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Irregular Verb Conjugation Summary

Keywords
불규칙 활용
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Grammar
🎯
TL;DR 🦄
  • 🔁 Irregular conjugation = some Korean verbs/descriptive verbs change their stem before certain endings.
  • 🧲 The big trigger is usually an ending that begins with a vowel, especially -아/어요 (polite present ending: “do/is”).
  • 🧠 Don’t memorize chaos — memorize each family: ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, 르, 러, and ㅎ.
🔊
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🌈 The Big Picture

Most Korean verbs and descriptive verbs are polite little rule-followers. You remove 다 (dictionary ending), add the ending, and go on with your day. ✨
  • 가다 [ga-da] — to go → 가요 [ga-yo] — go / goes
  • 먹다 [meok-da] — to eat → 먹어요 [meo-geo-yo] — eat / eats
  • 좋다 [jo-ta] — to be good → 좋아요 [jo-a-yo] — is good
 
Irregulars are the rebels. 🎸 They still follow patterns — just different patterns. The stem changes shape when it meets certain endings, especially vowel-starting endings like -아/어요 (polite present), -아서/어서 (because/and then), and -(으)면 (if/when).
 
The key idea: the dictionary form may hide the real spoken form. 듣다 [deut-da] means “to listen,” but “I listen” is 들어요 [deu-reo-yo], not 듣어요. Tiny stem change, big fluency upgrade. 🎧

🎨 The Core Irregular Family

Here are the main irregular families you’ll see again and again.
 

1. ㄷ irregular — ㄷ becomes ㄹ before a vowel

  • 듣다 [deut-da] — to listen → 들어요 [deu-reo-yo] — listen
  • 걷다 [geot-da] — to walk → 걸어요 [geo-reo-yo] — walk
  • 묻다 [mut-da] — to ask → 물어요 [mu-reo-yo] — ask
But not every ㄷ verb changes. 받다 [bat-da] — to receive → 받아요 [ba-da-yo] — receive. This one is regular. 📦
 

2. ㅂ irregular — ㅂ often becomes 우/오 before a vowel

  • 춥다 [chup-da] — to be cold → 추워요 [chu-wo-yo] — is cold ❄️
  • 덥다 [deop-da] — to be hot → 더워요 [deo-wo-yo] — is hot 🔥
  • 어렵다 [eo-ryeop-da] — to be difficult → 어려워요 [eo-ryeo-wo-yo] — is difficult 🧩
  • 돕다 [dop-da] — to help → 도와요 [do-wa-yo] — help 🤝
Regular look-alike: 입다 [ip-da] — to wear → 입어요 [i-beo-yo] — wear. 👕
 

3. ㅅ irregular — ㅅ disappears before a vowel

  • 낫다 [nat-da] — to recover / get better → 나아요 [na-a-yo] — recover 🩹
  • 짓다 [jit-da] — to build / make → 지어요 [ji-eo-yo] — build 🏠
  • 붓다 [but-da] — to pour → 부어요 [bu-eo-yo] — pour 🫗
Regular look-alike: 웃다 [ut-da] — to laugh → 웃어요 [u-seo-yo] — laugh. 😂
 

4. 르 irregular — add an extra ㄹ, then use 라/러

  • 다르다 [da-reu-da] — to be different → 달라요 [dal-la-yo] — is different 🔀
  • 빠르다 [ppa-reu-da] — to be fast → 빨라요 [ppal-la-yo] — is fast 🏃
  • 모르다 [mo-reu-da] — to not know → 몰라요 [mol-la-yo] — don’t know 🤷
  • 부르다 [bu-reu-da] — to call / sing → 불러요 [bul-leo-yo] — call / sing 🎤
 

5. 러 irregular — some 르다 verbs keep 르 and add 러요

  • 이르다 [i-reu-da] — to reach → 이르러요 [i-reu-reo-yo] — reach 🏁
  • 푸르다 [pu-reu-da] — to be blue/green → 푸르러요 [pu-reu-reo-yo] — is blue/green 🌿
This family is small and more literary/formal than the everyday 르 family, but it explains why not every 르다 verb becomes ㄹ라/ㄹ러. 🧪
 

