How people eat, what is in the food and where it comes from: the words beyond the menu.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Food words at this level are mostly Sino-Korean nouns built from a few syllables worth recognising: 식 “food, eating” in 식문화, 식욕, 식감, 식중독, and 미 “taste” in 조미료 and 별미. Next to them stand the new, playful words of eating today, 혼밥 “eating alone”, 먹방 “eating broadcast”, 맛집 “a place known for its food” — informal, but used by everyone.
The words
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Verb (1)
시식하다to try a sample; to tasteVerb4
마트에서 새로 나온 만두를 시식해 봤어요.I tried a sample of the new dumplings at the supermarket.
Noun (39)
식문화food cultureNoun4
나라마다 식문화가 달라서 여행할 때 재미있어요.Every country has its own food culture, which makes travelling interesting.
외식eating outNoun3
요즘은 물가가 올라서 외식을 자주 못 해요.Prices have gone up, so we cannot eat out very often these days.
외식하다, to eat out.
배달 음식delivered food; takeawayNoun3
피곤한 날에는 배달 음식을 시켜 먹어요.On tiring days I order a takeaway.
발효fermentationNoun4
김치는 발효될수록 신맛이 강해져요.The longer kimchi ferments, the sourer it gets.
발효되다, to ferment; 발효 식품, fermented food.
영양소nutrientNoun4
채소에는 우리 몸에 필요한 영양소가 많이 들어 있어요.Vegetables contain many of the nutrients our bodies need.
식품food; foodstuffsNoun4
여름에는 식품이 쉽게 상하니까 조심하세요.Food goes off easily in summer, so be careful.
Food as a product, on labels and in shops; food on the table is 음식.
유기농organic farming; organicNoun4
조금 비싸도 아이에게는 유기농 채소를 먹이고 싶어요.Even if it costs a little more, I want to feed my child organic vegetables.
간식snackNoun3
오후 세 시쯤 되면 간식이 먹고 싶어져요.Around three in the afternoon, I start wanting a snack.
야식late-night snackNoun3
밤늦게 야식을 먹으면 다음 날 얼굴이 부어요.If I have a late-night snack, my face is puffy the next day.
양식Western foodNoun4
오늘은 한식 말고 양식을 먹고 싶어요.Today I feel like Western food rather than Korean.
Korean food is 한식, Chinese 중식, Japanese 일식.
먹거리things to eat; foodNoun4
이 축제에는 볼거리와 먹거리가 많아요.This festival has plenty to see and plenty to eat.
채식vegetarian dietNoun4
건강 때문에 일주일에 두 번은 채식을 해요.For my health, I eat vegetarian twice a week.
채식주의자vegetarian (person)Noun4
친구가 채식주의자라서 고기가 없는 식당을 찾았어요.My friend is a vegetarian, so we looked for a restaurant without meat dishes.
식욕appetiteNoun4
더워서 그런지 요즘 식욕이 없어요.Maybe it is the heat, but I have had no appetite lately.
입맛taste; appetiteNoun3
할머니 음식은 제 입맛에 딱 맞아요.Grandma’s cooking suits my taste perfectly.
Said [임맏]; 입맛이 없다, to have no appetite.
식감texture (of food)Noun4
이 떡은 쫄깃한 식감 때문에 인기가 많아요.This rice cake is popular for its chewy texture.
향신료spiceNoun4
이 요리는 향신료를 많이 넣어서 향이 강해요.This dish has a strong aroma because it uses a lot of spices.
Said [향신뇨].
조미료seasoning; flavour enhancerNoun4
우리 식당은 조미료를 쓰지 않고 육수를 직접 만들어요.Our restaurant uses no flavour enhancers and makes its own stock.
식재료ingredientsNoun4
신선한 식재료를 사려고 아침 일찍 시장에 가요.I go to the market early in the morning to buy fresh ingredients.
밥상meal table; the meal laid on itNoun3
할머니는 손님이 오시면 밥상을 푸짐하게 차리세요.When guests come, Grandma lays on a generous spread.
첨가물additiveNoun4
과자 봉지 뒷면에서 첨가물을 확인해 보세요.Check the additives on the back of the packet.
인스턴트식품instant food; convenience foodNoun4
바쁠 때는 인스턴트식품을 자주 먹게 돼요.When I am busy, I end up eating a lot of instant food.
패스트푸드fast foodNoun3
시간이 없어서 점심을 패스트푸드로 해결했어요.I had no time, so I grabbed fast food for lunch.
혼밥eating aloneNoun4
요즘은 혼밥을 하는 사람이 많아서 혼자 앉는 자리가 있는 식당도 있어요.So many people eat alone these days that some restaurants have seats for one.
Colloquial, from 혼자 and 밥; drinking alone is 혼술.
맛집a place known for its good foodNoun3
이 골목에는 유명한 맛집이 많아요.This alley is full of well-known places to eat.
먹방eating broadcastNoun4
사람들이 음식을 먹는 모습을 보여 주는 먹방이 인기를 끌고 있어요.Eating broadcasts, which show people eating, have become popular.
Short for 먹는 방송.
별미delicacy; special treatNoun4
여름에는 시원한 냉면이 별미예요.In summer, ice-cold noodles are a real treat.
군것질snacking between mealsNoun4
밥을 먹기 전에 군것질을 하면 입맛이 없어져요.If you snack before a meal, you lose your appetite.
군것질하다, to snack.
끼니a meal (as one of the day’s meals)Noun4
일이 바빠서 끼니를 거를 때가 많아요.I am so busy at work that I often skip meals.
끼니를 거르다, to skip a meal; 끼니를 때우다, to make do with something quick.
술자리drinking session; a night out drinkingNoun4
술자리가 길어져서 새벽에 집에 들어갔어요.The drinking session went on so long that I got home in the early hours.
Said [술짜리].
길거리 음식street foodNoun4
시장에서 여러 가지 길거리 음식을 맛봤어요.I tried all sorts of street food at the market.
제철 음식food in seasonNoun4
제철 음식은 맛도 좋고 값도 싸요.Food in season tastes better and is cheaper.
보양식restorative dish; food that builds strengthNoun4
한국 사람들은 여름에 더위를 이기려고 보양식을 먹어요.Koreans eat restorative dishes in summer to beat the heat.
위생hygieneNoun4
식당은 무엇보다 위생 관리가 중요해요.For a restaurant, keeping things hygienic matters more than anything.
젓갈salted, fermented seafoodNoun4
김치를 담글 때 젓갈을 넣으면 감칠맛이 나요.Adding salted seafood when you make kimchi gives it a rich savoury taste.
숙성ageing; maturing (of food)Noun4
이 고기는 이틀 동안 숙성시켜서 아주 부드러워요.This meat has been aged for two days, so it is very tender.
숙성시키다, to age something; 숙성되다, to mature.
식중독food poisoningNoun4
상한 음식을 먹고 식중독에 걸렸어요.I ate something that had gone off and got food poisoning.
미식가gourmet; foodieNoun4
그는 미식가라서 맛있는 식당을 많이 알아요.He is a real foodie, so he knows lots of good restaurants.
단백질proteinNoun4
운동을 한 뒤에는 단백질이 많은 음식을 먹는 게 좋아요.After exercise it is good to eat food that is high in protein.
