Lesson 30
Word Builder lessons are designed to help you understand how to more efficiently expand your vocabulary by learning/understanding some common and basic building blocks of Korean words. Many (not all) of the words and letters introduced through Word Builder lessons are based on Chinese characters, or 한자, but the meanings can differ from modern-day Chinese. Your goal, through these lessons, is to understand how words are formed and remember the keywords in Korean in order to expand your Korean vocabulary from there. You certainly do not have to memorize the Hanja characters, but if you want to, feel free!
Today’s keyword is 실.
The Chinese character for 실 is 室.
The word 실 is related to “room”.
Sample Expressions
화장 (makeup) + 실 (room) = 화장실 (化粧室) = toilet; bathroom
* 분장 (扮裝) also means “makeup” but is specific to stage/theater makeup.
Therefore, 분장실 (扮裝室) = dressing room; backstage powder room
교 (school, teach) + 실 (room) = 교실 (敎室) = classroom
연습 (practice) + 실 (room) = 연습실 (練習室) = practice room, practice place
대기 (wait) + 실 (room) = 대기실 (待機室) = waiting room
회 (meet) + 의 (discuss) + 실 (room) = 회의실 (會議室) = meeting room, conference room
병 (disease) + 실 (room) = 병실 (病室) = hospital room, patient’s room
미용 (beauty treatment) + 실 (room) = 미용실 (美容室) = beauty parlor; hair salon
사 (work) + 무 (work, task) + 실 (room) = 사무실 (事務室) = office
교 (school, teach) + 무 (work) + 실 (room) = 교무실 (敎務室) = teacher’s office
실 (room) + 장 (head, leader) = 실장 (室長) = head of the office
실 (room) + 내 (inside) = 실내 (室內) = indoors
실 (room) + 외 (outside) = 실외 (室外) = outdoors, outside