How many TOPIK 1 vocabulary do you need?
For TOPIK 1, a good target is about 800 core Korean words. This should cover the basic topics you are likely to meet, such as greetings, numbers, family, food, places, time, shopping, weather, and daily activities.
If you are preparing for the full TOPIK 1 test, which includes both Level 1 and Level 2, you can gradually build toward 1,500-2,000 words.
250+ TOPIK 1 vocabulary list by topic
To make learning easier, we’ve grouped these TOPIK 1 vocabulary into everyday topics you’ll actually use.
1. Greetings and basic expressions
Let’s start with the phrases you will hear and use all the time in simple Korean conversations.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Hello |
| 안녕하십니까 | annyeonghasimnikka | Hello, formal |
| 여보세요 | yeoboseyo | Hello, on the phone |
| 반갑습니다 | bangapseumnida | Nice to meet you |
| 처음 뵙겠습니다 | cheoeum boepgetseumnida | Nice to meet you for the first time |
| 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Thank you |
| 감사하다 | gamsahada | To thank, to appreciate |
| 고맙습니다 | gomapseumnida | Thank you |
| 미안합니다 | mianhamnida | I’m sorry |
| 죄송하다 | joesonghada | To be sorry |
| 실례합니다 | sillyehamnida | Excuse me |
| 괜찮습니다 | gwaenchanseumnida | It’s okay |
| 네 | ne | Yes |
| 예 | ye | Yes, formal |
| 아니요 | aniyo | No |
| 아뇨 | anyo | No, shortened |
| 맞습니다 | matseumnida | That’s right |
| 맞아요 | majayo | That’s right |
| 글쎄요 | geulsseyo | Well, I’m not sure |
| 모르겠습니다 | moreugesseumnida | I don’t know |
2. Numbers and counting words
These TOPIK 1 vocabulary words will help you count people, objects, books, money, and more.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 하나 | hana | One |
| 둘 | dul | Two |
| 셋 | set | Three |
| 넷 | net | Four |
| 다섯 | daseot | Five |
| 여섯 | yeoseot | Six |
| 일곱 | ilgop | Seven |
| 여덟 | yeodeol | Eight |
| 아홉 | ahop | Nine |
| 열 | yeol | Ten |
| 스물 | seumul | Twenty |
| 서른 | seoreun | Thirty |
| 일 | il | One |
| 이 | i | Two |
| 삼 | sam | Three |
| 십 | sip | Ten |
| 백 | baek | One hundred |
| 천 | cheon | One thousand |
| 개 | gae | Counter for things |
| 명 | myeong | Counter for people |
| 권 | gwon | Counter for books |
| 마리 | mari | Counter for animals |
| 잔 | jan | Counter for cups or glasses |
| 원 | won | Korean won |
Read more: How to count numbers in Korean
3. Dates, days, and time
You’ll need these words when talking about your schedule, plans, or simple daily routines.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 년 | nyeon | Year |
| 월 | wol | Month |
| 날 | nal | Day |
| 날짜 | naljja | Date |
| 달력 | dallyeok | Calendar |
| 오늘 | oneul | Today |
| 어제 | eoje | Yesterday |
| 내일 | naeil | Tomorrow |
| 모레 | more | The day after tomorrow |
| 지난주 | jinanju | Last week |
| 다음주 | daeumju | Next week |
| 주말 | jumal | Weekend |
| 요일 | yoil | Day of the week |
| 월요일 | woryoil | Monday |
| 화요일 | hwayoil | Tuesday |
| 수요일 | suyoil | Wednesday |
| 목요일 | mogyoil | Thursday |
| 금요일 | geumyoil | Friday |
| 토요일 | toyoil | Saturday |
| 일요일 | iryoil | Sunday |
| 시간 | sigan | Time, hour |
| 시계 | sigye | Clock, watch |
| 오전 | ojeon | Morning, a.m. |
| 오후 | ohu | Afternoon, p.m. |
4. Family and people
Now that you can talk about numbers and time, let’s move on to the people you may mention in simple Korean conversations.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 가족 | gajok | Family |