6. ㅎ irregular — ㅎ drops and the vowel often changes

  • 파랗다 [pa-rat-ta] — to be blue → 파래요 [pa-rae-yo] — is blue 🌊
  • 빨갛다 [ppal-gat-ta] — to be red → 빨개요 [ppal-gae-yo] — is red 🍓
  • 하얗다 [ha-yat-ta] — to be white → 하얘요 [ha-yae-yo] — is white ☁️
  • 그렇다 [geu-reot-ta] — to be so / like that → 그래요 [geu-rae-yo] — is so / yes, that’s right
Regular look-alike: 좋다 [jo-ta] — to be good → 좋아요 [jo-a-yo] — is good. 👍
 

7. Tiny special crew — 하다 and 푸다

This is a small bonus corner, not a main irregular family. 하다 is everywhere because it attaches to many noun-based actions, like “study” and “cook.” 푸다 means “to scoop / ladle / dip out,” and it matters because its polite form is unexpectedly 퍼요, not 푸어요. 🥄
  • 하다 [ha-da] — to do → 해요 [hae-yo] — do ✅
  • 공부하다 [gong-bu-ha-da] — to study → 공부해요 [gong-bu-hae-yo] — study 📚
  • 요리하다 [yo-ri-ha-da] — to cook → 요리해요 [yo-ri-hae-yo] — cook 🍳
  • 푸다 [pu-da] — to scoop → 퍼요 [peo-yo] — scoop 🥄
  • 밥을 푸다 [ba-beul pu-da] — to scoop rice → 밥을 퍼요 [ba-beul peo-yo] — scoop rice 🍚

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

  • 저는 음악을 들어요. [jeo-neun eu-ma-geul deu-reo-yo] — I listen to music. 🎧
      • 듣다 (to listen) changes to 들어요; 음악 = music, 을 marks the thing being listened to.
  • 오늘 날씨가 추워요. [o-neul nal-ssi-ga chu-wo-yo] — The weather is cold today. ❄️
      • 춥다 (to be cold) changes to 추워요; 오늘 = today, 날씨 = weather.
  • 이 가방은 빨개요. [i ga-bang-eun ppal-gae-yo] — This bag is red. 🎒
      • 빨갛다 (to be red) changes to 빨개요; 이 = this, 가방 = bag.

🚨 Exception Rule(s)

Irregulars are exception families, not random mistakes. The same final letter can behave differently depending on the word.
 
  • ㄷ irregular: 듣다 → 들어요, but 받다 → 받아요.
  • ㅂ irregular: 춥다 → 추워요, but 입다 → 입어요.
  • ㅅ irregular: 낫다 → 나아요, but 웃다 → 웃어요.
  • ㅎ irregular: 빨갛다 → 빨개요, but 좋다 → 좋아요.
 
Shortcut: Learn irregular words as pairs: dictionary form + polite form. Your future self will send you snacks. 🍪

📚 Cross-check note

The irregular family definitions and examples above were cross-checked against korean.go.kr, including National Institute of Korean Language entries describing 불규칙 활용 (irregular conjugation), ㅎ 불규칙 활용 (ㅎ irregular conjugation), and ㄹ 불규칙 활용 (ㄹ-dropping irregular conjugation). ✅

🪞 Synonym Alert

  • 불규칙 활용 [bul-gyu-chik hwa-ryong] — irregular conjugation; standard grammar term.
  • 불규칙 용언 [bul-gyu-chik yong-eon] — irregular predicate; more technical grammar term.
  • 변칙 활용 [byeon-chik hwa-ryong] — variant/irregular conjugation; older or more technical wording.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 듣어요 → ✅ 들어요 (ㄷ irregular: ㄷ changes to ㄹ before a vowel.)
  • ❌ 추버요 → ✅ 추워요 (ㅂ irregular usually becomes 워요.)
  • ❌ 나서요 for “gets better” → ✅ 나아요 (ㅅ drops in 낫다.)
  • ❌ 다라요 → ✅ 달라요 (르 irregular adds an extra ㄹ.)
  • ❌ 좋아요 treated like ㅎ irregular → ✅ 좋아요 is simply regular; 좋다 is a look-alike, not part of the ㅎ irregular family.
 
