Lesson 7

TOPIK I Core Vocabulary

Master the high-frequency vocabulary that appears most often in TOPIK I (beginner) exam.

The TOPIK I exam tests beginner-to-lower-intermediate Korean (Levels 1 and 2 on the TOPIK scale) and requires confident handling of a core vocabulary set that overlaps heavily with high-frequency conversational Korean. This lesson focuses on the words that appear most often in past TOPIK I papers: numbers, time expressions, family terms, daily routine verbs, basic emotional vocabulary, and the most common particles.

Strategy for TOPIK I vocabulary: do not try to memorise abstract word lists. Instead, work through past exam papers and note every word you do not immediately recognise. The words that repeat across multiple papers are the highest-yield study targets. Pair this with timed reading practice — TOPIK I reading is multiple choice but the time pressure catches many learners by surprise. Build comfort with the question patterns (vocabulary-in-context, paragraph main idea, sentence completion) as well as the vocabulary itself.

-에 대해서

Means 'about' or 'regarding'. Used to introduce a topic of discussion. Attach directly to a noun: [noun] + 에 대해서

한국 음식에 대해서 알고 싶어요.hanguk eumsige daehaeseeo algo sipeoyoI want to know about Korean food.

내일 발표에 대해서 준비가 됐나요?naeil balpyoe daehaeseeo junbiga dwaennayoAre you prepared for tomorrow's presentation?

-기 때문에

Means 'because'. Attach to verb/adjective stem: [stem] + 기 때문에. More formal than -아서/어서.

눈이 많이 오기 때문에 도로가 막혔어요.nuni mani ogi ttaemune doroga makhyeosseoyoBecause it snowed heavily, the roads were blocked.

건강이 중요하기 때문에 매일 운동을 해요.geongangi jungyohagi ttaemune maeil undongeul haeyoBecause health is important, I exercise every day.

가족gajokfamily

Examples이 사진은 우리 가족이 함께 찍은 거예요.i sajineun uri gajogi hamkke jjigeun geoyeyoThis photo is of my whole family together.

날씨nalssiweather

Examples날씨가 너무 좋아서 공원에서 산책했어요.nalssiga neomu joaseo gongwoneseo sanchaekhaesseoyoThe weather was so nice that I took a walk in the park.

취미chwimihobby

Examples제 취미는 주말마다 그림을 그리는 거예요.je chwimineun jumalmaada geurimeul geurineun geoyeyoMy hobby is drawing pictures every weekend.

약속yakssokpromise / appointment

Examples오늘 저녁 친구와 카페에서 만나기로 약속했어요.oneul jeonyeok chinguwa kapeeseo mannagiro yakssokhaesseoyoI made an appointment to meet a friend at a café this evening.

시장sijangmarket

Examples주말마다 전통 시장에 가서 신선한 채소를 사요.jumalmaada jeontong sijange gaseo sinseonhan chaesoreul sayoI go to the traditional market every weekend to buy fresh vegetables.

편리하다pyeollihadato be convenient

Examples지하철이 생겨서 교통이 훨씬 편리해졌어요.jihacheori saenggyeoseo gyotong hwolssin pyeollihaejyeosseoyoWith the subway built, transportation has become much more convenient.

Cultural & Language Note

TOPIK I vocabulary is drawn from everyday domains — family, weather, hobbies, shopping — because the exam tests functional survival Korean rather than academic range. The frequency lists are stable across years, so studying past papers is unusually efficient compared to exams that rotate their content more aggressively.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

에 대해서 attaches to a noun, not a clause — 환경에 대해서, and if you need a clause you must nominalise it first with 것. Learners also study vocabulary in isolation and then fail to recognise it inside the exam's full sentences; always learn these words in a phrase.