| 부모 | bumo | Parents |
| 아버지 | abeoji | Father |
| 어머니 | eomeoni | Mother |
| 엄마 | eomma | Mom |
| 아빠 | appa | Dad |
| 할머니 | halmeoni | Grandmother |
| 할아버지 | harabeoji | Grandfather |
| 아들 | adeul | Son |
| 딸 | ttal | Daughter |
| 남편 | nampyeon | Husband |
| 아내 | anae | Wife |
| 형 | hyeong | Older brother, for males |
| 오빠 | oppa | Older brother, for females |
| 누나 | nuna | Older sister, for males |
| 언니 | eonni | Older sister, for females |
| 동생 | dongsaeng | Younger sibling |
| 남동생 | namdongsaeng | Younger brother |
| 여동생 | yeodongsaeng | Younger sister |
| 친구 | chingu | Friend |
| 사람 | saram | Person |
| 남자 | namja | Man |
| 여자 | yeoja | Woman |
| 아이 | ai | Child |
5. Food and drinks
Next, food is one of the easiest TOPIK 1 vocabulary topics to remember because you can use these words in real daily situations.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 밥 | bap | Rice, meal |
| 물 | mul | Water |
| 우유 | uyu | Milk |
| 커피 | keopi | Coffee |
| 차 | cha | Tea |
| 주스 | juseu | Juice |
| 빵 | ppang | Bread |
| 과일 | gwail | Fruit |
| 사과 | sagwa | Apple |
| 바나나 | banana | Banana |
| 딸기 | ttalgi | Strawberry |
| 포도 | podo | Grape |
| 고기 | gogi | Meat |
| 소고기 | sogogi | Beef |
| 돼지고기 | dwaejigogi | Pork |
| 닭고기 | dakgogi | Chicken |
| 생선 | saengseon | Fish |
| 김치 | gimchi | Kimchi |
| 라면 | ramyeon | Ramyeon |
| 김밥 | gimbap | Gimbap |
| 비빔밥 | bibimbap | Bibimbap |
| 불고기 | bulgogi | Bulgogi |
| 떡볶이 | tteokbokki | Tteokbokki |
| 아이스크림 | aiseukeurim | Ice cream |
6. Places and buildings
Once you know people and food, places are the next step because they help you say where things happen.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 집 | jip | House, home |
| 방 | bang | Room |
| 부엌 | bueok | Kitchen |
| 거실 | geosil | Living room |
| 화장실 | hwajangsil | Bathroom, restroom |
| 가게 | gage | Store, shop |
| 시장 | sijang | Market |
| 백화점 | baekhwajeom | Department store |
| 식당 | sikdang | Restaurant |
| 카페 | kape | Cafe |
| 병원 | byeongwon | Hospital |
| 약국 | yakguk | Pharmacy |
| 은행 | eunhaeng | Bank |
| 우체국 | ucheguk | Post office |
| 공항 | gonghang | Airport |
| 역 | yeok | Station |
| 공원 | gongwon | Park |
| 도서관 | doseogwan | Library |
| 박물관 | bangmulgwan | Museum |
| 영화관 | yeonghwagwan | Movie theater |
| 건물 | geonmul | Building |
| 아파트 | apateu | Apartment |
| 회사 | hoesa | Company |
| 사무실 | samusil | Office |
7. School and study
For learners, this TOPIK 1 vocabulary group is especially useful because school words appear often in beginner-level Korean.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 학교 | hakgyo | School |
| 학원 | hagwon | Academy, private institute |
| 교실 | gyosil | Classroom |
| 학생 | haksaeng | Student |
| 선생님 | seonsaengnim | Teacher |
| 수업 | sueop | Class, lesson |
| 공부 | gongbu | Study |
| 공부하다 | gongbuhada | To study |
| 배우다 | baeuda | To learn |
| 가르치다 | gareuchida | To teach |
| 읽다 | ikda | To read |
| 쓰다 | sseuda | To write, to use |
| 듣다 | deutda | To listen |
| 말하다 | malhada | To speak, to say |
| 질문 | jilmun | Question |
| 대답 | daedap | Answer |
| 숙제 | sukje | Homework |
| 시험 | siheom | Test, exam |
| 책 | chaek | Book |
| 공책 | gongchaek | Notebook |
| 연필 | yeonpil | Pencil |
| 볼펜 | bolpen | Ballpoint pen |
| 지우개 | jiugae | Eraser |
| 칠판 | chilpan | Blackboard |
8. Travel and transportation
