As we all know, an adjective describes a noun. In sentences, we often see two different ways an adjective is used. It can be used with a “to be” verb to describe the subject, or it can come before the noun that it is describing.
Here is an example using the word cold:
A. The weather is cold.
B. The cold weather keeps me indoors.
Korean adjectives can also be used in two different ways.
In this article, we will go over the difference between Korean adjectives that come at the end of a sentence (similar to Example A) and adjectives that precede the nouns that they modify (similar to Example B).
Korean adjectives used as predicates
Korean adjectives (형용사), often called descriptive verbs in learning materials, can function as predicates and take endings for politeness and tense. They do not need a separate “to be” verb, and their conjugation is not identical to action verbs in every construction.
*For more information about verb endings, please refer to my article on verb tenses, “A Simple Guide to Verb Tenses: Past, Present, and Future.”
Let’s look at some examples using words that describe the weather.
| Verb-like adjective (dictionary form) |
Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 춥다 | [춥따] | To be cold |
| 덥다 | [덥따] | To be hot |
| 따뜻하다 | [따뜨타다] | To be warm |
| 시원하다 | [시원하다] | To be cool |
Like action verbs, Korean adjectives take predicate endings. The examples below show present descriptions, past descriptions, and predictions.
| Dictionary form | Present tense | Past tense | Future tense |
|---|---|---|---|
| 춥다 | 추워요 (It is cold.) |
추웠어요 [추워써요] (It was cold.) |
추울 거예요 [추울꺼예요] (It will probably be cold.) |
| 덥다 | 더워요 (It is hot.) |
더웠어요 [더워써요] (It was hot.) |
더울 거예요 [더울꺼예요] (It will probably be hot.) |
| 따뜻하다 | 따뜻해요 [따뜨태요] (It is warm.) |
따뜻했어요 [따뜨태써요] (It was warm.) |
따뜻할 거예요 [따뜨탈꺼예요] (It will probably be warm.) |
| 시원하다 | 시원해요 [시원해요] (It is cool.) |
시원했어요 [시원해써요] (It was cool.) |
시원할 거예요 [시원할 꺼예요] (It will probably be cool.) |
Let’s take a look at some example sentences using the above verb-like adjectives.
| Sentence | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 오늘은 날씨가 따뜻해요. | [오느른 날씨가 따뜨태요] | Today, the weather is warm. |
| 어제는 날씨가 추웠어요. | [어제는 날씨가 추워써요] | Yesterday, the weather was cold. |
| 내일은 날씨가 더울 거예요. | [내이른 날씨가 더울꺼예요] | Tomorrow, the weather probably will be hot. |
Korean adjectives that come before nouns
In the above examples, the adjective acts as the predicate and is the main information that is being conveyed about the weather.
To modify a noun, many adjectives take -(으)ㄴ: add ㄴ after a vowel stem and 은 after a consonant stem. A final ㄹ drops before ㄴ, and irregular stems can change. Adjectives ending in 있다 or 없다 commonly take -는 instead, as in 맛있는 and 맛없는.
Let’s see how it looks in practice, using the same four words:
춥다: 추우 + ㄴ = 추운
덥다: 더우 + ㄴ = 더운
따뜻하다: 따뜻하 + ㄴ = 따뜻한 [따뜨탄]
시원하다: 시원하 + ㄴ = 시원한 [시원한]
Once this change has been made, the words can no longer stand on their own. These forms modify a following noun; the noun phrase can have different roles in a sentence.
추운 날씨 – cold weather
더운 공기 – hot air
따뜻한 담요 [따뜨탄 담뇨] – warm blanket
시원한 바람 [시원한 바람] – cool wind
The adjective and noun form a noun phrase, which can be a subject, object, or another part of the sentence.
저는 추운 날씨를 좋아해요 [저는 추운 날씨를 조아해요].
I like cold weather. (“Cold weather” is the object of the sentence.)
요즘 추운 날들이 너무 많아요 [요즘 추운 날드리 너무 마나요].
These days, there are too many cold days. (“Cold days” is the subject of the sentence – literally translated, the sentence reads, “These days, cold days are too many.”)
*많아요 (many) is a verb-like adjective, and 너무 (too) is an adverb for 많아요.
To simplify the difference between the two types of adjectives:
- A conjugated Korean adjective can serve as the predicate without a separate “to be” verb.
- Use the appropriate noun-modifying ending, usually -(으)ㄴ for adjectives, while accounting for irregular forms and 있다/없다 words.
