Descriptive verbs (형용사 - hyeongyongsa), commonly called "adjectives" in Korean, are verbs that describe qualities, states, or characteristics. They conjugate like action verbs but describe states rather than actions.
What Are Descriptive Verbs?
Descriptive verbs are the Korean equivalent of adjectives, but they function grammatically as verbs.
Key characteristics:
- End in -다 in dictionary form
- Conjugate for tense and formality
- Can stand alone as sentence predicates
- Describe states, not actions
Dictionary Form
All descriptive verbs end in -다 in their dictionary form.
Structure: [Stem] + 다
- 크다 (keuda) - to be big
- 작다 (jakda) - to be small
- 좋다 (jota) - to be good
- 예쁘다 (yeppeuda) - to be pretty
- 높다 (nopda) - to be high
- 행복하다 (haengbokada) - to be happy
Basic Structure
Identifying the Stem
Remove -다 to get the stem:
- 크다 → 크 (keu) - stem
- 예쁘다 → 예쁘 (yeppeu) - stem
- 좋다 → 좋 (jo) - stem
- 맛있다 → 맛있 (masit) - stem
Basic Conjugation Pattern
Stem + Ending
The ending changes based on:
- Tense (present, past, future)
- Formality (polite, formal, casual)
- Sentence type (statement, question, command)
Present Tense Forms
Informal Polite (-아/어요)
Most common form in everyday conversation.
After ㅏ or ㅗ vowels → -아요:
- 크다 → 크 + 아요 → 커요 (is big)
- 좋다 → 좋 + 아요 → 좋아요 (is good)
- 많다 → 많 + 아요 → 많아요 (is many)
After other vowels → -어요:
- 작다 → 작 + 어요 → 작아요 (is small)
- 적다 → 적 + 어요 → 적어요 (is few)
- 없다 → 없 + 어요 → 없어요 (doesn't exist)
Contractions with 하다:
- 행복하다 → 행복해요 (is happy)
- 깨끗하다 → 깨끗해요 (is clean)
- 편하다 → 편해요 (is comfortable)
Formal Polite (-습니다/ㅂ니다)
Used in formal situations, presentations, news.
After consonant → -습니다:
- 작다 → 작습니다 (is small)
- 높다 → 높습니다 (is high)
- 좋다 → 좋습니다 (is good)
After vowel → -ㅂ니다:
- 크다 → 큽니다 (is big)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁩니다 (is pretty)
As Sentence Predicates
Descriptive verbs can end sentences and stand alone as complete predicates.
Pattern: [Subject] + [Descriptive Verb]
- 집이 커요. (The house is big.)
- 날씨가 좋아요. (The weather is good.)
- 산이 높아요. (The mountain is high.)
- 그 사람이 친절해요. (That person is kind.)
- 음식이 맛있어요. (The food is delicious.)
Modifying Nouns
When descriptive verbs modify nouns, they need modifier endings.
Present Descriptive Modifier -(으)ㄴ
After vowel or ㄹ → -ㄴ:
- 크다 → 큰 집 (big house)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁜 꽃 (pretty flower)
After consonant → -은:
- 작다 → 작은 차 (small car)
- 높다 → 높은 산 (high mountain)
- 맛있다 → 맛있는 음식 (delicious food)
Usage:
- 큰 집에 살아요. (I live in a big house.)
- 작은 강아지가 있어요. (There's a small puppy.)
- 좋은 소식이에요. (It's good news.)
