Lesson 27: Vocabulary – hobbies and leisure

안녕하세요!

In this post, we’ll dive into the fascinating realm of Korean hobbies and leisure activities. You’ll learn essential vocabulary that covers a wide array of interests – from outdoor pursuits like hiking and soccer to more serene activities like reading and knitting. Not only will this vocabulary help you describe your own interests, but it will also enable you to engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations with Korean speakers.

Korean leisure vocabulary is not just a set of words; it’s a gateway to understanding the lifestyle and cultural preferences of Korean people. By the end of this post, you’ll not only have expanded your Korean vocabulary but also gained insights into the cultural nuances that these words carry.

So, let’s get started and add some fun and enjoyment to your Korean learning journey with hobbies and leisure activities!

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Section 1: Vocabulary

Korea, with its rich cultural tapestry, offers a wide range of hobbies and leisure activities that are both traditional and modern. Understanding these common pastimes not only enriches your vocabulary but also provides a glimpse into the everyday life and preferences of Koreans. Here are some of the most popular hobbies and leisure activities in Korea, along with their Korean names.

Common hobbies in Korean

Korean	Romanization	English
취미	Chwi-mi	Hobby
독서	Dok-seo	Reading
글쓰기	Geul sseu-gi	Writing
쇼핑	Shyo-ping	Shopping
요리	Yo-ri	Cooking
영화보기	Yong-hwa-bo-gi	Watching movies
게임하기	Ge-im-ha-gi	Gaming
티비보기	Ti-bi-bo-gi	Watching TV
드라마보기	Deu-ra-ma-bo-gi	Watching Dramas
인터넷하기	In-teo-net-ha-gi	Surfing the net
여행	Yeo-haeng	Travel
음악듣기	Eum-ak deut-gi	Listening to music
친구들이랑 놀기	Chin-gu-deul-i-rang nol-gi	Hanging out with friends
사진 찍기	Sa-jin jjik-gi	Taking pictures

Outdoor and Nature Activities

Korean	Romanization	English
등산	Deung-san	Hiking
낙씨	Nak-sshi	Fishing
캠핑	Kaem-ping	Camping
조깅	Jo-ging	Jogging
자전거 타기	Ja-jeong-geo ta-gi	Riding a bike
서핑	Seo-ping	Surfing
스키	Seu-ki	Skiing
산책가기	San-chaek-ga-gi	Going for a walk

Sports and Physical Fitness Vocabulary

Korean	Romanization	English
축구	Chuk-gu	Football
농구	Nong-gu	Basketball
야구	Ya-gu	Baseball
테니스	Te-ni-seu	Tennis
수영	Su-yeong	Swimming
골프	Gol-peu	Golf
볼링	Bol-ling	Bowling
배구	Bae-gu	Volleyball
배드민턴	Bae-deu-min-teon	Badminton
탁구	Tak-gu	Table tennis
체조	Che-jo	Gymnastics
복싱	Bok-sing	Boxing
요가	Yo-ga	Yoga
택원도	Taek-won-do	Taekwondo

Music and Performing Arts Vocabulary

Korean	Romanization	English
음악	Eum-ak	Music
노래	No-rae	Song
가수	Ga-su	Singer
기타	Gi-ta	Guitar
피아노	Pi-a-no	Piano
드럼	Deu-reom	Drums
공연	Gong-yeon	Performance, show
연극	Yeon-geuk	Theater, play
뮤지컬	Myu-ji-keol	Musical
춤추기	Chum-chu-gi	Dancing

Artistic and Creative Pursuits

Korean	Romanization	English
미술	Mi-sul	Art
그림	Geu-rim	Picture, painting
그림 그리기	Geu-rim geu-ri-gi	Drawing
디자인	Di-ja-in	Design
패션	Pae-shyon	Fashion
도예	Do-ye	Pottery
서예	Seo-ye	Calligraphy
자수	Ja-su	Embroidery
모형 만들기	Mo-hyeong man-deul-gi	Model Building

Verbs

Korean	Romanization	English
그리다	Geu-ri-da	To paint, to draw
찍다	Jjik-da	To take (a photo)
듣다	Deut-da	To listen
부르다	Peu-reu-da	To sing
치다	Chi-da	To play (an instrument)
보다	Bo-da	To watch
하다	Ha-da	To do
만들다	Man-deul-da	To make
읽다	Ilk-da	To read
타다	Ta-da	To get on, to ride, to take
배우다	Bae-u-da	To learn
운동하다	Un-dong-ha-da	To exercise
여행하다	Yeo-haeng-ha-da	To travel
뛰다	Ddwi-da	To run
춤추다	Chum-chu-da	To dance
수영하다	Su-yeong-ha-da	To swim
쓰다	Sseu-da	To write
좋아하다	Jo-a-ha-da	Like
안 좋아하다	An jo-a-ha-da	Don’t like

Section 2: Conversation starters and phrases

Engaging in conversations about hobbies and leisure activities is a great way to connect with Korean speakers and share your interests. Here are some useful Korean phrases and conversation starters that will help you discuss your hobbies and ask others about theirs. These phrases can open up dialogues and pave the way for more in-depth conversations.

