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[Learn Korean Day 16] Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes: 15 Body Parts & Symptoms


[Learn Korean Day 16] Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes: 15 Body Parts & Symptoms

Essential Korean vocabulary for body parts and common health symptoms.

Hello, Korean learners! Welcome back to Day 16 with Instructor Soona.


If you are traveling or living in South Korea, what happens if you suddenly feel sick? Knowing how to order food or ask for directions is great, but knowing how to point to your body and say "It hurts here" is a true survival skill!


Today, we will learn 15 essential vocabulary words for body parts and common symptoms, so you can confidently visit a Korean pharmacy (약국) or hospital (병원) if you ever need to.


Let’s dive right in!



1. The Head & Face (머리와 얼굴)


Let's start from the top. Read these out loud:


1. 머리 [meo-ri] - Head


2. 눈 [nun] - Eye

Fun Fact: "눈" also means "Snow" in Korean!


3. 코 [ko] - Nose


4. 입 [ip] - Mouth


5. 귀 [gwi] - Ear



2. The Body & Limbs (몸통과 팔다리)


Moving down to the rest of the body!


6. 몸 [mom] - Body


7. 배 [bae] - Stomach / Belly

  • Fun Fact: "배" can mean Stomach, Pear (fruit), OR Boat (ship)!


8. 등 [deung] - Back


9. 팔 [pal] - Arm


10. 다리 [da-ri] - Leg


11. 손 [son] - Hand


12. 발 [bal] - Foot



3. Symptoms & Feelings (증상과 기분)


Now, how do you express that something is wrong?


13. 아프다 [a-peu-da] - To hurt / To be sick

  • Usage: Simply put the body part + 가/이 아파요.

    • 배가 아파요. (My stomach hurts.)

    • 머리가 아파요. (I have a headache.)


14. 피곤하다 [pi-gon-ha-da] - To be tired

  • Usage: 너무 피곤해요. (I am so tired.)


15. 감기 [gam-gi] - Cold (Illness)

  • Usage: 감기에 걸렸어요. (I caught a cold.)



4. Soona's Culture Tip: Did you cut your HEAD?


Here is a very interesting difference between English and Korean!

In English, "Head" (the physical body part) and "Hair" (the strands growin

g from it) are two completely different words. If you go to a salon, you get a "haircut," and you wash your "hair."


In Korean, the word 머리 (Head) is used for BOTH! While there is a specific word for hair (머리카락), Koreans almost never use it in daily conversation. Instead, we just say "head."


  • 머리를 자르다: Literally "To cut the head" -> Means "To get a haircut."

  • 머리를 감다: Literally "To wash the head" -> Means "To wash one's hair."


So if a Korean friend tells you "I cut my head yesterday," do not panic! They just went to the hair salon.



5. Mini Pop Quiz!


Let’s test your survival skills!


Q1. You wake up with a terrible headache. What is the correct way to say "My head hurts"?

A) 코가 아파요. B) 배가 아파요. C) 머리가 아파요.


Q2. Which Korean word has three different meanings: Stomach, Pear, and Boat?

A) 눈 B) 배 C) 팔


(Answers at the bottom of the page!)




Ready to actually SPEAK these words?


Reading words on a screen is a great start, but if you truly want to speak Korean confidently, you need a different approach. Staring at a boring, traditional textbook simply does not work anymore!


That is why I created the [30-Day Beginner Vocabulary Master Course]. This is not just a list of words. It is an incredibly unique, highly engaging, and cost-effective learning experience designed to make you speak from Day 1.

Here is what makes this course so special and never boring:


  • Beautiful Magazine-Style Layout: Say goodbye to dry text! You will learn through visually stunning, beautifully designed pages that keep you inspired and focused.

  • Teacher's Video Lessons: I will personally guide you through the cultural nuances and exact mouth shapes for perfect pronunciation in short, easy-to-digest videos.

  • Listen & Record Instantly: Click to listen to my native pronunciation, then immediately record your own voice right on the page to compare.

  • Interactive Quizzes: Test your memory with built-in games and quizzes that make learning feel like playing.

  • Your Final Portfolio & Personal Feedback: By Day 30, you will complete a special graduation mission. You will build your very own "Korean Portfolio" containing your recorded voice and self-introduction. Submit it to me, and I will personally listen to it and give you detailed, customized feedback!


The Ultimate Combination of Online & 1-on-1 Learning

This course gives you the flexibility and affordability of an online course while offering the personalized care of private tutoring. It is a masterpiece carefully crafted by pouring in all the secret know-how I have gained from teaching over 6,000 successful 1-on-1 Korean lessons.

Get the best value for your time and money. Don't just memorize silently—start speaking like a polite native today.



[Click to Explore the 30-Day Vocab Master Course!]


Quiz Answers: Q1 (C - 머리가 아파요), Q2 (B)

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