🇰🇷 Korean · TOPIK 5-6

Everyday Sentences & Expressions in Korean · TOPIK 5-6

70 Korean words and phrases for everyday sentences & expressions, at TOPIK 5-6 level. Each entry shows the word, how to read it, what it means, and a full example sentence with translation.

도무지 domuji

utterly; (not) at all

그 사람 속을 도무지 모르겠어요.

I can't figure out what that person is thinking at all.
좀처럼 jomcheoreom

seldom; hardly ever (with negative)

이런 기회는 좀처럼 오지 않아요.

An opportunity like this hardly ever comes.
하도 hado

so much; to such an extent (that)

하도 웃어서 배가 아플 정도예요.

I laughed so much my stomach hurts.
이왕이면 iwangimyeon

if one is doing it anyway; might as well

이왕이면 좋은 걸로 고르세요.

If you're getting one anyway, pick a good one.
번번이 beonbeoni

every single time; time after time

번번이 신세만 지네요.

I end up owing you every single time.
얼떨결에 eoltteolgyeore

in the confusion of the moment; without thinking

얼떨결에 승낙해 버렸어요.

I ended up agreeing in the heat of the moment.
무심코 musimko

inadvertently; without meaning to

무심코 한 말이 상처가 됐나 봐요.

It seems a remark I made without thinking hurt them.
사소하다 sasohada

to be trivial; to be minor

사소한 일로 다투지 마세요.

Don't argue over trivial things.
난감하다 nangamhada

to be in an awkward bind; to be at a loss

뭐라고 답해야 할지 난감하네요.

I'm at a loss as to how to answer.
어이없다 eoieopda

to be absurd; to be dumbfounding

어이없어서 말이 안 나와요.

I'm so dumbfounded I'm speechless.
착잡하다 chakjapada

to have mixed, heavy feelings; to be troubled

정든 회사를 떠나려니 마음이 착잡하네요.

Leaving the company I'd grown attached to fills me with mixed feelings.
민망하다 minmanghada

to be embarrassed; to feel awkward

칭찬을 들으니 오히려 민망하네요.

Hearing the compliment actually makes me feel embarrassed.
허탈하다 heotalhada

to feel empty and deflated (after a letdown)

몇 달 준비한 행사가 취소되니까 허탈했어요.

When the event I'd prepared for months was canceled, I felt utterly deflated.
유감스럽다 yugamseureopda

to be regrettable (formal)

유감스럽지만 이번에는 어렵겠습니다.

Regrettably, it won't be possible this time.
두말하면 잔소리죠. dumalhamyeon jansorijyo

It goes without saying.

casual 두말하면 잔소리지 dumalhamyeon jansoriji
그러려니 하세요. geureoryeoni haseyo

Just accept it for what it is.

casual 그러려니 해 geureoryeoni hae
어디까지나 제 생각일 뿐이에요. eodikkajina je saenggagil ppunieyo

This is strictly just my own opinion.
말이 씨가 된다고 하잖아요. mari ssiga doendago hajanayo

They say words can become reality, you know.
안 봐도 뻔해요. an bwado ppeonhaeyo

It's obvious without even looking.

casual 안 봐도 뻔해 an bwado ppeonhae
긁어 부스럼 만들지 마세요. geulgeo buseureom mandeulji maseyo

Don't stir up trouble where there is none.

casual 긁어 부스럼 만들지 마 geulgeo buseureom mandeulji ma
어쩌다 보니 그렇게 됐어요. eojjeoda boni geureoke dwaesseoyo

One thing led to another and it just ended up that way.

casual 어쩌다 보니 그렇게 됐어 eojjeoda boni geureoke dwaesseo
이왕 이렇게 된 거 끝까지 해 봅시다. iwang ireoke doen geo kkeutkkaji hae bopsida

Since it's come to this, let's see it through to the end.

casual 이왕 이렇게 된 거 끝까지 해 보자 iwang ireoke doen geo kkeutkkaji hae boja
오죽하면 ojukamyeon

how bad must it have been (for someone to...)

오죽하면 제가 이렇게 부탁하겠어요?

Do you think I'd be begging like this if I had any other choice?
차마 chama

(cannot) bring oneself to

차마 사실대로 말할 수 없었어요.

I couldn't bring myself to tell the truth.
하물며 hamulmyeo

let alone; much less

어른도 힘든데 하물며 아이는 어떻겠어요?