• 취미가 뭐예요? (Chwimiga mwoyeyo?)
  • “What are your hobbies?”
  • Use this to inquire about someone’s hobbies.
• 저는 ___를 좋아해요. (Jeoneun ___reul joahaeyo.)
  • “I like ___.”
  • Share your hobbies or things you like to do.
• 주말에 뭐 할 거예요? (Jumare mwo hal geoyeyo?)
  • “What are you going to do this weekend?”
  • A polite way to ask about weekend plans, possibly related to hobbies.
• ___하는 법 배우고 싶어요. (___haneun beop baeugo sipeoyo.)
  • “I want to learn how to ___.”
  • Express your interest in learning a new hobby.
• 최근에 새로운 취미를 시작했어요. (Choegene saeroun chwimireul sijakhaesseoyo.)
  • “I recently started a new hobby.”
  • Use this to introduce a new hobby you’ve taken up.
• ___ 함께 할 사람을 찾고 있어요. (_____ hamkke hal sarameul chatgo isseoyo.)
  • “I am looking for someone to ___ with.”
  • If you’re seeking a partner for a hobby or activity.
• ___에 관심이 많아요. (___e gwansimi manayo.)
  • “I am very interested in ___.”
  • To express a strong interest in a particular hobby or field.
• 어떻게 이 취미를 시작하게 됐어요? (Eotteohge i chwimireul sijakhage doesyeossnayo?)
  • “How did you get started with this hobby?”
  • A question to learn about how someone began their hobby.

Activity 1

Match the Korean terms with their English equivalents.

Korean Terms:

1. 등산
2. 요리
3. 사진 찍기
4. 그림 그리기
5. 음악 듣기
6. 노래
7. 캠핑
8. 영화보기
9. 수영
10. 독서

English Terms: A. Cooking B. Swimming C. Song D. Camping E. Watching Movies F. Drawing G. Hiking H. Reading I. Listening to Music J. Taking pictures

Activity 2

This quiz type activity will have a Korean term, and your task is to choose the correct English translation from the options provided.

Question 1:

등산 refers to:

Question 2

요리 translates to:

Question 3

사진 찍기 means:

Question 4

음악 듣기 is

Question 5:

영화 보기 stands for:

Question 6:

수영 is the Korean term for:

Question 7:

서예 refers to:

Question 8:

그림 그리기 means:

Question 9: 독서 translates to:

Question 10:

캠핑 is the Korean word for:

Activity 3

Write a short paragraph describing your favourite hobby using as many new Korean words and phrases as possible. Share it in the comments below!

Activity 1 Answers

1. 등산 – Hiking
2. 요리 – Cooking
3. 사진 찍기 – Taking pictures
4. 그림 그리기 – Drawing
5. 음악 듣기 – Listening to music
6. 노래 – Song
7. 캠핑 – Camping
8. 영화보기 – Watching a movie
9. 수영 – Swimming
10. 독서 – Reading

Activity 2 Answers

1 – b, 2 – c, 3 – c, 4 – b, 5 – b, 6 – c, 7 – a, 8 – a, 9 – c, 10 – b

Conclusion

As we wrap up our exploration of hobbies and leisure activities vocabulary in Korean, we hope this journey has been both enlightening and enjoyable for you. Understanding and using these terms is not just about expanding your language skills; it’s about opening doors to new experiences, conversations, and cultural insights. Whether your interests lie in the tranquility of 독서 (Dokseo – reading) or the excitement of 등산 (Deungsan – hiking), this vocabulary serves as a bridge to connect with others who share your passions and to fully immerse yourself in Korean culture.

Remember, language learning is an ongoing process, enriched not only by studying but also by applying what you’ve learned in real-life contexts. We encourage you to use these new words in your conversations with Korean speakers, in your language exchange sessions, or even as an inspiration to explore new hobbies.

Share and Engage:

• Feel free to leave a comment sharing your favourite hobby in Korean using the vocabulary you’ve learned.
• How has learning these terms enhanced your understanding of Korean culture and lifestyle?
• Are there any hobbies or activities in Korean culture that you find particularly interesting or would like to try?

Your journey in Korean language learning is as much about the words you learn as it is about the connections you make and the experiences you share. So keep practicing, stay curious, and don’t hesitate to dive into conversations about your hobbies and leisure activities in Korean.

감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) for joining us on this linguistic adventure. Keep exploring, keep learning, and most importantly, keep enjoying the journey. 화이팅 (Hwaiting)!