Korean Vocabulary Guide
Essential Korean Words for Intermediate Learners: 60 Words from Real Articles
Date: October 23, 2026
Introduction
Already through the basics? These are your next 60 words. Every word on this list is one you will actually meet in the intermediate reading lessons on Learn Korean Today — real Korean articles, graded for learners. If the beginner list was the words of everyday life, this list is the words of the wider world: news, money, opinions, and change.
Each word comes with its romanization, its meaning, and a real example sentence from a lesson on this site. The words are grouped by theme — society & news, money & work, feelings & opinions, actions, describing words, and change — so you can learn them in sets of ten.
Studying for TOPIK 3 or 4? Pair this list with our TOPIK 3 grammar guide — these are the words that the intermediate patterns carry.
Each word comes with its romanization, its meaning, and a real example sentence from a lesson on this site. The words are grouped by theme — society & news, money & work, feelings & opinions, actions, describing words, and change — so you can learn them in sets of ten.
Studying for TOPIK 3 or 4? Pair this list with our TOPIK 3 grammar guide — these are the words that the intermediate patterns carry.
Part 1. Society & News
The vocabulary of Korean headlines — events, places, and the people caught in the middle of them.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 논란 nollan | controversy; debate | 이 주제는 많은 논란을 일으켰어요.This topic caused a lot of debate. |
| 비판 bipan | criticism | 이 보도에 대한 비판이 있었습니다.There was criticism of this report. |
| 사고 sago | accident | 안타까운 사고가 발생했어요.A tragic accident occurred. |
| 소식 sosik | news, information | 그의 은퇴 소식이 큰 화제가 되었어요.His retirement news became a major topic. |
| 전문가 jeonmunga | expert | 전문가들이 시장을 분석했어요.Experts analyzed the market. |
| 지역 jiyeok | region; area | 시골 지역을 방문하는 사람들이 늘었어요.More people are visiting rural areas. |
| 현장 hyeonjang | site, on-the-ground location | 현장의 목소리를 들어야 합니다.We must hear voices from the ground. |
| 시민 simin | citizen; member of the public | 시민들의 의견이 다양합니다.Citizens have various opinions. |
| 집회 jiphoe | rally; gathering | 노조 집회에 많은 사람이 왔어요.Many people attended the union gathering. |
| 문화 munhwa | culture | 전통 문화를 배우고 있습니다.I am learning traditional culture. |
Part 2. Money & Work
Money words for real life and the business pages — accounts, prices, pay, and property.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 경제 gyeongje | economy | 경제가 어려워졌어요.The economy has become difficult. |
| 부동산 budongsan | real estate | 부동산 가격이 올랐어요.Real estate prices have increased. |
| 현금 hyeongeum | cash | 현금으로 내면 더 싸요.It's cheaper if you pay in cash. |
| 비용 biyong | cost | 이 공연을 위해 많은 비용이 들 것 같아요.It seems like a lot of cost will be required for this performance. |
| 자산 jasan | asset | 많은 자산을 모으는 것이 목표예요.Accumulating many assets is the goal. |
| 주식 jusik | stocks | 주식에 투자하는 것이 유행이 되고 있습니다.Investing in stocks is becoming a trend. |
| 환율 hwanyul | exchange rate | 환율이 1,500원 수준에 있어요.The exchange rate is at the 1,500 won level. |
| 계좌 gyejwa | account (financial) | 은행 계좌를 확인했어요.I checked my bank account. |
| 적금 jeokgeum | regular savings | 오랫동안 적금을 했지만 이자가 낮아 실망했습니다.I was disappointed that the interest on my long-term savings was low. |
| 연금 yeongeum | pension | 연금까지 받아서 노후 생활이 여유로워졌어요.With their pension, their retirement life has become more comfortable. |
Part 3. Feelings & Opinions
What people think and feel — and how Korean puts it into words.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 관심 gwansim | interest; attention | 대중은 이 사건에 큰 관심을 가졌어요.The public had great interest in this case. |
| 의견 uigyeon | opinion, view | 다양한 의견이 있습니다.There are various opinions. |
| 이유 iyu | reason; cause | 해외 마라톤에 참가하는 이유가 무엇인가요?What is the reason for participating in overseas marathons? |
| 신뢰 silloe | trust; confidence | 신뢰 회복이 중요합니다.Restoring trust is important. |
| 충격 chunggyeok | shock | 이 비극적인 사건은 많은 사람들을 충격에 빠뜨렸습니다.This tragic incident shocked many people. |
| 의심 uisim | suspicion; doubt | 경찰은 그녀에 대한 의심을 조사하고 있어요.Police are investigating suspicions about her. |
| 걱정하다 geokjeonghada | to worry, be concerned | 상인들은 경제를 걱정해요.The merchants worry about the economy. |
| 긴장하다 ginjanghada | to be nervous | 첫 무대에서 많이 긴장했어요.I was very nervous at my first performance. |
| 공감하다 gonggamhada | to empathize | 그의 마음에 공감합니다.I empathize with his feelings. |
| 주장하다 jujanghada | to claim; to assert | 그는 자신이 무죄라고 주장했어요.He claimed that he was innocent. |
Part 4. Everyday Actions
Verbs for plans, decisions, and getting things done.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 선택하다 seontaekhada | to choose, to select | 고객들이 좋은 제품을 선택해요.Customers choose good products. |
| 결정하다 gyeoljeonghada | to decide | 오래 생각한 후에 은퇴를 결정했어요.After thinking for a long time, he decided to retire. |