🎉 Irregulars look spicy at first, but each family has a rhythm. Learn the family, catch the trigger, and conjugation starts feeling less like a haunted house and more like a dance step. 🕺✨
 

Try this exercise

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct polite present form. Say the full Korean sentence aloud, then open the Answer toggle to check the stem change.
1. 저는 음악을 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun eu-ma-geul ＿＿＿＿]
I listen to music. 🎧
Answer
들어요 [deu-reo-yo] — 듣다 is ㄷ irregular: ㄷ changes to ㄹ before -어요.
2. 오늘 날씨가 ＿＿＿＿.
[o-neul nal-ssi-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The weather is cold today. ❄️
Answer
추워요 [chu-wo-yo] — 춥다 is ㅂ irregular: ㅂ becomes 우, then combines as 워요.
3. 감기가 이제 ＿＿＿＿.
[gam-gi-ga i-je ＿＿＿＿]
The cold is getting better now. 🩹
Answer
나아요 [na-a-yo] — 낫다 is ㅅ irregular: ㅅ disappears before the vowel ending.
4. 두 색이 ＿＿＿＿.
[du sae-gi ＿＿＿＿]
The two colors are different. 🎨
Answer
달라요 [dal-la-yo] — 다르다 is 르 irregular: add ㄹ and use 라요.
5. 하늘이 ＿＿＿＿.
[ha-neu-ri ＿＿＿＿]
The sky is blue. 🌤️
Answer
파래요 [pa-rae-yo] — 파랗다 is ㅎ irregular: ㅎ drops and the vowel changes.
6. 저는 숙제를 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun suk-je-reul ＿＿＿＿]
I do homework. 📓
Answer
해요 [hae-yo] — 하다 becomes 해요.
7. 아이가 크게 ＿＿＿＿.
[a-i-ga keu-ge ＿＿＿＿]
The child laughs loudly. 😂
Answer
웃어요 [u-seo-yo] — 웃다 is regular, even though it ends in ㅅ.
8. 친구가 선물을 ＿＿＿＿.
[chin-gu-ga seon-mu-reul ＿＿＿＿]
My friend receives a gift. 🎁
Answer
받아요 [ba-da-yo] — 받다 is regular, even though it ends in ㄷ.
9. 이 국이 너무 ＿＿＿＿.
[i gu-gi neo-mu ＿＿＿＿]
This soup is too spicy. 🍲
Answer
매워요 [mae-wo-yo] — 맵다 is ㅂ irregular: ㅂ becomes 우 before the vowel ending.
10. 물을 컵에 ＿＿＿＿.
[mu-reul keo-be ＿＿＿＿]
I pour water into the cup. 🫗
Answer
부어요 [bu-eo-yo] — 붓다 is ㅅ irregular: ㅅ drops before -어요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 저 → I / me, polite
  • 음악 → music
  • 오늘 → today
  • 날씨 → weather
  • 감기 → cold / flu
  • 이제 → now
  • 색 → color
  • 하늘 → sky
  • 숙제 → homework
  • 아이 → child
  • 친구 → friend
  • 선물 → gift
  • 국 → soup
  • 물 → water
  • 컵 → cup
Tips 💡
  • Vowel-starting endings wake up many irregulars.
  • Look-alikes can be regular: 받다, 웃다.
🚀
Want more reps? Jump into the Practice Hub below when you’re ready. Your irregulars are about to get suspiciously well-behaved. 🕵️‍♀️
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Irregular Verb Conjugation Summary
 
Welcome to the irregular conjugation gym. 🏋️‍♀️ You’ll practice each family separately first, then mix them together so your brain learns to spot the pattern before the ending arrives. Keep the Korean sentence, romanization, and meaning connected like a tiny grammar sandwich. 🥪
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets anytime you want to hear a completed sentence.
 
📝 Instructions: Fill each blank with the correct polite present form. Say the completed sentence aloud, notice which irregular family caused the change, then open the Answer toggle.
 