Ready to move around in Korean? These words will help you talk about simple trips, directions, and transport.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 여행 | yeohaeng | Travel, trip |
| 여행사 | yeohaengsa | Travel agency |
| 관광하다 | gwangwanghada | To travel, to sightsee |
| 출발 | chulbal | Departure |
| 출발하다 | chulbalhada | To depart |
| 도착 | dochak | Arrival |
| 도착하다 | dochakhada | To arrive |
| 가다 | gada | To go |
| 오다 | oda | To come |
| 타다 | tada | To ride, to get on |
| 내리다 | naerida | To get off, to go down |
| 갈아타다 | garatada | To transfer |
| 버스 | beoseu | Bus |
| 택시 | taeksi | Taxi |
| 지하철 | jihacheol | Subway |
| 기차 | gicha | Train |
| 비행기 | bihaenggi | Airplane |
| 자동차 | jadongcha | Car |
| 자전거 | jajeongeo | Bicycle |
| 터미널 | teomineol | Terminal |
| 정류장 | jeongnyujang | Bus stop |
| 길 | gil | Road, way |
| 지도 | jido | Map |
| 여권 | yeogwon | Passport |
9. Weather and seasons
Weather is another easy TOPIK 1 vocabulary topic because you can practice it almost every day.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 날씨 | nalssi | Weather |
| 계절 | gyejeol | Season |
| 봄 | bom | Spring |
| 여름 | yeoreum | Summer |
| 가을 | gaeul | Autumn, fall |
| 겨울 | gyeoul | Winter |
| 비 | bi | Rain |
| 눈 | nun | Snow |
| 바람 | baram | Wind |
| 구름 | gureum | Cloud |
| 하늘 | haneul | Sky |
| 덥다 | deopda | To be hot |
| 춥다 | chupda | To be cold |
| 따뜻하다 | ttatteuthada | To be warm |
| 시원하다 | siwonhada | To be cool, refreshing |
| 맑다 | makda | To be clear |
| 흐리다 | heurida | To be cloudy |
| 기온 | gion | Temperature |
| 영하 | yeongha | Below zero |
| 태풍 | taepung | Typhoon |
| 장마 | jangma | Rainy season |
| 일기예보 | ilgiyebo | Weather forecast |
| 눈사람 | nunsaram | Snowman |
| 우산 | usan | Umbrella |
10. Shopping and money
Let’s make this practical: these words are useful when you buy something, ask about prices, or pay in Korean.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 쇼핑 | syoping | Shopping |
| 돈 | don | Money |
| 가격 | gagyeok | Price |
| 값 | gap | Price, value |
| 현금 | hyeongeum | Cash |
| 카드 | kadeu | Card |
| 지갑 | jigap | Wallet |
| 동전 | dongjeon | Coin |
| 달러 | dalleo | Dollar |
| 물건 | mulgeon | Thing, item |
| 상품 | sangpum | Product |
| 사이즈 | saijeu | Size |
| 세일하다 | seilhada | To have a sale |
| 할인 | harin | Discount |
| 사다 | sada | To buy |
| 팔다 | palda | To sell |
| 비싸다 | bissada | To be expensive |
| 싸다 | ssada | To be cheap |
| 계산하다 | gyesanhada | To calculate, to pay |
| 주문하다 | jumunhada | To order |
| 점원 | jeomwon | Clerk |
| 손님 | sonnim | Customer |
| 포장 | pojang | Packaging, wrapping |
11. Daily activities
Now let’s switch to everyday actions, the kind of TOPIK 1 vocabulary you can practice from morning to night.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 일어나다 | ireonada | To get up |
| 자다 | jada | To sleep |
| 잠자다 | jamjada | To sleep, to go to bed |
| 먹다 | meokda | To eat |
| 마시다 | masida | To drink |
| 쉬다 | swida | To rest |
| 놀다 | nolda | To play, to hang out |
| 운동하다 | undonghada | To exercise |
| 일하다 | ilhada | To work |
| 출근하다 | chulgeunhada | To go to work |
| 퇴근하다 | toegeunhada | To leave work |
| 청소하다 | cheongsohada | To clean |
| 샤워하다 | syawohada | To take a shower |
| 세수하다 | sesuhada | To wash one’s face |
| 씻다 | ssitda | To wash |
| 입다 | ipda | To wear |
| 벗다 | beotda | To take off clothes or shoes |
