LEARN + KOREAN / Note 23 TOPIK I

Dressed for It (입다 vs 신다)

There’s no single verb for “wear” in Korean. What you’re putting on decides the verb: 입다 for clothes, 신다 for shoes and socks, 쓰다 for anything on your head or face, 매다 for anything tied on like a tie, 차다 for watches and accessories, 들다 for bags you’re carrying, 끼다 for rings and gloves.

티셔츠를 입었어요.

tisyeocheureul ibeosseoyo.

I wore a t-shirt.

청바지를 입어요.

cheongbajireul ibeoyo.

I wear jeans.

운동화를 신어요.

undonghwareul sineoyo.

I wear sneakers.

모자를 써요.

mojareul sseoyo.

I wear a hat.

넥타이를 매요.

nektaireul maeyo.

I wear a tie.

In Real Life

Mixing these up is one of the more noticeable beginner slips, because unlike a lot of grammar mistakes, this one draws a mental picture. Say 모자를 신어요 and you’ve technically just claimed to wear a hat on your feet.

Shopping For It

운동화를 사고 싶어요.

undonghwareul sago sipeoyo.

I want to buy sneakers.

구두가 조금 불편해요.

guduga jogeum bulpyeonhaeyo.

The shoes are a bit uncomfortable.

이 바지가 커요.

i bajiga keoyo.

These pants are big.

In Real Life

Every 색 word names a hue: 빨간색 is literally “red hue.” Pair one with a clothing noun and you’ve described an outfit, 빨간 티셔츠, “red t-shirt,” no separate adjective grammar required yet, that gets its own lesson soon.

Vocabulary

Clothing

Korean	English
운동복 undongbok	sportswear
정장 jeongjang	suit
구두 gudu	dress shoes
바지 baji	pants
옷 ot	clothes
신발 sinbal	shoes (general term)
안경 angyeong	glasses
잠옷 jamot	pajamas

Colors

Korean	English
빨간색 ppalgansaek	red
주황색 juhwangsaek	orange
노란색 noransaek	yellow
초록색 choroksaek	green
하늘색 haneulsaek	sky blue
파란색 paransaek	blue
남색 namsaek	navy
보라색 borasaek	purple
분홍색 bunhongsaek	pink
회색 hoesaek	gray
검정색 geomjeongsaek	black
흰색 huinsaek	white
밤색 bamsaek	brown