Exercise 1 — ㄷ Irregular vs Regular Look-alikes 🎧

A. 저는 라디오를 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun ra-di-o-reul ＿＿＿＿]
I listen to the radio. 📻
Answer
들어요 [deu-reo-yo] — 듣다 changes ㄷ to ㄹ before the vowel ending.
B. 동생은 공원에서 ＿＿＿＿.
[dong-saeng-eun gong-wo-ne-seo ＿＿＿＿]
My younger sibling walks in the park. 🌳
Answer
걸어요 [geo-reo-yo] — 걷다 is ㄷ irregular: 걷 becomes 걸.
C. 손님이 길을 ＿＿＿＿.
[son-ni-mi gi-reul ＿＿＿＿]
The guest asks for directions. 🧭
Answer
물어요 [mu-reo-yo] — 묻다 meaning “to ask” changes to 물어요.
D. 택배 기사님이 상자를 ＿＿＿＿.
[taek-bae gi-sa-ni-mi sang-ja-reul ＿＿＿＿]
The delivery driver loads the box. 📦
Answer
실어요 [si-reo-yo] — 싣다 is ㄷ irregular: 싣 becomes 실.
E. 저는 이메일을 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun i-me-il-eul ＿＿＿＿]
I receive an email. 📧
Answer
받아요 [ba-da-yo] — 받다 is regular, so ㄷ stays.
F. 학생이 문을 ＿＿＿＿.
[hak-saeng-i mu-neul ＿＿＿＿]
The student closes the door. 🚪
Answer
닫아요 [da-da-yo] — 닫다 is regular, so it does not become 달아요.
G. 고양이가 방에서 ＿＿＿＿.
[go-yang-i-ga bang-e-seo ＿＿＿＿]
The cat sleeps in the room. 🐈‍⬛
Answer
자요 [ja-yo] — 자다 is regular; this one checks that you don’t over-hunt irregulars.
H. 친구가 제 이야기를 ＿＿＿＿.
[chin-gu-ga je i-ya-gi-reul ＿＿＿＿]
My friend listens to my story. 🗣️
Answer
들어요 [deu-reo-yo] — Same irregular verb 듣다, new sentence context.
I. 저는 매일 학교까지 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun mae-il hak-gyo-kka-ji ＿＿＿＿]
I walk to school every day. 🏫
Answer
걸어요 [geo-reo-yo] — 걷다 changes to 걸어요.
J. 직원이 짐을 차에 ＿＿＿＿.
[ji-gwo-ni ji-meul cha-e ＿＿＿＿]
The employee loads the luggage into the car. 🚗
Answer
실어요 [si-reo-yo] — 싣다 changes ㄷ to ㄹ before -어요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 저 → I / me, polite
  • 라디오 → radio
  • 동생 → younger sibling
  • 공원 → park
  • 손님 → guest
  • 길 → road / directions
  • 택배 기사님 → delivery driver
  • 상자 → box
  • 이메일 → email
  • 학생 → student
  • 문 → door
  • 고양이 → cat
  • 방 → room
  • 친구 → friend
  • 이야기 → story
  • 매일 → every day
  • 학교 → school
  • 직원 → employee
  • 짐 → luggage
  • 차 → car
Tip 💡 듣다, 걷다, 묻다, and 싣다 change; 받다 and 닫다 stay regular.
 

