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Learn Korean expressions for getting up, meals, work, household tasks, and bedtime. The morning and later-day tables have 22 entries, mixing dictionary-form vocabulary with complete polite sentences. Then practise the four plan/future examples and the present-tense examples below.
I bet you have wondered about how to say these things in Korean. Well, today we are going to cover the basic vocabulary needed for you to talk about your daily routine in Korean.
Let’s start with the morning routine in Korean:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 일어날 시간이에요. | ireonal siganieyo | It’s time to get up. |
| 좋은 아침이에요. | joeun achimieyo | Good morning. |
| 기지개를 켜다 | gijigaereul kyeoda | to stretch one’s body (for example, after waking) |
| 이불을 개다 | ibureul gaeda | to fold the bedding |
| 샤워를 하다 | syaworeul hada | to take a shower |
| 이를 닦다 | ireul dakda | to brush one’s teeth |
| 옷을 입다 | oseul ipda | to get dressed |
| 아침을 먹다 | achimeul meokda | to eat breakfast |
| 일하러 가다 | ilhareo gada | to go to work |
| 늦잠을 잤어요. | neutjameul jasseoyo | I slept in / overslept. (Sleeping until late, not going to bed late.) |
| 늦어서 미안합니다. | neujeoseo mianhamnida | I’m sorry I’m late. |
Afternoon and evening routines:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 점심을 먹다 | jeomsimeul meokda | to eat lunch |
| 일을 하다 | ireul hada | to work |
| 공부를 하다 | gongbureul hada | to study |
| 집에 오다 | jibe oda | to come home |
| 운동을 하다 | undongeul hada | to exercise |
| 저녁을 먹다 | jeonyeogeul meokda | to eat dinner |
| 설거지를 하다 | seolgeojireul hada | to wash the dishes |
| 빨래를 하다 | ppallaereul hada | to do the laundry |
| 책을 읽다 | chaegeul ikda | to read a book |
| 잠자리에 들다 | jamjarie deulda | to go to bed |
| 잠을 자다 | jameul jada | to sleep |
Sentence structure and examples
The expressions ending in 다 are dictionary forms, not commands. The complete examples ending in 요 or 합니다 use polite speech. To tell someone what you plan to do, you can use a verb stem followed by -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
Remove 다 from the dictionary form. Add ㄹ 거예요 after a vowel, or 을 거예요 after a consonant. A stem already ending in ㄹ keeps that ㄹ. Irregular verbs may change their stem, so the pattern cannot be applied mechanically to every verb.
| Dictionary form | Plan or future statement | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 하다 — to do | 빨래를 할 거예요. ppallaereul hal geoyeyo |
I’m going to do the laundry. |
| 먹다 — to eat | 저녁을 먹을 거예요. jeonyeogeul meogeul geoyeyo |
I’m going to eat dinner. |
| 오다 — to come | 집에 올 거예요. jibe ol geoyeyo |
I’m going to come home. |
| 읽다 — to read | 책을 읽을 거예요. chaegeul ilgeul geoyeyo |
I’m going to read a book. |
Describe your routine in everyday polite speech
| Korean sentence | Revised Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 아침을 먹어요. | achimeul meogeoyo. | I eat breakfast. |
| 책을 읽어요. | chaegeul ilgeoyo. | I read a book. |
| 옷을 입어요. | oseul ibeoyo. | I get dressed. |
Compare 읽다 (ikda) with 읽어요 (ilgeoyo) and 읽을 거예요 (ilgeul geoyeyo): pronunciation changes when a vowel follows the stem. 입다 uses the regular form 입어요 here, despite ending in ㅂ. Do not assume every ㅂ stem is irregular. 좋은 아침이에요 is a morning greeting; 안녕하세요 is also a useful general greeting at any time of day.
Here the subject “I” is understood from context. The same ending can also describe a prediction; its meaning depends on the sentence and situation.
Other Korean vocabulary lists you should check out:
Korean Vocabulary: Jobs and Professions
Korean Emotion Vocabulary: How to Express Your Feelings in Korean
All About Baby! Baby-Related Korean Vocabulary
Conclusion
Describe three things you do on a usual day with present-tense forms, then one thing you plan to do with -(으)ㄹ 거예요. Check meanings and recordings in the Korean Basic Dictionary. Repeat a few complete sentences in context rather than only memorizing dictionary forms.
Practise a few sentences daily.
Listen to words and sample sentences in the Korean Basic Dictionary.