| 만들다 | mandeulda | To make |
| 준비하다 | junbihada | To prepare |
| 기다리다 | gidarida | To wait |
| 만나다 | mannada | To meet |
| 보다 | boda | To see, to watch |
12. Feelings and emotions
Last, add a few feeling words so your Korean sounds less flat and more personal.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
| 기분 | gibun | Feeling, mood |
| 마음 | maeum | Mind, heart |
| 느낌 | neukkim | Feeling |
| 좋다 | jota | To be good |
| 좋아하다 | joahada | To like |
| 싫다 | silta | To dislike, to hate |
| 싫어하다 | sireo-hada | To dislike, to hate |
| 기쁘다 | gippeuda | To be happy |
| 기뻐하다 | gippeohada | To be glad |
| 행복하다 | haengbokhada | To be happy |
| 슬프다 | seulpeuda | To be sad |
| 슬퍼하다 | seulpeohada | To feel sad |
| 외롭다 | oeropda | To be lonely |
| 화나다 | hwanada | To be angry |
| 화내다 | hwanaeda | To get angry |
| 무섭다 | museopda | To be scary, to be afraid |
| 걱정 | geokjeong | Worry, concern |
| 걱정하다 | geokjeonghada | To worry |
| 재미있다 | jaemiitda | To be interesting, fun |
| 재미없다 | jaemieopda | To be uninteresting |
| 놀라다 | nollada | To be surprised |
| 피곤하다 | pigonhada | To be tired |
TOPIK 1 vocabulary practice tips
Once you have a vocabulary list, the next step is knowing how to remember it without feeling overwhelmed.
- Keep your daily list small: Try 10-15 new words a day instead of memorizing a large list in one sitting. This gives you enough time to review, pronounce, and use each word properly.
- Learn the word with a short phrase: Do not stop at “커피 = coffee.” Add a simple phrase like 커피를 마셔요, which means “I drink coffee.” Short phrases help the word feel more natural.
- Review yesterday’s words before learning new ones: A quick review takes only a few minutes, but it makes a big difference. If you keep skipping reviews, even easy words can disappear quickly.
- Read and listen at the same time: TOPIK 1 includes both reading and listening, so you need to recognize words on the page and in the audio. When possible, say the word out loud after hearing it.
- Learn vocabulary in one place: To keep your practice more organized, you can learn Korean vocabulary with GuruLango and build your TOPIK 1 vocabulary base step by step.
Conclusion
TOPIK 1 vocabulary becomes much easier when you study it by topic instead of memorizing random words. Start with the words you need most, review them often, and use them in simple Korean sentences whenever you can.
And when you want to keep expanding your vocabulary, you can continue learning Korean with GuruLango.
FAQs
1. How many TOPIK 1 words should I study each day?
10-15 TOPIK 1 words a day is a practical goal for most beginners. This pace is enough to build vocabulary steadily while still leaving time for review and simple sentence practice.
2. Should I learn TOPIK 1 vocabulary by topic or alphabetically?
It is better to learn TOPIK 1 vocabulary by topic first. Grouping words by themes such as food, family, time, and daily routines helps you understand how the words are used in real contexts. Alphabetical lists are more useful for quick review later.
3. Can I pass TOPIK 1 with vocabulary only?
No. Vocabulary is essential, but TOPIK 1 also requires basic grammar, sentence patterns, reading skills, and listening practice. A strong vocabulary base will support all of these skills, but it should be studied together with TOPIK-style questions.