It's hard even for adults — imagine how it is for a child.
여간 yeogan

(not) ordinary; exceptionally (with negative)

아이 키우는 게 여간 힘든 일이 아니에요.

Raising a child is no ordinary feat.
넌지시 neonjisi

indirectly; subtly (hinting)

넌지시 그 얘기를 꺼내 봤어요.

I subtly brought up the subject.
으레 eure

customarily; as a matter of course

명절이면 으레 가족이 모여요.

On holidays, the family gathers as a matter of course.
마지못해 majimotae

reluctantly; having no other choice

마지못해 부탁을 들어줬어요.

I granted the favor reluctantly.
애초에 aechoe

from the very beginning; in the first place

애초에 불가능한 계획이었어요.

It was an impossible plan from the start.
급기야 geupgiya

finally; in the end (something undesirable)

급기야 회사를 그만두고 말았어요.

In the end, he wound up quitting the company.
기껏해야 gikkeotaeya

at most; at best

기껏해야 열 명 정도 올 거예요.

At most, about ten people will come.
툭하면 tukamyeon

at the drop of a hat; at every little thing

그 사람은 툭하면 약속을 취소해요.

That person cancels plans at the drop of a hat.
덩달아 deongdara

following suit; along with others

친구가 웃으니까 저도 덩달아 웃었어요.

My friend laughed, so I ended up laughing along.
막무가내 mangmuganae

obstinate refusal to listen; unstoppable stubbornness

아이가 막무가내로 떼를 써요.

The child is throwing a tantrum and won't listen to reason.
부득이하다 budeugihada

to be unavoidable (formal)

부득이한 사정으로 참석하지 못했습니다.

I was unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances.
시치미를 떼다 sichimireul tteda

to play innocent; to feign ignorance

다 알면서 왜 시치미를 떼세요?

You know everything — why are you playing innocent?
대수롭지 않다 daesuropji anta

to be no big deal; to be insignificant

그는 그 일을 대수롭지 않게 여겼어요.

He didn't consider the matter a big deal.
터무니없다 teomunieopda

to be absurd; to be groundless/outrageous

터무니없는 소문이 퍼지고 있어요.

A groundless rumor is spreading.
뜬금없다 tteungeumeopda

to be out of the blue; to be random

뜬금없는 질문이지만 하나 물어볼게요.

This is out of the blue, but let me ask you something.
머쓱하다 meosseukada

to feel sheepish; to be abashed

아무도 안 웃어서 머쓱했어요.

Nobody laughed, so I felt sheepish.
안절부절못하다 anjeolbujeolmotada

to be on pins and needles; to fidget anxiously

결과를 기다리며 안절부절못했어요.

I was on pins and needles waiting for the results.
조바심 jobasim

impatience; anxious fretting

조바심 내지 말고 차분히 기다리세요.

Don't fret — wait calmly.
엄두가 안 나다 eomduga an nada

to not even dare to attempt

비용 때문에 시작할 엄두가 안 나요.

Because of the cost, I don't even dare to start.
우여곡절 uyeogokjeol

twists and turns; ups and downs

우여곡절 끝에 드디어 가게를 열었어요.

After many twists and turns, I finally opened the shop.
속수무책 soksumuchaek

helplessness; having no way to respond

갑작스러운 정전에 속수무책이었어요.

We were helpless in the face of the sudden blackout.
자초지종 jachojijong

the whole story from beginning to end

자초지종을 처음부터 설명해 보세요.

Explain the whole story from the beginning.
후련하다 huryeonhada

to feel relieved and refreshed (after a burden lifts)

시험이 끝나니까 속이 후련해요.

Now that the exam is over, I feel so relieved.
아니나 다를까 또 그 얘기가 나왔어요. anina dareulkka tto geu yaegiga nawasseoyo

Sure enough, that topic came up again.

casual 아니나 다를까 또 그 얘기가 나왔어 anina dareulkka tto geu yaegiga nawasseo
그렇다고 해서 달라질 건 없어요. geureotago haeseo dallajil geon eopseoyo

Even so, nothing is going to change.

casual 그렇다고 해서 달라질 건 없어 geureotago haeseo dallajil geon eopseo
백번 양보해서 그렇다 쳐도 이건 아니에요. baekbeon yangbohaeseo geureota chyeodo igeon anieyo

