안녕하세요! Welcome to the vocabulary lesson of My Korean Lesson! In this post, you'll see various types of clothes in Korean. I'll provide you with the audio clips, explanations, and worksheet from each section! So, please follow me to learn how to say various clothing item names in Korean!
<Table of Contents>
1. Basic Words
Let's start with important basic words. I'll explain more words with explanations in the following sections. If you are a beginner focus on the words in this chart first!
clothes | |
top | |
bottoms | |
outer clothing | |
shirt | |
t-shirt | |
pants | |
skirt | |
dress | |
shoes | |
Korean traditional clothes |
옷 clothes
옷 is the Korean word for clothes. There are mainly two Sino-Korean words for this. 服(옷 복) and 衣(옷 의). So, depending on the clothes, you will see "복" or "의" in the name.
People wear Westernized clothes more than traditional clothes these days. So, you'll find many loanwords for clothing items.
한복 Korean traditional clothes
A long time ago, Korean people wore traditional Korean clothes, 한복 [han-bok]. However, as Western culture gets more influence, people wear Westernized clothes in daily life. People wear 한복 for traditional holidays like 설날(Lunar New Year's Day) or 추석(Korean Thanksgiving Day).
However, these days more and more people try to wear modernized 한복. Also, if you go to the Korean palaces, you can rent 한복 from rental shops around! Many tourists―including Koreans― rent traditional clothes and take pictures.
2. Tops 상의
Let's take a look at various types of tops. 상(上) means "top" and 의(衣) means "clothes!" You can also call it 웃옷 or 윗옷. You can check out the chart to listen and repeat! I'll also give you detailed explanations and a worksheet!
Quick Chart
tops | |
shirt | |
dress shirt | |
casual shirt | |
blouse | |
T-shirt | |
short-sleeve shirt (T-shirt) | |
long-sleeve shirt | |
hoodie | |
sweater | |
sweatshirt | |
tank top | |
cropped T-shirt | |
polo shirt |
Explanations
Did you notice there are many loanwords in clothing? People use loanwords for many imported things!
셔츠 shirt
셔츠 refers to clothes with long sleeves, buttons, and collars. It is often considered the dress shirt in Korea.
If you want to say more specifically, for a dress shirt, you can call it 와이셔츠. For a more casual type of shirt, people say 남방.
반팔 short-sleeve shirt
반 means half and 팔 means arm. Not only the half length of the arm but all short sleeves can be called 반팔. If you just say 반팔, people will think 반팔 티(t-shirt).
You can add specific clothing names as well like 반팔 니트 short-sleeve knitwear, 반팔 셔츠 short-sleeve dress shirt, 반팔 옷 short sleeve clothes, etc.
긴팔 long-sleeve shirt
긴 came from 길다(to be long). So, it refers to long-sleeved clothes.
후드티 hoodie
It's a Konglish word, from a hoodie to a t-shirt. People say 후드티 to refer to a sweatshirt with a hood.
맨투맨 sweatshirt
It's also a Konglish word. It actually means sweatshirt.
탱크톱 tank top
탱크톱 is a sleeveless shirt or running shirt. Sometimes people say 탱크탑, but the correct version is 탱크톱.
For a sleeveless shirt, people also call it 민소매 or 민소매티 as well. It is not a standard language, but people also call it 나시.
폴로 셔츠 pollo
People also call it 카라티 or 카라 티셔츠(collar T-shirt).
Worksheet
I prepared the free and printable worksheet. Practice writing with the worksheet! Make sure to read aloud each word!
3. Bottoms 하의
하(下) means "down". So, 하의 means bottoms including pants and skirts. People also call it 아래옷.
Quick Chart
bottoms | |
pants | |
jeans | |
shorts | |
skirt | |
skirt | |
leggings |
Explanations
청바지 jeans
청 means blue. So 청바지 means blue pants, in other words, jeans.
치마/스커트 skirt
The Korean word for skirt is 치마. However, people also call it 스커트 in daily life.
-A long skirt: 긴 치마 or 롱치마 or 롱스커트
-A short skirt: 짧은 치마
I'll provide you with the worksheet in the next section!
4. Top+Bottom
Quick Chart
(daily) dress | |
jumpsuit | |
overall |
Explanations
원피스 (daily) dress
A dress people wear in daily life is called 원피스. Well, it is one-piece clothes. No, it is not related to the pirate's treasure at all. 😉
멜빵바지 overall
멜빵 means suspenders. So, the pants with 멜빵 are 멜빵바지 which is overalls (or dungarees).