| 기억하다 gieokhada | to remember; to recall | 우리는 그를 항상 기억할 거예요.We will always remember him. |
| 참가하다 chamgahada | to participate | 많은 사람들이 이 행사에 참가했어요.Many people participated in this event. |
| 방문하다 bangmunhada | to visit | 그는 시장을 방문했어요.He visited the market. |
| 시작하다 sijakhada | to begin; to start | 6개월 전에 시작했어요.I started 6 months ago. |
| 신청하다 sincheonghada | to apply for; to register | 온라인으로 마라톤에 신청할 수 있어요.You can register for the marathon online. |
| 해결하다 haegyeolhada | to solve; to resolve | 이 문제를 어떻게 해결할까요?How can we solve this problem? |
| 참석하다 chamseokhada | to attend | 그녀는 회의에 참석했습니다.She attended the meeting. |
| 인정하다 injeonghada | to admit; to acknowledge | 그는 실수를 인정했어요.He admitted his mistake. |
Part 5. Describing Words
Words that pin down what something is like — more precisely than 'good' and 'bad'.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 다양한 dayanghan | diverse, various, varied | 사람들은 다양한 이유로 줄을 서요.People stand in line for various reasons. |
| 복잡하다 bokjaphada | to be complicated | 상황이 매우 복잡해 보여요.The situation looks very complicated. |
| 비슷하다 biseuthada | to be similar, to resemble | 한국과 일본의 음식 문화가 비슷한 점이 많아요.Korean and Japanese food cultures have many similar aspects. |
| 편리하다 pyeollihada | to be convenient | 카드로 결제하는 것이 편리합니다.Paying with a card is convenient. |
| 자연스럽다 jayeonseureopda | to be natural; to be normal | 모유 수유는 자연스러운 행동입니다.Breastfeeding is a natural behavior. |
| 독특하다 dokteukhada | to be unique, distinctive | 독특한 맛이 많은 사람들을 끌었다.The unique taste attracted many people. |
| 현대적 hyeondaejeok | modern, contemporary | 현대적인 생각과 전통이 충돌합니다.Modern thinking and tradition clash. |
| 긍정적 geungjeongjeok | positive | 이 제품에 대한 반응이 매우 긍정적이에요.The response to this product has been very positive. |
| 특별한 teukbyeolhan | special | 그는 특별한 방식으로 사람들을 도왔어요.He helped people in a special way. |
| 개인적인 gaeinjeogin | personal; private | 개인적인 용도로 회사 돈을 썼어요.He used company money for personal purposes. |
Part 6. Change & Movement
Up, down, wider, worse — the words Korean news uses to track change.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 증가하다 jeunggahada | to increase | 타이완의 IT 제품 수출이 증가했습니다.Taiwan's IT product exports increased. |
| 상승 sangseung | rise | 전국의 아파트 가격이 상승 중입니다.Apartment prices are increasing nationwide. |
| 하락 harak | fall; drop | 서울 고가 아파트 가격이 하락하고 있습니다.The prices of high-priced apartments in Seoul are decreasing. |
| 급등 geupdeung | sharp rise | 주가가 급등했어요.The stock price rose sharply. |
| 급락 geumnak | sharp decline | 생산량이 급락했어요.Production volume dropped sharply. |
| 늘어나다 neureonada | to increase; to grow | 해외 마라톤 참가자가 계속 늘어나고 있어요.The number of overseas marathon participants continues to grow. |
| 확산되다 hwaksandoeda | to spread; to expand | 그 소식이 빠르게 확산되었습니다.That news spread quickly. |
| 확대하다 hwakdaehada | to expand; to enlarge | 사업을 확대하려고 합니다.We plan to expand our business. |
| 회복하다 hoebokhada | to recover; to regain | 한국이 독립을 회복했습니다.Korea recovered its independence. |
| 심화되다 simhwadoeda | to worsen; to intensify | 문제가 심화되었어요.The problem intensified. |
Pairs to Learn Together
Some words on this list are worth half as much alone as they are in pairs. Learn these three pairs as units:
상승 vs 하락 — rise and fall
Prices, rates, and temperatures go up (상승) and come down (하락). When the move is sudden, Korean switches to the sharper pair: 급등 (a sharp rise) and 급락 (a sharp drop). You now own both pairs — most market headlines are built from them.
신뢰 vs 의심 — trust and doubt
신뢰 is trust you build; 의심 is the doubt that replaces it. News stories about people and institutions usually live somewhere between these two words.
늘어나다 vs 심화되다 — more, and worse
늘어나다 says a number or amount grew. 심화되다 says a problem or conflict deepened. One counts, the other weighs — Korean keeps them apart, and so should you.
How to Study These Words
Save the words you miss to your flashcards and let spaced repetition keep them. Then read one intermediate lesson a day and highlight every list word you meet in the wild — at this level, recognition in real sentences is what turns a memorized word into a known one. Ten words a week is a good pace: one part at a time, in order.
What to Learn Next
• Review the foundations: Essential Korean Words for Beginners
• The patterns that carry these words: TOPIK 3 Grammar: The Complete Guide
• One level up: TOPIK 4 Grammar: The Complete Guide
• Put it all together: intermediate reading lessons, then try an advanced one.
• The patterns that carry these words: TOPIK 3 Grammar: The Complete Guide
• One level up: TOPIK 4 Grammar: The Complete Guide
• Put it all together: intermediate reading lessons, then try an advanced one.
Source: All 60 words and example sentences are drawn from the intermediate reading lessons published on Learn Korean Today.
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