How to Describe Rooms and Furniture in Korean: Location Words and Adjectives
Learn to say what is in a room and where it is, using Korean location words like 위, 아래, 옆, and adjectives like 작은 and 큰.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In this lesson you will learn to describe the inside of a room: what furniture is there and where it sits. Korean does not use a word like English 'by' or 'under' as a separate preposition before the noun. Instead, Korean uses a location noun after the object, often with the particle -에. You also place adjectives directly before the noun, so 'a small table' is 작은 탁자, not 'a table small'. By the end, you will be able to build sentences such as 'There is a small table by the window' in natural Korean.
By the end, you can…
- name common furniture and room items in Korean, such as 탁자, 침대, 창문, and 의자.
- say where something is using location words like 위, 아래, 옆, 앞, and 뒤 with -에.
- put an adjective before a noun, for example 작은 탁자 or 큰 침대.
- say that something exists or is located using 있어요 and a location phrase.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
창문 옆에 작은 탁자가 있어요.
There is a small table by the window.
changmun yeope jageun takjaga isseoyo
The location phrase 창문 옆에 comes before the thing that exists. 있어요 means 'there is/are' for things that exist.
침대 위에 책이 있어요.
There is a book on the bed.
chimdae wie chae gi isseoyo
위 means 'top/above'. The particle -에 marks the location. Use this for objects resting on a surface.
책상 아래에 가방이 있어요.
There is a bag under the desk.
chaeksang araee gabangi isseoyo
아래 means 'under/below'. It describes position, not movement.
큰 의자가 문 앞에 있어요.
There is a big chair in front of the door.
keun uijaga mun ape isseoyo
앞 means 'front'. The adjective 큰 'big' comes directly before the noun 의자.
방 뒤에 작은 창문이 있어요.
There is a small window at the back of the room.
bang dwie jageun changmuni isseoyo
뒤 means 'back/behind'. Use this pattern to describe the rear part of a room.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic pattern is: [Location phrase] + [Noun phrase] + 가/이 있어요. The location phrase ends in a location word plus 에, for example 창문 옆에 (by the window), 침대 위에 (on the bed), 책상 아래에 (under the desk). The noun phrase can include an adjective before the noun: 작은 탁자 (small table), 큰 침대 (big bed). The subject particle 가 or 이 attaches to the noun phrase: 탁자가 있어요, 책이 있어요. So 'There is a small table by the window' is 창문 옆에 작은 탁자가 있어요. If the noun ends in a consonant, use 이; if it ends in a vowel, use 가.
When to use it
Use this pattern when you want to say what exists in a room and where it is. It is common when describing your home, a classroom, or a hotel room. For example, 방에 큰 침대가 있어요 means 'There is a big bed in the room.' If you want to ask about location, use 어디에 있어요? For example, 화장실이 어디에 있어요? means 'Where is the bathroom?' To answer, put the location word before 에: 화장실은 문 옆에 있어요 'The bathroom is by the door.' Note that Korean location words come after the reference point, not before it: 창문 옆에 is literally 'window side-at', not 'at window side'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
방에 뭐가 있어요?
What is in the room?bange mwoga isseoyo?창문 옆에 작은 탁자가 있어요.
There is a small table by the window.changmun yeope jageun takjaga isseoyo탁자 위에 뭐가 있어요?
What is on the table?takja wie mwoga isseoyo?큰 책이 있어요. 그리고 침대 아래에 가방이 있어요.
There is a big book. And there is a bag under the bed.keun chae gi isseoyo. geurigo chimdae araee gabangi isseoyoA little context goes a long way
In Korean homes, many people sit and sleep on the floor, so you may hear words like 이불 (bedding) and 요 (floor mattress) more often than 침대 (bed). When describing a room, it is polite to use 있어요 rather than a blunt statement. If you are a guest, saying 방이 참 아늑해요 (The room is really cozy) is a warm, natural compliment.
One thing to watch for
Putting the location word before the noun, as in 옆 창문에 탁자가 있어요.
Try this instead: Korean puts the reference point first, then the location word: 창문 옆에. So say 창문 옆에 탁자가 있어요, not 옆 창문에 탁자가 있어요.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'There is a small chair under the desk'?
Show a sample answer
책상 아래에 작은 의자가 있어요.
책상 아래에 is the location phrase, 작은 의자 is the noun phrase with an adjective, and 가 attaches because 의자 ends in a vowel.
2What is the Korean word for 'on' when describing position on a surface?
Show a sample answer
위
위 means 'top/above'. Use it with 에: 침대 위에 책이 있어요. Other valid location words include 아래, 옆, 앞, and 뒤.
3Change 큰 탁자 to mean 'small table' and use it in a sentence with 'by the window'.
Show a sample answer
창문 옆에 작은 탁자가 있어요.
작은 is the adjective form of 작다 meaning 'small'. It comes before the noun. The sentence follows the pattern location + noun + 가 있어요.
To describe a room in Korean, put the location phrase first (창문 옆에), then the noun with any adjective (작은 탁자), and finish with 가/이 있어요. Remember that Korean location words come after the reference point, and adjectives come before the noun.
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