Worksheet
Since there are not many words, I combined the sections 2 and 3. You can also try to make your own flashcards to memorize these words!
5. Outer Clothing 외투
Quick Chart
외투 a general term for clothing worn over other clothes to prevent cold. It is also called 겉옷. Let's check out some various types of 외투!
outer clothing | |
jacket | |
(Casual) jacket | |
coat | |
padded coat | |
windbreaker | |
parka | |
vest | |
cardigan | |
raincoat |
Explanation
Outwear terms are often mixed up. Usually, 코트(coat) is used to refer to a bit more formal style of outerwear.
재킷/잠바/점퍼 jacket
재킷 means a short top with a front opening and sleeves. It had a bit more formal vibe before, but there are many casual-style jackets as well. Especially loose-fitting and active jackets are often called 잠바 or 점퍼.
패딩 padded coat
A padded thick winter coat is called 패딩. As winter is getting colder and colder, many people wear 롱패딩 (long padded coat) in Korea.
바람막이 windbreaker
It is a type of 잠바. 바람 means wind.
우비 raincoat
People also call it 레인코드 these days. By the way, an umbrella is 우산. You may be able to guess. Yes, 우 means rain―well, in the Sino-Korean.
Worksheet
Let's practice these outware items! Read aloud each word or use my quick chart above to listen and repeat while you practice writing!
6. Formal Clothing 정장
Quick Chart
suit, formal clothing | |
suit | |
uniform | |
uniform | |
school uniform | |
dress | |
working clothes |
Explanations
양복 suit
양 means "Western." The literal meaning of 양복 is "Western clothes" but it is only used to refer to suit.
드레스 (formal) dress
Daily dresses are called 원피스. If you say 드레스, it means a more formal garment. For example, people use terms like 웨딩 드레스(wedding dress) or 이브닝 드레스(evening dress).
Worksheet
7. Etc. 기타
Quick Chart
pajama | |
swimsuit | |
sportswear | |
underwear | |
underpants, panties | |
brassiere | |
undershirt |
Explanations
잠옷 pajamas
잠 means sleeping. 옷 means clothes. So, 잠옷 is sleeping clothes! It makes sense, right? People also call it 파자마 as well.
수영복 swimsuit
수영 is a noun, meaning swim. 복 is the Sino-Korean version of the word for clothes.
운동복 sportswear
운동 is a noun, meaning exercise. So, for any clothes you wear to exercise, you can refer to 운동복.
팬티 underpants
No matter for women or men, underpants, briefs, panties, or boxers, etc., you can call it 팬티.
브래지어 brassiere
People also call it 브라(bra).
Worksheet
8. Shoes 신발
Quick Chart
shoes | |
sports shoes, sneakers, running shoes | |
dress shoes | |
high heels | |
flat shoes | |
boots | |
sandals | |
slippers | |
indoor shoes | |
socks |
Explanations
운동화 sneakers, sports shoes
운동 means "exercise." So 운동화 are comfortable shoes you wear for sports, running, training, etc.
구두 dress shoes
구두 is a Westernized shoe made of leather. Formal shoes or dress shoes for men or women can be called 구두.
⚐ Reading material about Korean culture related to shoes. Click here to read the lesson!
단화 flat shoes
People also call it 플랫슈즈 from the English term.
Worksheet
9. Accessories 액세서리
Let's check out some accessories and other clothing-related items.
Quick Chart
accessories | |
earings | |
necklace | |
bracelet | |
ring | |
watch | |
muffler | |
scarf | |
mask | |
gloves | |
hat/cap | |
hat | |
cap | |
handkerchief | |
glasses | |
sunglasses |
Explanations
손목시계 watch
시계 itself means watch or clock. If you add 손목(wrist), you can definitely mean a watch.
목도리 muffler/스카프 scarf
목도리 is more thick winter neckwear while 스카프 is a thinner fashion item.
모자 hat/cap
모자 itself can be used to refer to both hat and cap. If you want to make it specific, use 챙모자 for the hat and 야구모자 for a cap. 챙 is a trim around the hat. 야구 means a baseball―usually a baseball player wears a cap.
Worksheet
Here is the worksheet for you! There are some blanks. You can continue to add new words as you keep learning Korean.
10. Wrap-up: Clothes In Korean
Today, I showed you various Korean words for clothes. There are a lot of words! If you are a beginner, focus on section 1―basic words! Let's review some important words with the YouTube video!
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