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[Learn Korean Day 21] Big or Small? 14 Essential Opposite Adjectives


[Learn Korean Day 21] Big or Small? 14 Essential Opposite Adjectives

Korean opposite adjectives for size and quantity with Instructor Soona.

Hello, Korean learners! Welcome back to Day 21 with Instructor Soona.


We have officially entered our final week! In Week 4, we are going to learn the "details" that make your Korean sound more natural and descriptive.

Today’s topic is Opposite Adjectives (반대말). Learning adjectives in pairs is one of the most effective ways to double your vocabulary in half the time. Today, we will focus on 14 words that describe Size and Quantity.


Let’s dive right in!



1. Size & Height (크기와 높이)


How do you describe the dimensions of an object? Read these pairs out loud:


1. 크다 [keu-da] - To be big

2. 작다 [jak-da] - To be small

  • Usage: 집이 커요. (The house is big.) / 가방이 작아요. (The bag is small.)


3. 높다 [nop-da] - To be high / tall

4. 낮다 [nat-da] - To be low

  • Usage: 산이 높아요. (The mountain is high.)


5. 길다 [gil-da] - To be long

6. 짧다 [jjal-da] - To be short (length)



2. Quantity & Weight (양과 무게)


How much is there? How heavy is it?


7. 많다 [man-ta] - To be many / much / a lot

8. 적다 [jeok-da] - To be few / little (quantity)

  • Note: Be careful! "작다" is for size (small), while "적다" is for quantity (few).


9. 무겁다 [mu-geop-da] - To be heavy

10. 가볍다 [ga-byeop-da] - To be light (weight)



3. Width & Thickness (넓이와 두께)


Let's look at more specific dimensions.


11. 넓다 [neol-da] - To be wide / spacious

12. 좁다 [jop-da] - To be narrow / cramped

  • Usage: 방이 넓어요. (The room is spacious.)


13. 두껍다 [du-kkeop-da] - To be thick

14. 얇다 [yal-da] - To be thin (flat objects like paper or clothes)



4. Soona's Culture Tip: The Magic of "많이" (Man-i)


In Korean, the adverb form of "많다" (many/much) is 많이 [man-i]. This is probably one of the most versatile words in the entire language!

Koreans use "많이" not just to mean "a lot," but also as a way to show care, affection, or emphasis in almost every situation.


  • "많이 먹어요!" (Eat a lot! - Said by hosts to guests as a warm welcome.)

  • "많이 아파요?" (Are you hurting a lot? - Showing deep concern for someone sick.)

  • "많이 기다렸어요?" (Have you been waiting a long time?)

  • "많이 사랑해요." (I love you so much.)


If you want to sound more empathetic and warm in your conversations, try adding "많이" to your sentences!



5. Mini Pop Quiz!


Let’s test your "Opposite" skills.


Q1. You are looking at two bags. One is "Heavy" and the other is "Light". What is the Korean word for "Heavy"?

A) 가볍다 B) 무겁다 C) 높다


Q2. Which word should you use to describe a "Long" (길다) movie?

A) 짧다 B) 작다 C) 적다

(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.

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  • 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!


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Quiz Answers: Q1 (B - 무겁다), Q2 (A - 짧다 is the opposite of 길다)

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