Animals

1. 개

   Gae

   Dog

   Usage

   Worth knowing: "gae-han-te mul-lyeo-sseo-yo" (a dog bit me). As a pet, Koreans usually say "gang-a-ji"

2. 고양이

   Go-yang-i

   Cat

   Usage

   Street cats are "gil-go-yang-i". A cat café is "go-yang-i ka-pe"

3. 새

   Sae

   Bird

   Usage

   Birds in general. The same syllable also works as the modifier "new", but on its own it means bird

4. 물고기

   Mul-go-gi

   Fish (the animal)

   Usage

   The living animal. As food on a plate it becomes "saeng-seon" — Korean keeps the two apart

5. 말

   Mal

   Horse

   Usage

   Jeju's native ponies are famous and you can ride them. The same spelling also means "speech"

6. 소

   So

   Cow

   Usage

   Beef is "so-go-gi". Korean-raised beef, "han-u", is the premium grade

7. 돼지

   Dwae-ji

   Pig

   Usage

   Pork is "dwae-ji-go-gi". Samgyeopsal is pork belly

8. 닭

   Dak

   Chicken

   Usage

   Chicken meat is "dak-go-gi". Fried chicken has its own established word, "chi-kin"

9. 오리

   O-ri

   Duck

   Usage

   "O-ri-go-gi" is duck meat. In winter wild ducks gather along the Han River

10. 염소

    Yeom-so

    Goat

    Usage

    Seen in the countryside and at petting farms. It is a separate word from "yang" (sheep)

11. 양

    Yang

    Sheep

    Usage

    The Daegwallyeong sheep ranch in Pyeongchang is a well-known stop. Lamb is "yang-go-gi"

12. 호랑이

    Ho-rang-i

    Tiger

    Usage

    The national symbol, from the founding myth to Olympic mascots. Extinct in the wild here — you will see it at zoos and in artwork

13. 곰

    Gom

    Bear

    Usage

    Asiatic black bears have been reintroduced on Jirisan. The bear also appears in the founding myth

14. 사슴

    Sa-seum

    Deer

    Usage

    Seen in the mountains and at farms. The "go-ra-ni" (water deer) is a different species that darts onto roads

15. 멧돼지

    Met-dwae-ji

    Wild boar

    Usage

    They appear even on mountains close to the city, such as Bukhansan. Do not run — back away quietly. You will see this word on trail warning signs

16. 뱀

    Baem

    Snake

    Usage

    You may meet one on a summer trail. If bitten, show "bae-me mul-lyeo-sseo-yo" and get to a hospital fast

17. 거북이

    Geo-bu-gi

    Turtle

    Usage

    Seen in temple ponds and aquariums. It gives the name to Admiral Yi's turtle ship, "geo-buk-seon"

18. 개구리

    Gae-gu-ri

    Frog

    Usage

    Loud on spring and summer nights in rice-growing areas

19. 도마뱀

    Do-ma-baem

    Lizard

    Usage

    Seen on trails and stone walls. The word contains "baem" (snake) but it is not one

20. 쥐

    Jwi

    Mouse / Rat

    Usage

    Use it to report one to the front desk. "Bang-e jwi-ga i-sseo-yo" means there is a rat in my room

21. 토끼

    To-kki

    Rabbit

    Usage

    Comes up with the Chuseok moon-rabbit story, which pounds rice cake in the Korean telling

22. 박쥐

    Bak-jwi

    Bat

    Usage

    Seen at dusk in rural areas and caves. The name contains "jwi" (rat)

23. 까치

    Kka-chi

    Magpie

    Usage

    The black-and-white bird you see everywhere in Korea. Considered a good omen; "kka-chi-seol-lal" is the eve of Lunar New Year

24. 비둘기

    Bi-dul-gi

    Pigeon

    Usage

    Common around stations and parks. Feeding them is restricted by ordinance in Seoul

25. 모기

    Mo-gi

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Show it to ask for repellent at your guesthouse. "Mo-gi-ga i-sseo-yo" means there are mosquitoes; the bite cream is "mo-gi-yak"

26. 바퀴벌레

    Ba-kwi-beol-le

    Cockroach

    Usage

    The most persuasive reason to ask for a different room. Show it at the front desk

27. 개미

    Gae-mi

    Ant

    Usage

    They always find food left in a room. Show it when you need housekeeping

28. 벌

    Beol

    Bee

    Usage

    If stung, say "beo-re sso-yeo-sseo-yo". Hornets are "mal-beol" and far more dangerous

29. 거미

    Geo-mi

    Spider

    Usage

    Common in old buildings and mountain huts. Nearly all are harmless

30. 지네

    Ji-ne

    Centipede

    Usage

    Found in damp places; the bite hurts badly. In mountain lodgings, check inside your shoes first

31. 나비

    Na-bi

    Butterfly

    Usage

    The butterfly festival in Hampyeong is well known. It is also a traditional pet name for a cat

32. 파리

    Pa-ri

    Fly

    Usage

    Common at stalls and markets. Spelled the same as the city Paris — context makes it clear

33. 해파리

    Hae-pa-ri

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    Swarms appear at beaches in summer and warnings are issued. If stung, say "hae-pa-ri-e sso-yeo-sseo-yo" and head for the first-aid post

34. 매미

    Mae-mi

    Cicada

    Usage

    Korean summers are deafeningly loud with cicadas even in the city. Useful for explaining why you could not sleep by the window

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