Exercise 2 — ㅂ Irregular Weather, Feelings, and Help ❄️

A. 겨울 아침이 정말 ＿＿＿＿.
[gyeo-ul a-chi-mi jeong-mal ＿＿＿＿]
The winter morning is really cold. 🌅
Answer
추워요 [chu-wo-yo] — 춥다 drops ㅂ and becomes 추워요.
B. 여름 교실이 ＿＿＿＿.
[yeo-reum gyo-si-ri ＿＿＿＿]
The summer classroom is hot. 🏫
Answer
더워요 [deo-wo-yo] — 덥다 follows the ㅂ irregular 워요 pattern.
C. 이 문법은 조금 ＿＿＿＿.
[i mun-beo-beun jo-geum ＿＿＿＿]
This grammar is a little difficult. 🧩
Answer
어려워요 [eo-ryeo-wo-yo] — 어렵다 becomes 어려워요.
D. 오늘 숙제는 꽤 ＿＿＿＿.
[o-neul suk-je-neun kkwae ＿＿＿＿]
Today’s homework is quite easy. 📓
Answer
쉬워요 [swi-wo-yo] — 쉽다 becomes 쉬워요.
E. 이 떡볶이는 아주 ＿＿＿＿.
[i tteok-bok-kki-neun a-ju ＿＿＿＿]
This tteokbokki is very spicy. 🌶️
Answer
매워요 [mae-wo-yo] — 맵다 becomes 매워요.
F. 강아지가 너무 ＿＿＿＿.
[gang-a-ji-ga neo-mu ＿＿＿＿]
The puppy is so cute. 🐶
Answer
귀여워요 [gwi-yeo-wo-yo] — 귀엽다 becomes 귀여워요.
G. 도서관이 집에서 ＿＿＿＿.
[do-seo-gwa-ni ji-be-seo ＿＿＿＿]
The library is close to home. 📚
Answer
가까워요 [ga-kka-wo-yo] — 가깝다 becomes 가까워요.
H. 이 가방은 너무 ＿＿＿＿.
[i ga-bang-eun neo-mu ＿＿＿＿]
This bag is too heavy. 🎒
Answer
무거워요 [mu-geo-wo-yo] — 무겁다 becomes 무거워요.
I. 선생님이 학생을 ＿＿＿＿.
[seon-saeng-ni-mi hak-saeng-eul ＿＿＿＿]
The teacher helps the student. 🤝
Answer
도와요 [do-wa-yo] — 돕다 is a special ㅂ irregular that becomes 도와요, not 도워요.
J. 저는 코트를 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun ko-teu-reul ＿＿＿＿]
I wear a coat. 🧥
Answer
입어요 [i-beo-yo] — 입다 is regular, so ㅂ stays.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 겨울 → winter
  • 아침 → morning
  • 여름 → summer
  • 교실 → classroom
  • 문법 → grammar
  • 조금 → a little
  • 오늘 → today
  • 숙제 → homework
  • 꽤 → quite
  • 떡볶이 → tteokbokki
  • 아주 → very
  • 강아지 → puppy
  • 도서관 → library
  • 집 → home
  • 가방 → bag
  • 선생님 → teacher
  • 학생 → student
  • 코트 → coat
Tip 💡 Most ㅂ irregulars become 워요, but 돕다 becomes 도와요.
 

Exercise 3 — ㅅ, 르, and 러 Shape-shifters 🧪

A. 상처가 천천히 ＿＿＿＿.
[sang-cheo-ga cheon-cheon-hi ＿＿＿＿]
The wound heals slowly. 🩹
Answer
나아요 [na-a-yo] — 낫다 drops ㅅ before the vowel ending.
B. 아버지가 집을 ＿＿＿＿.
[a-beo-ji-ga ji-beul ＿＿＿＿]
Father builds a house. 🏠
Answer
지어요 [ji-eo-yo] — 짓다 drops ㅅ and becomes 지어요.
C. 저는 우유를 그릇에 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun u-yu-reul geu-reu-se ＿＿＿＿]
I pour milk into the bowl. 🥛
Answer
부어요 [bu-eo-yo] — 붓다 drops ㅅ before -어요.
D. 동생이 크게 ＿＿＿＿.
[dong-saeng-i keu-ge ＿＿＿＿]
My younger sibling laughs loudly. 😄
Answer
웃어요 [u-seo-yo] — 웃다 is regular; the ㅅ stays.
E. 두 대답이 완전히 ＿＿＿＿.
[du dae-da-bi wan-jeon-hi ＿＿＿＿]
The two answers are completely different. 🔀
Answer
달라요 [dal-la-yo] — 다르다 is 르 irregular: add ㄹ and use 라요.
F. KTX가 정말 ＿＿＿＿.
[KTX-ga jeong-mal ＿＿＿＿]
The KTX is really fast. 🚄
Answer
빨라요 [ppal-la-yo] — 빠르다 becomes 빨라요.
G. 저는 답을 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun da-beul ＿＿＿＿]
I don’t know the answer. 🤷
Answer
몰라요 [mol-la-yo] — 모르다 becomes 몰라요.
H. 가수가 노래를 ＿＿＿＿.
[ga-su-ga no-rae-reul ＿＿＿＿]
The singer sings a song. 🎤
Answer
불러요 [bul-leo-yo] — 부르다 becomes 불러요.
I. 강물이 바다에 ＿＿＿＿.
[gang-mu-ri ba-da-e ＿＿＿＿]
The river water reaches the sea. 🌊
Answer
이르러요 [i-reu-reo-yo] — 이르다 meaning “to reach” is 러 irregular, so it keeps 르 and adds 러요.
J. 산빛이 봄에 ＿＿＿＿.
[san-bi-chi bo-me ＿＿＿＿]
The mountain color is blue-green in spring. 🌿
Answer
푸르러요 [pu-reu-reo-yo] — 푸르다 is 러 irregular, not the everyday 르 pattern.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 상처 → wound
  • 천천히 → slowly
  • 아버지 → father
  • 집 → house / home
  • 우유 → milk
  • 그릇 → bowl
  • 동생 → younger sibling
  • 크게 → loudly / greatly
  • 대답 → answer / reply
  • 완전히 → completely
  • 정말 → really
  • 답 → answer
  • 가수 → singer
  • 노래 → song
  • 강물 → river water
  • 바다 → sea
  • 산빛 → mountain color
  • 봄 → spring
Tip 💡 ㅅ drops, 르 adds an extra ㄹ, and the small 러 family keeps 르.
 