Past Descriptive Modifier -았/었던
Describes a past state:
- 컸던 나무 (tree that was big)
- 예뻤던 꽃 (flower that was pretty)
- 맛있었던 음식 (food that was delicious)
Common Descriptive Verbs by Category
Size and Dimension
- 크다 (keuda) - to be big
- 작다 (jakda) - to be small
- 길다 (gilda) - to be long
- 짧다 (jjalpda) - to be short
- 넓다 (neolpda) - to be wide/spacious
- 좁다 (jopda) - to be narrow
- 높다 (nopda) - to be high/tall
- 낮다 (natda) - to be low
Quality and Appearance
- 좋다 (jota) - to be good
- 나쁘다 (nappeuda) - to be bad
- 예쁘다 (yeppeuda) - to be pretty
- 못생기다 (motsaengida) - to be ugly
- 아름답다 (areumdapda) - to be beautiful
- 귀엽다 (gwiyeopda) - to be cute
- 멋있다 (meositda) - to be cool/stylish
Quantity and Amount
- 많다 (manta) - to be many/much
- 적다 (jeokda) - to be few/little
- 충분하다 (chungbunhada) - to be sufficient
- 부족하다 (bujokada) - to be insufficient
Physical Sensations
- 춥다 (chupda) - to be cold
- 덥다 (deopda) - to be hot
- 따뜻하다 (ttatteuthada) - to be warm
- 시원하다 (siwonhada) - to be cool/refreshing
- 아프다 (apeuda) - to be sick/hurt
Taste and Smell
- 맛있다 (masitda) - to be delicious
- 맛없다 (maeopda) - to be tasteless
- 달다 (dalda) - to be sweet
- 쓰다 (sseuda) - to be bitter
- 짜다 (jjada) - to be salty
Emotional States
- 행복하다 (haengbokada) - to be happy
- 슬프다 (seulpeuda) - to be sad
- 기쁘다 (gippeuda) - to be joyful
- 화나다 (hwanada) - to be angry
- 외롭다 (oeropta) - to be lonely
Difficulty
- 쉽다 (swipda) - to be easy
- 어렵다 (eoryeopda) - to be difficult
- 간단하다 (gandanhada) - to be simple
- 복잡하다 (bokjapada) - to be complex
Stative Nature
Descriptive verbs describe states, not actions or processes.
Cannot Use Progressive
Unlike action verbs, descriptive verbs cannot use -고 있다 (progressive):
Action verb (can use progressive):
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹고 있어요 (is eating) ✓
Descriptive verb (cannot use progressive):
- 크다 (to be big) → ❌ 크고 있어요 (incorrect)
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → ❌ 예쁘고 있어요 (incorrect)
Describe Current States
They describe how things are at the moment:
- 날씨가 좋아요. (The weather is good.) - current state
- 집이 커요. (The house is big.) - inherent quality
- 물이 차가워요. (The water is cold.) - current state
Connecting Multiple Descriptive Verbs
Using -고 (and)
Connects two or more descriptive verbs:
Pattern: [Adj1]고 [Adj2]
- 크고 예뻐요. (is big and pretty)
- 싸고 좋아요. (is cheap and good)
- 길고 넓어요. (is long and wide)
- 맛있고 건강해요. (is delicious and healthy)
In sentences:
- 이 집은 크고 깨끗해요. (This house is big and clean.)
- 그 식당은 싸고 맛있어요. (That restaurant is cheap and delicious.)
Using -지만 (but)
Shows contrast between descriptive verbs:
Pattern: [Adj1]지만 [Adj2]
- 작지만 예뻐요. (is small but pretty)
- 비싸지만 좋아요. (is expensive but good)
- 어렵지만 재미있어요. (is difficult but interesting)
With Intensifiers
아주 (very)
- 아주 커요. (is very big)
- 아주 좋아요. (is very good)
- 아주 예뻐요. (is very pretty)
정말/진짜 (really)
- 정말 맛있어요. (is really delicious)
- 진짜 예뻐요. (is really pretty)
너무 (too/very)
- 너무 커요. (is too big / very big)
- 너무 비싸요. (is too expensive)
- 너무 좋아요. (is so good)
조금 (a little)
- 조금 작아요. (is a little small)
- 조금 어려워요. (is a little difficult)
Negative Forms
Using 안 (not)
Place 안 before the descriptive verb:
Pattern: 안 + [Descriptive Verb]
- 안 커요. (is not big)
- 안 좋아요. (is not good)
- 안 예뻐요. (is not pretty)
- 안 맛있어요. (is not delicious)
Using -지 않다
More formal negative:
Pattern: [Stem] + 지 않다
- 크지 않아요. (is not big)
- 좋지 않아요. (is not good)
- 예쁘지 않아요. (is not pretty)
- 맛있지 않아요. (is not delicious)
Questions with Descriptive Verbs
With -아/어요?
