Common Korean Spelling Mistakes
A comprehensive reference of common Korean spelling mistakes organized by category. Compare incorrect and correct forms with easy tips and example sentences.
Results: 50
💡Replace with 하다→해. If 해 sounds natural, use 돼; otherwise use 되.
📝이렇게 하면 돼요. = This is how it's done.
📝그것은 되지 않습니다. = That won't work.
💡-로서 indicates status/qualification; -로써 indicates means/tool.
📝As a teacher, you must be responsible.
📝Achieved success through effort.
💡-던 recalls past experience; -든 indicates choice ("whether A or B").
📝I miss the neighborhood where I used to live.
📝Whether you go or not, it's up to you.
💡"않다" is an auxiliary verb used as "~지 않다"; "안" is an adverb placed before the verb.
📝I will not go. (않다 form)
📝I won't go. (안 form)
💡The standard form is -ㄹ게. -ㄹ께 is incorrect.
📝I'll call you tomorrow.
📝I'll go ahead.
💡-데 conveys personal experience; -대 conveys hearsay (shortened from -다고 해).
📝I went yesterday and there were many people. (personal)
📝They say he's coming tomorrow. (hearsay)
💡-므로 means "because/since"; -(으)ㅁ으로써 means "by means of".
📝Let's hurry because there's no time.
📝Improved skills by practicing steadily.
💡"왠지" is a contraction of "왜인지" (why). "웬" means "what sort of" (e.g., 웬일이야 = what brings you here).
📝Somehow I feel good today. (왠지)
📝What's this unexpected gift? (웬)
💡The standard form is -도록. -토록 is non-standard.
📝Let's try to succeed.
📝Please come as soon as possible.
💡After a stem ending in a consonant, use -습니까; after a vowel, use -ㅂ니까.
📝Where are you going?
📝Are you having lunch?
💡"뵈다" is the honorific form of "보다" (to see). "뵙다" is a humble variant. "봬다" does not exist.
📝I will see you tomorrow. (honorific)
📝I will come visit you. (humble)
💡"만큼" is the standard form. "만치" is non-standard.
📝Results come as much as you work.
📝It was as good as expected.
💡"수" is a dependent noun and must be spaced separately.
📝This problem can be solved.
📝I can't go right now.
💡When 못 is an adverb meaning "cannot," space it. When 못하다 is one verb meaning "be bad at," write together.
📝I couldn't go because I was busy.
📝I'm bad at math.
💡"그동안" is typically written as one word (adverb meaning "in the meantime").
📝How have you been?
📝A lot has changed in the meantime.
💡After a noun, 만큼 is a particle (no space). After a verb/adjective, 만큼 is a dependent noun (space before it).
📝I want to be as good as you.
📝You are rewarded as much as you try.
💡After a verb, 뿐 is a dependent noun (space). After a noun, 뿐 is a particle (no space).
📝Just smiled without answering.
📝It's only you.
💡After a verb, 대로 is a dependent noun (space). After a noun, 대로 is a particle (no space).
📝Repeat after what I say.
📝Let's proceed as planned.
💡"며칠" (how many days / which date) is the standard. "몇일" is incorrect.
📝What date is it today?
📝I rested for several days.
💡"어떻게" is an adverb (how/in what way). "어떡해" is short for "어떻게 해" (what should I do).
📝How do I fix this?
📝This is bad, what do I do!
💡"금세" means "right away" (contraction of 금시에). "금새" means "the price of something" — a different word.
📝The rain stopped quickly.
📝What's the price? (금새 = price)
💡"요컨대" (in short / to summarize) is the correct form.
📝In short, we were underprepared.
📝To summarize, the key is execution.
💡The Korean spelling of "service" is 서비스, not 써비스.
📝The customer service is good.
💡The standard Korean spelling of "cake" is 케이크.
📝I ordered a birthday cake.
💡The standard Korean spelling of "donut" is 도넛.
📝I bought two donuts.
💡The standard Korean spelling of "sausage" is 소시지.
📝I grilled sausages for breakfast.
💡The standard Korean spelling of "chocolate" is 초콜릿.
📝I gave chocolate as a Valentine's gift.
💡The standard Korean spelling of "accessory" is 액세서리.
📝I purchased new accessories.
💡The standard Korean spelling of "message" is 메시지, not 메세지.
📝I sent a text message.
💡The standard Korean spelling of "cafe" is 카페, not 까페.
📝I had coffee at a cafe.
💡"맞히다" means to guess correctly; "맞추다" means to compare, match, or assemble.
📝I got the quiz answer right.
📝We left on time.
💡"부치다" means to send/mail; "붙이다" means to attach/stick.
📝I mailed a package.
📝I stuck a poster on the wall.
💡"바라다" means to wish/hope; "바래다" means to fade (color).
📝I hope you'll be happy.
📝The clothes faded in the sun.
💡"낫다" means better or to recover; "낳다" means to give birth.
📝This method is better.
📝She gave birth to a healthy baby.
💡"늘이다" means to physically stretch; "늘리다" means to increase quantity/scope.
📝Make it by stretching the dough.
📝A strategy to increase sales.
💡"다르다" means different; "틀리다" means wrong/incorrect.
📝You and I have different opinions.
📝This answer is wrong.
💡"가르치다" means to teach; "가리키다" means to point at.
📝Teaching English to students.
📝Pointed to Seoul on the map.
💡"시키다" means to order/command; "식히다" means to cool down.
📝I ordered pizza.
📝I cooled down the hot soup.
💡"비치다" is intransitive (light/image appears); "비추다" is transitive (to shine light on).
📝Sunlight shines through the window.
📝The stage was illuminated with lights.
💡"넣다" means to put inside; "놓다" means to place on top/surface.
📝I put the book in the bag.
📝I placed the cup on the table.
💡"재다" means to measure. "째다" is non-standard.
📝Please take your temperature.
📝I measured the height.
💡"설레다" (to flutter/feel excited) is correct. "설레이다" is wrong.
📝My heart fluttered at the first meeting.
📝I couldn't hide my excitement.
💡"드리다" is the honorific form of "주다" (to give). Use it for elders/superiors.
📝I gave a gift to the teacher.
📝I gave pocket money to my parents.
💡Use "계시다" (honorific of "있다") when a person is at a location. "있으시다" is for possession.
📝Mother is at home. (location)
📝If you have a good idea, please share it. (possession)
💡"잡수시다" is the highest honorific for "to eat." "드시다" is also honorific but a lower level.
📝Elder, have you eaten? (highest honorific)
📝Have you had lunch? (standard honorific)
💡"여쭈다/여쭙다" is the honorific form of "묻다" (to ask). Used when asking elders.
📝I have something to ask you, teacher.
📝May I ask one thing?
💡"모시다" is for accompanying elders; "데리다" is for accompanying children/juniors/pets.
📝I accompanied my mother to the hospital.
📝I took the child to the park.
💡"주무시다" is the honorific of "자다" (to sleep). "자시다" is incorrect.
📝Grandmother is sleeping.
📝Did you sleep well?
💡"돌아가시다" is the honorific of "죽다" (to die). Must be used when referring to an elder's passing.
📝Grandfather passed away last year.
📝It has been one year since the deceased passed away.
💡"성함" is the honorific form of "이름" (name). Use it for elders or when meeting someone for the first time.
📝May I have your name?
📝Please write your name here.