Exercise 4 — ㅎ Irregular Colors + Tiny Specials 🎨

A. 바다가 오늘 ＿＿＿＿.
[ba-da-ga o-neul ＿＿＿＿]
The sea is blue today. 🌊
Answer
파래요 [pa-rae-yo] — 파랗다 drops ㅎ and changes to 파래요.
B. 토마토가 ＿＿＿＿.
[to-ma-to-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The tomato is red. 🍅
Answer
빨개요 [ppal-gae-yo] — 빨갛다 becomes 빨개요.
C. 눈이 ＿＿＿＿.
[nu-ni ＿＿＿＿]
The snow is white. ❄️
Answer
하얘요 [ha-yae-yo] — 하얗다 becomes 하얘요.
D. 바나나가 아주 ＿＿＿＿.
[ba-na-na-ga a-ju ＿＿＿＿]
The banana is very yellow. 🍌
Answer
노래요 [no-rae-yo] — 노랗다 becomes 노래요.
E. 머리카락이 ＿＿＿＿.
[meo-ri-ka-ra-gi ＿＿＿＿]
The hair is black. 🖤
Answer
까매요 [kka-mae-yo] — 까맣다 becomes 까매요.
F. 네, ＿＿＿＿.
[ne, ＿＿＿＿]
Yes, that’s right. ✅
Answer
그래요 [geu-rae-yo] — 그렇다 becomes 그래요.
G. 기분이 ＿＿＿＿.
[gi-bu-ni ＿＿＿＿]
My mood is good. 😊
Answer
좋아요 [jo-a-yo] — 좋다 is regular; don’t force the ㅎ irregular pattern here.
H. 저는 한국어를 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun han-gu-geo-reul ＿＿＿＿]
I study Korean. 📚
Answer
공부해요 [gong-bu-hae-yo] — 공부하다 follows the 하다 → 해요 pattern.
I. 아버지가 저녁을 ＿＿＿＿.
[a-beo-ji-ga jeo-nyeo-geul ＿＿＿＿]
Father cooks dinner. 🍳
Answer
요리해요 [yo-ri-hae-yo] — 요리하다 becomes 요리해요.
J. 저는 밥을 숟가락으로 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun ba-beul sut-ga-ra-geu-ro ＿＿＿＿]
I scoop rice with a spoon. 🥄
Answer
퍼요 [peo-yo] — 푸다 is the tiny 우 irregular: 푸다 → 퍼요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 바다 → sea
  • 오늘 → today
  • 토마토 → tomato
  • 눈 → snow
  • 바나나 → banana
  • 머리카락 → hair
  • 네 → yes
  • 기분 → mood / feeling
  • 저 → I / me, polite
  • 한국어 → Korean language
  • 아버지 → father
  • 저녁 → dinner
  • 밥 → rice / meal
  • 숟가락 → spoon
Tip 💡 Many color words ending in ㅎ다 become 애요/래요, but 좋다 stays regular.
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. 친구가 제 말을 잘 ＿＿＿＿.
[chin-gu-ga je ma-reul jal ＿＿＿＿]
My friend listens to my words well. 👂
Answer
들어요 [deu-reo-yo] — Pitfall patrol: ❌ 듣어요 → ✅ 들어요.
B. 이 문제는 학생에게 ＿＿＿＿.
[i mun-je-neun hak-saeng-e-ge ＿＿＿＿]
This problem is difficult for the student. 🧠
Answer
어려워요 [eo-ryeo-wo-yo] — Pitfall patrol: ❌ 어렵어요 → ✅ 어려워요.
C. 환자가 오늘 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
[hwan-ja-ga o-neul ma-ni ＿＿＿＿]
