Korean School Vocabulary: Common School-Related Korean Words You Should Know
Last updated: March 14, 2026
Learning Korean school vocabulary is one of those topics that sounds boring until you realize how much it shows up everywhere. Whether you're watching K-dramas where students are stressing about exams, reading webtoons set in high schools, or just trying to understand basic conversations about education, this stuff comes up constantly. Plus, the Korean education system has its own unique culture and terminology that's worth understanding. Here's everything you need to know about school and education vocabulary in Korean.
- Korean school levels and institutions
- People in Korean schools
- Korean school subjects
- Classroom vocabulary in Korean language
- School-related actions and activities
- Learn Korean vocabulary for school facilities and locations
- Tests, homework, and academic life
- Common Korean school phrases
- The reality of Korean school culture
- FAQs
Korean school levels and institutions
Let's start with the basic structure of the Korean education system. The terminology is pretty straightforward once you learn the pattern.
- 학교 (hakgyo) means school. You'll see this word combined with different prefixes to indicate school levels:
- 유치원 (yuchiwon) is kindergarten. Technically this translates more like "infant garden" which is pretty cute if you think about it.
- 초등학교 (chodeung hakgyo) means elementary school. The 초등 part refers to "first level" or "elementary." Kids attend from ages 6 to 12, covering grades 1 through 6.
- 중학교 (junghakgyo) is middle school. The 중 means "middle," so this one's easy to remember. This covers grades 7 through 9.
- 고등학교 (godeung hakgyo) translates to high school. Students attend from grades 10 through 12. You'll often hear this shortened to 고교 (gogyo) in casual speech.
- 대학교 (daehakgyo) means university or college. Sometimes people just say 대학 (daehak) without the 교. This is where things get competitive in Korea, with universities ranked and discussed constantly.
- 대학원 (daehagwon) is graduate school. The 원 here means "institute" or "academy."
People in Korean schools
Now let's talk about the people you'll find in educational settings. Korean uses specific terms that carry different levels of respect.
- 학생 (haksaeng) means student. This is the general term you'll use most often. When you're talking about yourself as a student or referring to students in general, this is your go-to word.
- 선생님 (seonsaengnim) is teacher. Here's the thing about this word: the 님 at the end is an honorific suffix that shows respect. You always include it when addressing or referring to teachers. Dropping it would be seriously rude. In K-dramas, you'll hear students saying "선생님!" constantly.
- 교수 (gyosu) means professor, used for university-level instructors. Sometimes you'll hear 교수님 (gyosunim) with the honorific attached.
- 교장 (gyojang) is principal or headmaster. Again, you'd typically say 교장선생님 (gyojang seonsaengnim) to show proper respect.
- 친구 (chingu) means friend or classmate. Korean students use this word constantly when talking about their school friends.
- 선배 (seonbae) refers to a senior, someone in a higher grade or who entered school before you. The opposite is 후배 (hubae), a junior. This hierarchy matters a lot in Korean school culture.
Korean school subjects
Subject names in Korean often incorporate English loanwords, especially for modern subjects. But traditional subjects have pure Korean or Sino-Korean names.
Korean | English |
|---|---|
수학 | Mathematics / Math |
수학 숙제 | Math homework |
과학 | Science |
생물 | Biology |
화학 | Chemistry |
물리 | Physics |
영어 | English (language subject) |
국어 | Korean language class (literally "national language") |
사회 | Social studies |
역사 | History |
체육 | Physical education / PE |
음악 | Music class |
미술 | Art / Fine arts |
Classroom vocabulary in Korean language
Let's get into the actual classroom items and spaces you need to know.
Korean | English |
|---|---|
교실 | Classroom (실 means "room") |
칠판 | Blackboard / Chalkboard |
화이트보드 | Whiteboard (borrowed from English) |
책상 | Desk |
의자 | Chair |
책 | Book |
공책 | Notebook |
교과서 | Textbook (교과 = subject/curriculum, 서 = book) |
연필 | Pencil |
펜 | Pen (English loanword) |
지우개 | Eraser |
가방 | Bag / Backpack |
사물함 | Locker (literally "things box") |
School-related actions and activities
Knowing the verbs related to studying and school activities helps you actually talk about what happens there.
Korean | English |
|---|---|
공부하다 | To study |
공부해요? | Are you studying? |
배우다 | To learn |
가르치다 | To teach |
읽다 | To read |
쓰다 | To write |
듣다 | To listen / To take a class |
외우다 | To memorize |
복습하다 | To review |
예습하다 | To preview / To prepare for class in advance |
Learn Korean vocabulary for school facilities and locations
Beyond the classroom, Korean schools have various facilities worth knowing.
- 도서관 (doseogwan) is library. Many Korean students spend hours in the library studying.
- 급식실 (geupsiksil) means cafeteria or lunch room. The 급식 refers to meal service. Korean school lunches are actually pretty decent compared to many countries.
- 운동장 (undongjang) is playground or athletic field. The 운동 means "exercise" or "sports."
- 화장실 (hwajangsil) is restroom or bathroom. Pretty essential vocabulary for any school setting.
- 교무실 (gyomussil) is the teachers' office. Students go there when they need to talk to teachers outside of class.
- 강당 (gangdang) means auditorium or assembly hall, where school events and gatherings happen.
Tests, homework, and academic life
Korean academic culture is intense, and the vocabulary reflects that reality.
Korean | English |
|---|---|
시험 | Test / Exam |
중간고사 | Midterm exam (중간 = middle, 고사 = examination) |
기말고사 | Final exam (기말 = end of term) |
숙제 | Homework |
과제 | Assignment / Project |
성적 | Grades / Academic results |
점수 | Score / Points |
출석 | Attendance |
결석 | Absence |
지각 | Being late / Tardy |
Common Korean school phrases
Here are some phrases you'll actually hear in Korean school settings:
- 학교에 가요.
I'm going to school. - 수업 시작해요.
Class is starting. - 조용히 하세요.
Please be quiet. - 질문 있어요?
Do you have questions? - 숙제 다 했어요?
Did you finish your homework?
The reality of Korean school culture
Understanding Korean school vocabulary also means understanding what Korean schools are actually like. The culture is competitive and demanding. Students often attend regular school during the day, then head to private academies (학원) in the evening for additional tutoring. High school students might study until 10 or 11 PM.
The college entrance exam, 수능 (suneung), determines which university students can attend, which in turn heavily influences their career prospects. The pressure is real and starts young.
When you learn words like 야간자율학습 (yagan jayul hakseup, evening self-study) or 학원 (hagwon, private academy), you're learning about a system that's fundamentally different from education in many Western countries. This cultural context makes the vocabulary more meaningful and memorable.
Anyway, if you want to actually practice this vocabulary with real Korean content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words instantly while watching Korean shows or reading articles about education. Makes learning from context way more practical. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.
FAQs
Using Korean school words in context
The real test of whether you know these Korean words is using them naturally in sentences, not just memorizing isolated words. Watch Korean content set in schools and listen for these words. You'll start recognizing them in context, which reinforces your learning way better than flashcards alone.
If you consume media in Korean, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
Be a smart learner!