Learn Korean - For Beginners [ Monthly Update ]

Opposite words in Korean (반의어 )

반의어 (ban-ui-eo) translates to "antonyms" or "opposite words". These are words with meanings that are directly opposite to each other.

크다 (keu-da) - "big" vs. 작다 (jak-da) - "small"

많다 (man-ta) - "many" vs. 적다 (jeok-da) - "few"

빠르다 (ppa-reu-da) - "fast" vs. 느리다 (neu-ri-da) - "slow"

높다 (nop-da) - "high" vs. 낮다 (nat-da) - "low"

Example in a sentence:

오늘은 날씨가 더워요, 어제는 추웠어요. Oneul-eun nal-ssi-ga deowoyo, eoje-neun chuwosseoyo.) 

"Today the weather is hot, yesterday it was cold."

Learning Tips:

Flashcards: Use flashcards to memorize pairs of opposite words.

Practice: Write sentences using pairs of antonyms to understand their context better.

Here is a test. Find the opposite verbs in these sentences and leave them in the comments! No cheating!

Example 1: level 1

문을 열어요.

창문을 닫아요.

Example 2: level 1

선물을 줘요.

선물을 받아요. 

Example 3:  level 2

나는 학교에 가요.

그는 집에 와요.

Example 4: level 3

아기가 태어났어요.

그는 작년에 죽었어요. 

Example 5: level 3

아침에 일찍 일어나요.

피곤해서 잠시 눕겠어요.