The patient gets much better today. 🏥
Answer
나아요 [na-a-yo] — Pitfall patrol: ❌ 낫어요 → ✅ 나아요.
D. 제 생각은 선생님 생각과 ＿＿＿＿.
[je saeng-ga-geun seon-saeng-nim saeng-gak-gwa ＿＿＿＿]
My thought is different from the teacher’s thought. 💭
Answer
달라요 [dal-la-yo] — Pitfall patrol: ❌ 다라요 → ✅ 달라요.
E. 셔츠가 ＿＿＿＿.
[syeo-cheu-ga ＿＿＿＿]
The shirt is white. 👕
Answer
하얘요 [ha-yae-yo] — Pitfall patrol: ❌ 하얗아요 → ✅ 하얘요.
F. 저는 커피를 컵에 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun keo-pi-reul keo-be ＿＿＿＿]
I pour coffee into the cup. ☕
Answer
부어요 [bu-eo-yo] — 붓다 drops ㅅ; do not keep it as 붓어요.
G. 이 신발은 너무 ＿＿＿＿.
[i sin-ba-reun neo-mu ＿＿＿＿]
These shoes are too easy? No — this sentence means the shoes are too easy only if the lesson word is 쉽다; here, use the taught form carefully. 👟
Answer
쉬워요 [swi-wo-yo] — Grammar form practice: 쉽다 → 쉬워요. Naturalness note: this sentence needs a clear context, like “easy to put on.” A fuller natural sentence is 이 신발은 신기 쉬워요 — “These shoes are easy to put on.”
H. 엄마가 아이를 ＿＿＿＿.
[eom-ma-ga a-i-reul ＿＿＿＿]
Mom helps the child. 👩‍👧
Answer
도와요 [do-wa-yo] — Pitfall patrol: ❌ 도워요 → ✅ 도와요.
I. 저는 그 이름을 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeo-neun geu i-reu-meul ＿＿＿＿]
I don’t know that name. 🪪
Answer
몰라요 [mol-la-yo] — 모르다 becomes 몰라요, with an extra ㄹ.
J. 요리사가 국을 ＿＿＿＿.
[yo-ri-sa-ga gu-geul ＿＿＿＿]
The cook scoops the soup. 🍲
Answer
퍼요 [peo-yo] — 푸다 → 퍼요. Tiny verb, tiny exception, big “aha.” 🥄
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 친구 → friend
  • 말 → words / speech
  • 잘 → well
  • 문제 → problem
  • 학생 → student
  • 환자 → patient
  • 많이 → a lot / much
  • 생각 → thought
  • 선생님 → teacher
  • 셔츠 → shirt
  • 커피 → coffee
  • 컵 → cup
  • 신발 → shoes
  • 엄마 → mom
  • 아이 → child
  • 이름 → name
  • 요리사 → cook
  • 국 → soup
Tip 💡 Final boss rule: identify the dictionary form first, then ask whether that word belongs to an irregular family or is only a look-alike.
 
🎉 You made it through the irregular jungle. The trees still move sometimes, but now you know which ones are supposed to. 🌳🔁 Keep listening for these forms in real Korean, and the patterns will start popping out automatically.