Below is a list of adjectives (including the four given above) for you to use as a reference:
A list of 20 common Korean adjectives
| Adjective | Verb-like adjective | Adjective before a noun |
|---|---|---|
| 춥다 [춥따] to be cold |
추워요 is/am/are cold |
추운 cold (+noun) |
| 덥다 [덥따] to be hot |
더워요 is/am/are hot |
더운 hot (+noun) |
| 따뜻하다 [따뜨타다] to be warm |
따뜻해요 [따뜨태요] is/am/are warm |
따뜻한 [따뜨탄] warm (+noun) |
| 시원하다 [시원하다] to be cool |
시원해요 [시원해요] is/am/are cool |
시원한 [시원한] cool (+noun) |
| 좋다 [조타] to be good |
좋아요 [조아요] is/am/are good |
좋은 [조은] good (+noun) |
| 나쁘다 to be bad |
나빠요 is/am/are bad |
나쁜 bad (+noun) |
| 크다 to be big |
커요 is/am/are big |
큰 big (+noun) |
| 작다 [작따] to be small |
작아요 [자가요] is/am/are small |
작은 [자근] small (+noun) |
| 길다 to be long |
길어요 [기러요] is/am/are long |
긴 [긴] long (+noun) |
| 짧다 [짤따] to be short |
짧아요 [짤바요] is/am/are short |
짧은 [짤븐] short (+noun) |
| 싸다 to be cheap |
싸요 is/am/are cheap |
싼 cheap (+noun) |
| 비싸다 to be expensive |
비싸요 is/am/are expensive |
비싼 expensive (+noun) |
| 기쁘다 to be glad, to be joyful |
기뻐요 is/am/are glad, joyful |
기쁜 joyful (+noun) |
| 슬프다 to be sad |
슬퍼요 is/am/are sad |
슬픈 sad (+noun) |
| 행복하다 [행보카다] to be happy |
행복해요 [행보캐요] is/am/are happy |
행복한 [행보칸] happy (+noun) |
| 아프다 to hurt, to be sick |
아파요 is/am/are sick, painful |
아픈 painful (+noun) |
| 예쁘다 to be pretty |
예뻐요 is/am/are pretty |
예쁜 pretty (+noun) |
| 맛있다 [마싯따] to taste good |
맛있어요 [마시써요] tastes good |
맛있는 [마신는] delicious (+noun) |
| 맛없다 [마덥따] to taste bad |
맛없어요 [마덥써요] tastes bad |
맛없는 [마덤는] bad-tasting (+noun) |
| 재밌다 [재밋따] to be fun/interesting |
재밌어요 [재미써요] is/am/are fun/interesting |
재밌는 [재민는] fun/interesting (+noun) |
Interesting Fact
The last three adjectives contain 있다 (“exist / have”) or 없다 (“not exist / not have”). 재밌다 is a shortened form of 재미있다. The related expressions below help explain their meanings; these adjectives take -는 when modifying a noun.
맛이 있어요. → 맛있어요. (tastes good)
Literally translated: “Taste does exist.”
맛이 없어요. → 맛없어요. (tastes bad)
Literally translated: “Taste does not exist.”
재미가 있어요. → 재밌어요. (is fun/interesting)
Literally translated: “Fun does exist.”
Knowing that “재밌어요” means something is fun or interesting, can you guess how you would say that something is NOT fun or interesting?
You are right!! You would say “재미없어요.” And you would use “재미없는” in front of a noun!
Let’s look at some more examples of the two different types of adjectives in full sentences.
Examples of Korean adjectives in sentences
저 남자는 키가 커요. That man is tall.
저는 키 큰 남자를 좋아해요 [저는 키큰 남자를 조아해요]. I like tall men.
이 영화는 슬퍼요 [이 영화는 슬퍼요]. This movie is sad.
어제 슬픈 영화를 봤어요 [어제 슬픈 영화를 봐써요]. I saw a sad movie yesterday.
비행기 표가 너무 비싸요. The airline ticket is too expensive.
비싼 물건이 가격값을 해요 [비싼 물거니 가격깝쓸 해요]. Expensive items are worth the price.
저는 오늘 너무 행복해요 [저는 오늘 너무 행보캐요]. I am so happy today.
올해는 행복한 날들이 많기를 바라요 [오래는 행보칸 날드리 만키를 바라요]. I hope there will be many happy days this year.
이 에피소드가 아주 재밌어요 [이 에피쏘드가 아주 재미써요]. This episode is very interesting/fun.
우리는 하루 종일 재미없는 대화만 했어요 [우리는 하루 종일 재미엄는 대화만 해써요]. We had only uninteresting conversations all day.
Conclusion
Now that I have given you enough ammunition with a list of useful adjectives, you should practice using them to create your own Korean sentences in various different ways. Practice adding the verb endings, as well as converting them to modify nouns.
In time, you will gradually add even more adjectives to your vocabulary!
As always, please feel free to leave questions or comments below!
REVIEW AND REPEAT DAILY, AND YOU WILL SEE PROGRESS… 화이팅!!
Beginner answer
How do Korean adjectives work?
Korean adjectives act more like descriptive verbs, so beginners should learn them inside sentence patterns. That makes them easier to use in real Korean instead of memorizing isolated word lists.
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