll be answering your TV with "진짜?" before the character does.
Related: Learn Korean, Part 1: Hangul — Read Korean in One Sitting and Learn Korean, Part 7: Survival Phrases.
