top of page

[Learn Korean Day 17] You Look Great! 15 Appearance & Personality Words


[Learn Korean Day 17] You Look Great! 15 Appearance & Personality Words

Adjectives to describe appearance and personality in Korean.

Hello, Korean learners! Welcome back to Day 17 with Instructor Soona.


In Day 16, we learned the physical body parts. Today, we are going to learn how to describe the people attached to those bodies! If you watch K-dramas or love K-pop, you probably want to know how to compliment your favorite actor or idol.

Today, we will learn 15 essential adjectives to describe how someone looks (Appearance) and how they act (Personality).


Let’s dive right in!



1. Describing Appearance (외모)


How do you say someone looks good? Read these descriptive verbs out loud:


1. 예쁘다 [ye-ppeu-da] - To be pretty / beautiful

  • Usage: 너무 예뻐요! (You are so pretty!)


2. 멋있다 [meo-sit-da] - To be cool / stylish / handsome

Note: This can be used for both men and women who look incredibly cool or stylish.


3. 잘생기다 [jal-saeng-gi-da] - To be handsome / good-looking

Grammar Tip: Koreans always use this in the past tense form: 잘생겼어요 (He is handsome). Don't ask why, it's just the rule!


4. 귀엽다 [gwi-yeop-da] - To be cute


5. 키가 크다 [ki-ga keu-da] - To be tall

  • Literally means "Height is big."


6. 키가 작다 [ki-ga jak-da] - To be short

  • Literally means "Height is small."



2. Describing Personality (성격)


Looks aren't everything! Let's learn how to describe someone's inner traits.


7. 착하다 [chak-ha-da] - To be kind / good-hearted

Note: This is one of the highest compliments you can give someone in Korea!


8. 친절하다 [chin-jeol-ha-da] - To be friendly / nice


9. 웃기다 [ut-gi-da] - To be funny / humorous


10. 재미있다 [jae-mi-it-da] - To be fun / entertaining


11. 똑똑하다 [ttok-ttok-ha-da] - To be smart / clever


12. 부지런하다 [bu-ji-reon-ha-da] - To be diligent / hardworking



3. Boosters! (강조 부사)


Want to make your compliments even stronger? Put these words right before the adjective!


13. 정말 / 진짜 [jeong-mal / jin-jja] - Really / Truly

14. 너무 [neo-mu] - Too / Very / So much

15. 아주 [a-ju] - Very


  • 정말 귀여워요! (You are really cute!)

  • 너무 착해요. (He/She is so kind.)



4. Soona's Culture Tip: The "Small Face" Compliment


If you stay in Korea long enough, you might hear someone say this to you: "얼굴이 정말 작아요!" (Your face is really small!)


In many Western cultures, telling someone they have a "small head or face" might sound like an insult or just a very weird observation. However, in South Korea, this is considered a huge compliment!


A small face is traditionally seen as a sign of good body proportions (making you look taller and more model-like). So if a Korean friend tells you that your face is small, just smile and say "감사합니다" (Thank you)!



5. Mini Pop Quiz!


Let’s test your complimenting skills!


Q1. You want to tell someone they are "Cute". Which word should you use?

A) 멋있다 B) 똑똑하다 C) 귀엽다


Q2. Which Korean word means "To be kind or good-hearted"?

A) 착하다 B) 예쁘다 C) 웃기다


(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 - 귀엽다), Q2 (A - 착하다)

bottom of page