Basic Korean words beginning with the consonant ㅊ([chi-eut], [ch] sound)
Let’s learn Korean words 차다, 찾다, 처음, 최고, 춤, 친구 with BTS lyrics.
Click on the image below to listen to all the BTS lyrics used in this post.
차다 [cha-da] to kick, to dump
ⒷⓉⓈ 죄 없는 이불만 차
joe eop-neun i-bul-man cha
I keep kicking my innocent blankets
*죄(guilty) + 없는(없다(not exist)+ 는(noun modifier)) +
이불(blanket) + 만(only) +
차(kick)
(*이불을 차다[이불 킥] means to kick one’s own blanket in embarrassment.)
차다 [cha-da] to be full (of)
ⒷⓉⓈ 널 만난 날 다음 날 후회로 가득 차
neol man-nan nal da-eum nal hu-hoe-ro ga-deuk cha
The day I met you, the day after I was full of regrets
*널(너(you) + 를(object particle), =널) +
만난(만나다(meet) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
날(day) +
다음(next) +
날(day) +
후회(regret) + 로(with) +
가득(full) + 차(filled)
찾다 [chat-tta] to find, to look for
ⒷⓉⓈ 난 지금도 나를 또 찾고 있어
nan ji-geum-do na-reul tto chat-ggo i-sseo
I’m still looking for myself
*난(나(I) + 는(topic particle), =난) +
지금(now) + 도(an auxiliary that includes something already and adds to it) +
나(I) + 를(object particle) +
또(again) +
찾고 있어 (찾다(seek) + ~고 있어(present progressive))
(*Adding ‘~고 있다’ to a verb stem shows the action is in progress.)
처음 [cheo-eum] beginning, for the first time
ⒷⓉⓈ 너를 처음 본 순간
neo-reul cheo-eum bon sun-gan
The moment I first saw you
*너(you) + 를(object particle) +
처음(first) +
본(보다(see) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
순간(moment)
최고 [choe-go] (the) best
ⒷⓉⓈ 머리부터 발끝까지 최고
meo-ri-bu-teo bal-kkeut-kka-ji choe-go
From your head to your toes, you’re the best
*머리(head) + 부터(from) +
발(foot) +
끝(end) + 까지(until) +
최고(the best)
(*까지 after a place name means ‘up to the end of a certain area’.
‘~에서’ or ‘~부터’ means ‘from’ and ‘~까지’ means ‘to’ or ‘until’.
최 can be a prefix meaning ‘the most, the best’.
The word ‘최고’ (choe-go) is actually a combination of Chinese characters. ‘최’ (choe) means ‘most’ or ‘utmost’ and ‘고’ (go) means ‘high’ or ‘elevated’. Therefore, ‘최고’ means the highest level or state, and it is a word formed by combining these characters.)
춤 [chum] dance
ⒷⓉⓈ 춤을 춤을 춤을 춰봐
chu-meul chu-meul chu-meul chwo-bwa
Dance, dance, dance
*춤(dance) + 을(object particle) +
춤(dance) + 을(object particle) +
춤(dance) + 을(object particle) +
춰봐(추다(dance) + 어 보다(try))
(*’Verb + 아/어 보다’ expresses trying or experiencing an action. It is the same as ‘try’ in English.
춤추다 is a verb form of 춤.)
친구 [chin-gu] friend
ⒷⓉⓈ 나도 친구가 있음 좋잖아
na-do chin-gu-ga i-sseum jo-cha-na
It’s good that I have a friend, too
*나(I) + 도(too) +
친구(friend) + 가(subject particle) +
있음(있다(exist) + 으면(a connective ending used when speaking hypothetically)) +
좋잖아(좋다(good) + 잖아(as you know))
(*~잖아(요) reminds the listener of something or rebukes the listener indirectly.
~잖아(요) is the same as ‘as you know’, ‘didn’t I say that~’ in English.)
Grammar Reference
*Adjective[verb] stem + ㄴ/은/는/을 + noun : noun that adjective[verb]
ex)죄 없는 이불 : 죄(guilty) + 없는(없다(not exist)+ 는(noun modifier)) + 이불(blanket)
만난 날 : 만난(만나다(meet) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) + 날(day)
본 순간 : 본(보다(see) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) + 순간(moment)
ㄴ/은/는/을 is added to verbs and adjectives to allow them to function as noun modifiers
*Noun + 로/으로 : with [towards, to, by, through] noun
ex)후회로 : 후회(regret) + 로(with)
으로 for nouns ending in a consonant, 로 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*Noun + ~도 : also, too
ex)나도 : 나(I) + 도(too)
*Noun + ~만 : only
ex)이불만 : 이불(blanket) + 만(only)
*Noun + ~이/가 : noun + subject particle
ex)친구가 : 친구(friend) + 가(subject particle)
이 for nouns ending in a consonant, 가 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*Noun + ~은/는 : noun + topic particle
ex)난 : 나(I) + 는(topic particle)
은 for nouns ending in a consonant, 는 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*Noun + ~을/를 : noun + object particle
ex)나를 : 나(I) + 를(object particle)
너를 : 너(you) + 를(object particle)
춤을 : 춤(dance) + 을(object particle)
을 for nouns ending in a consonant, 를 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*A에서 [부터] B 까지 : from A to B
ex)머리부터 발끝까지 : 머리(head) + 부터(from) + 발(foot) + 끝(end) + 까지(until)
Quiz. Linking words to images
BTS music video to enjoy
Well done for making it this far.
Watch the 호르몬 전쟁 (War of Hormone) music video above and see if you can hear “머리부터 발끝까지 최고”, which you learned today.