Even granting all of that, this is still not right.
울며 겨자 먹기로 승낙했어요. ulmyeo gyeoja meokgiro seungnakaesseoyo

I agreed against my will, with no other choice.
엎친 데 덮친 격이네요. eopchin de deopchin gyeogineyo

When it rains, it pours.

casual 엎친 데 덮친 격이네 eopchin de deopchin gyeogine
밑져야 본전이니까 한번 해 보세요. mitjyeoya bonjeoninikka hanbeon hae boseyo

You've got nothing to lose, so give it a try.

casual 밑져야 본전이니까 한번 해 봐 mitjyeoya bonjeoninikka hanbeon hae bwa
긴말할 것 없이 결론만 말할게요. ginmalhal geot eopsi gyeollonman malhalgeyo

Without going on and on, I'll just give you the conclusion.
이러지도 저러지도 못하는 상황이에요. ireojido jeoreojido motaneun sanghwangieyo

I'm in a situation where I can't do this or that — a real bind.
하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍이 있다잖아요. haneuri muneojyeodo sosanal gumeongi itdajanayo

They say even if the sky falls, there's a way out.

casual 하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍이 있다잖아 haneuri muneojyeodo sosanal gumeongi itdajana
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱죠. ganeun mari gowaya oneun mari gopjyo

Speak kindly if you want to be spoken to kindly.
첫술에 배부를 수는 없죠. cheotsure baebureul suneun eopjyo

You can't expect to succeed on the first try.

casual 첫술에 배부를 수는 없지 cheotsure baebureul suneun eopji
본의 아니게 폐를 끼쳐서 죄송합니다. bonui anige pyereul kkichyeoseo joesonghamnida

I apologize for the trouble I unintentionally caused.
어영부영하다가 하루가 다 갔어요. eoyeongbuyeonghadaga haruga da gasseoyo

The whole day slipped away while I dawdled.

casual 어영부영하다가 하루가 다 갔어 eoyeongbuyeonghadaga haruga da gasseo
감쪽같이 속았지 뭐예요. gamjjokgachi sogatji mwoyeyo

I was completely fooled, can you believe it?

casual 감쪽같이 속았지 뭐야 gamjjokgachi sogatji mwoya
지레짐작하지 말고 직접 물어보세요. jirejimjakaji malgo jikjeop mureoboseyo

Don't jump to conclusions — ask them directly.

casual 지레짐작하지 말고 직접 물어봐 jirejimjakaji malgo jikjeop mureobwa
말끝을 흐리지 말고 확실히 말씀해 주세요. malkkeuteul heuriji malgo hwaksilhi malsseumhae juseyo

Don't trail off — please tell me clearly.
어렵사리 잡은 기회니까 놓치지 마세요. eoryeopsari jabeun gihoenikka notchiji maseyo

It's an opportunity you got with great difficulty, so don't let it slip.

casual 어렵사리 잡은 기회니까 놓치지 마 eoryeopsari jabeun gihoenikka notchiji ma
두고두고 후회할 일은 만들지 마세요. dugodugo huhoehal ireun mandeulji maseyo

Don't do something you'll regret for a long time to come.
생색내려고 한 일은 아니에요. saengsaengnaeryeogo han ireun anieyo

I didn't do it to get credit.

casual 생색내려고 한 일은 아니야 saengsaengnaeryeogo han ireun aniya
억지 부린다고 될 일이 아니에요. eokji burindago doel iri anieyo

This isn't something you can force your way through.

casual 억지 부린다고 될 일이 아니야 eokji burindago doel iri aniya
마음 같아서는 당장 그만두고 싶어요. maeum gataseoneun dangjang geumandugo sipeoyo

If it were up to my heart, I'd quit right now.

casual 마음 같아서는 당장 그만두고 싶어 maeum gataseoneun dangjang geumandugo sipeo
눈 깜짝할 사이에 끝나 버렸어요. nun kkamjjakal saie kkeunna beoryeosseoyo

It was over in the blink of an eye.

casual 눈 깜짝할 사이에 끝나 버렸어 nun kkamjjakal saie kkeunna beoryeosseo

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🗣️ Everyday Sentences & Expressions in Korean · TOPIK 5-6

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Everyday Sentences & Expressions at other levels

Everyday Sentences & Expressions in Korean · TOPIK 5-6