Rising intonation makes it a question:
- 커요? (Is it big?)
- 좋아요? (Is it good?)
- 맛있어요? (Is it delicious?)
- 행복해요? (Are you happy?)
With -습니까/ㅂ니까?
Formal questions:
- 큽니까? (Is it big?)
- 좋습니까? (Is it good?)
- 높습니까? (Is it high?)
Comparison Patterns
Basic Comparison with 보다
Pattern: [A]이/가 [B]보다 + [Descriptive Verb]
- 이것이 저것보다 커요. (This is bigger than that.)
- 여름이 봄보다 더워요. (Summer is hotter than spring.)
- 서울이 부산보다 커요. (Seoul is bigger than Busan.)
Using 더 (more)
Emphasizes the comparison:
- 이것이 더 커요. (This is bigger.)
- 그것이 더 좋아요. (That is better.)
- 여기가 더 예뻐요. (Here is prettier.)
Descriptive Verbs vs Action Verbs
Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)
- Describe states/qualities
- Cannot use progressive -고 있다
- Use -(으)ㄴ for present modification
Examples:
- 크다 (to be big)
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty)
- 좋다 (to be good)
Action Verbs
- Describe actions/processes
- Can use progressive -고 있다
- Use -는 for present modification
Examples:
- 먹다 (to eat)
- 가다 (to go)
- 공부하다 (to study)
Common Sentence Patterns
Pattern 1: Simple Statement
[Subject] + [Descriptive Verb]
- 날씨가 좋아요. (The weather is good.)
- 집이 커요. (The house is big.)
- 음식이 맛있어요. (The food is delicious.)
Pattern 2: Modified Noun + Statement
[Modified Noun] + [Verb]
- 큰 집이 있어요. (There's a big house.)
- 예쁜 꽃을 봤어요. (I saw a pretty flower.)
- 좋은 소식을 들었어요. (I heard good news.)
Pattern 3: Subject Description
[Topic] + [Subject] + [Descriptive Verb]
- 이 집은 방이 커요. (This house - the rooms are big.)
- 그 식당은 음식이 맛있어요. (That restaurant - the food is delicious.)
Pattern 4: Multiple Descriptions
[Adj1]고 [Adj2]고 [Adj3]
- 크고 깨끗하고 예뻐요. (is big, clean, and pretty)
- 싸고 맛있고 건강해요. (is cheap, delicious, and healthy)
Regular vs Irregular
Regular Descriptive Verbs
Follow standard conjugation patterns:
- 작다 → 작아요, 작은, 작았어요
- 높다 → 높아요, 높은, 높았어요
- 좋다 → 좋아요, 좋은, 좋았어요
Irregular Descriptive Verbs
Change stem before certain endings:
ㅂ irregular:
- 춥다 → 추워요 (not 춥어요)
- 아름답다 → 아름다워요
ㅎ irregular:
- 빨갛다 → 빨개요 (not 빨갛아요)
- 하얗다 → 하애요
으 irregular:
- 크다 → 커요 (not 크어요)
- 예쁘다 → 예뻐요
ㄷ irregular:
- 듣다 → 들어요 (not 듣어요)
ㄹ irregular:
- 멀다 → 먼 (not 멀은)
- 길다 → 긴 (not 길은)
Key Points
✅ Descriptive verbs are Korean adjectives that conjugate like verbs ✅ End in -다 in dictionary form ✅ Can be sentence predicates or noun modifiers ✅ Describe states, not actions ✅ Cannot use progressive -고 있다 ✅ Use -(으)ㄴ for present noun modification ✅ Can be regular or irregular
Understanding descriptive verbs as conjugating predicates rather than static modifiers is essential for natural Korean expression.