Learn 500 Essential Korean Adjectives by Theme Part3. Physical Sensations (신체 감각)

 🏃‍♂️ 3. 신체 감각 (Physical Sensations)

Master 500 Basic Korean Adjectives with English and Romanization

This guide includes 500 of the most important Korean adjectives, grouped into 10 useful categories such as personality, emotions, physical sensations, size, color, time, and more. Each adjective is shown in its base Korean form (Hangul), Romanized pronunciation, and English translation. For example: 크다 (keuda) means “to be big,” and 예쁘다 (yeppeuda) means “to be pretty.”

By learning adjectives thematically, you can better understand their context and use them more naturally in conversation. For example, in the “Emotions” category, you’ll find words like 기쁘다 (gippeuda – to be happy) and 슬프다 (seulpeuda – to be sad) side by side — making them easier to remember and apply.

The Romanized spellings follow South Korea’s official Romanization system, which helps beginners pronounce words correctly, even if they haven’t fully mastered Hangul.

Whether you're studying Korean on your own or with a tutor, this collection is a great way to grow your descriptive vocabulary and speak more expressively. You can use it to build flashcards, practice writing sentences, or prepare for conversations.

From daily feelings to physical traits and time-related descriptions, these 500 adjectives will help you describe the world around you in Korean with confidence.

🏃‍♂️ 3. 신체 감각 (Physical Sensations)

1. 아프다 – apeuda – to hurt / be in pain
2. 시리다 – sirida – to be chilly (sensation, e.g. teeth)
3. 따갑다 – ttagapda – to be stinging
4. 쓰리다 – sseurida – to be burning (pain)
5. 저리다 – jeorida – to be numb / tingling
6. 가렵다 – garyeopda – to be itchy
7. 멍들다 – meongdeulda – to be bruised
8. 붓다 – butda – to be swollen
9. 열나다 – yeollada – to have a fever
10. 식은땀 나다 – sigeunttam nada – to have cold sweat
11. 졸리다 – jollida – to feel sleepy
12. 피곤하다 – pigonhada – to be tired
13. 나른하다 – nareunhada – to feel drowsy / sluggish
14. 답답하다 – dapdaphada – to feel suffocated / tight
15. 숨차다 – sumchada – to be out of breath
16. 갈증 나다 – galjeung nada – to be thirsty
17. 배고프다 – baegopeuda – to be hungry
18. 배부르다 – baebureuda – to be full
19. 무겁다 – mugeopda – to be heavy (body part)
20. 가볍다 – gabyeopda – to be light
21. 무기력하다 – mugiryeokhada – to feel lethargic
22. 지치다 – jichida – to be exhausted
23. 쑤시다 – ssusida – to be aching
24. 기운 없다 – giun eopda – to feel weak
25. 어지럽다 – eojireopda – to be dizzy
26. 메스껍다 – meseukkeopda – to be nauseous
27. 속이 안 좋다 – sogi an jota – to have stomach discomfort
28. 따뜻하다 – ttatteuthada – to be warm
29. 차갑다 – chagapda – to be cold (to the touch)
30. 시원하다 – siwonhada – to feel cool
31. 뜨겁다 – tteugeopda – to be hot (to the touch)
32. 축축하다 – chukchukhada – to be damp
33. 뻐근하다 – ppeogeunhada – to feel stiff
34. 굳다 – gutda – to be stiff / hardened
35. 느끼하다 – neukkihada – to feel greasy (oily or sickening)
36. 답답하다 – dapdaphada – to feel tight / pressured
37. 미끄럽다 – mikkeureopda – to be slippery
38. 껄끄럽다 – kkeolkkeureopda – to feel rough / uneasy
39. 매끄럽다 – maekkeureopda – to be smooth
40. 까칠하다 – kkachilhada – to be coarse / irritable
41. 끈적하다 – kkeunjeokhada – to be sticky
42. 축나다 – chungnada – to feel depleted / tired
43. 서늘하다 – seoneulhada – to feel chilly
44. 몸살 나다 – momsal nada – to feel body aches
45. 감기 걸리다 – gamgi geollida – to have a cold
46. 상태 안 좋다 – sangtae an jota – to feel unwell
47. 근육통 있다 – geunyuktong itda – to have muscle pain
48. 통증 있다 – tongjeung itda – to have pain
49. 콧물 나다 – konmul nada – to have a runny nose
50. 열이 오르다 – yeori oreuda – to have rising fever