This stage takes you from getting by in Korean to working, studying and arguing in it: reading news and editorials, writing structured essays, and hearing the nuance behind what people say.
| Level | TOPIK II (levels 5–6) · CEFR C1–C2 · King Sejong standard curriculum levels 5–6 |
| Time | A year or more at 1–2 hours a day, most of it reading and listening to real Korean |
| Steps | 12 steps, in order — do them one by one |
Advanced Korean is less about new grammar and more about range and control. You already know the connectives, irregular verbs, honorifics and indirect speech from the intermediate stage. Here you learn the written style used in newspapers and essays, the fine differences between endings that look alike, a large Sino-Korean vocabulary, and the idioms people use without thinking.
Be honest with yourself about time. This is the longest stage. Most of the progress comes from volume: thousands of pages read and hours of listening. A grammar list will not take you from level 4 to level 6 on its own. Plan for a year or more of steady daily input, and expect plateaus.
The steps below are in a useful order, but you will return to them again and again. Keep a notebook, read something in Korean every day, and write regularly so that someone can correct you.
What you will be able to do
- You can read news articles and editorials on social, economic and cultural topics, looking up only a few words.
- You can write a structured argumentative essay of 600–700 characters in the written plain style.
- You can describe a chart or survey result accurately and concisely in written Korean.
- You can follow lectures, meetings and TV discussions on general and some specialist topics.
- You can switch between spoken and written style, and between casual, polite and formal registers at work.
- You can guess the meaning of new Sino-Korean words from roots you already know.
- You can understand common idioms and proverbs, and notice tone, irony and nuance in what people say.
Download the printable PDFs
Free study sheets for this stage. Pick your language — the Korean is the same in every version; only the explanations are translated. Print them or use them on a tablet.
Step 1. Learn the written plain style (-ㄴ다/-는다/-다)
Newspapers, essays, reports, textbooks and the TOPIK writing questions use the written plain style. It is not rude; it simply has no listener. Action verbs whose stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ take -ㄴ다 (가다 → 간다, 만들다 → 만든다; the ㄹ drops). Stems ending in a consonant take -는다 (먹다 → 먹는다). Adjectives and 이다 stay in the dictionary form (크다, 학생이다).
Past is -았/었다 (갔다), and a guess or future is -(으)ㄹ 것이다. Written questions use -는가 after verbs and -(으)ㄴ가 after adjectives (중요한가?). Use 나 for ‘I’ if you must, never 저, and in essays it is usually better to write without ‘I’ at all.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 요즘 많은 사람이 대중교통을 이용한다. | yojeum maneun sarami daejunggyotong-eul iyonghanda. | These days many people use public transport. |
| 물가가 계속 오르고 있다. | mulgaga gyesok oreugo itda. | Prices keep rising. |
| 정부는 새로운 정책을 발표했다. | jeongbuneun saeroun jeongchaegeul balpyohaetda. | The government announced a new policy. |
| 이 문제는 쉽게 해결되지 않을 것이다. | i munjeneun swipge haegyeoldoeji aneul geosida. | This problem will not be solved easily. |
| 나는 매일 아침 신문을 읽는다. | naneun maeil achim sinmuneul ingneunda. | I read the newspaper every morning. |
| 독서는 왜 중요한가? | dokseoneun wae jungyohanga? | Why is reading important? |
| Spoken polite (-아요/-어요) | Written plain | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가요 gayo |
간다 ganda |
go(es) |
| 먹어요 meogeoyo |
먹는다 meongneunda |
eat(s) |
| 만들어요 mandeureoyo |
만든다 mandeunda |
make(s) |
| 커요 keoyo |
크다 keuda |
is big |
| 학생이에요 haksaeng-ieyo |
학생이다 haksaeng-ida |
is a student |
| 갔어요 gasseoyo |
갔다 gatda |
went |
| 갈 거예요 gal geoyeyo |
갈 것이다 gal geosida |
will go / will probably go |
Step 2. Build vocabulary from Sino-Korean roots
A large share of Korean vocabulary is Sino-Korean: words built from Chinese characters (Hanja). You do not need to write Hanja. What helps is knowing that one syllable often carries one meaning, so 학 in 학생, 학교 and 과학 all relate to learning.
Learn roots as families. When you meet a new word such as 국제 (international), connect it to 국가 and 외국. Be careful: one Hangul syllable can stand for different characters. 수 is ‘water’ in 수영 (swimming) but ‘number’ in 수학 (mathematics) and ‘hand’ in 선수 (athlete). Always check a new word in a dictionary before you guess its meaning in an exam.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 국제 교류가 활발해지고 있다. | gukje gyoryuga hwalbalhaejigo itda. | International exchange is becoming more active. |
| 경제가 성장하면서 도시화가 빠르게 진행되었다. | gyeongjega seongjanghamyeonseo dosihwaga ppareuge jinhaengdoeeotda. | As the economy grew, urbanization moved quickly. |
| 이 지역은 인구가 계속 줄고 있다. | i jiyeogeun inguga gyesok julgo itda. | The population of this area keeps falling. |
| 이 박물관은 입장료가 무료이다. | i bangmulgwaneun ipjangnyoga muryoida. | Admission to this museum is free. |
| Root | Meaning | Common words | Word meanings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 학 (學) hak |
learning | 학생 · 학교 · 과학 haksaeng · hakgyo · gwahak |
student · school · science |
| 생 (生) saeng |
life, birth | 생활 · 생일 · 인생 saenghwal · saeng-il · insaeng |
daily life · birthday · (a person’s) life |
| 국 (國) guk |
country | 국가 · 외국 · 국제 gukga · oeguk · gukje |
nation · foreign country · international |
| 사 (事) sa |
matter, work | 사건 · 사업 · 행사 sageon · saeop · haengsa |
incident · business · event |
| 문 (文) mun |
writing, culture | 문장 · 문화 · 논문 munjang · munhwa · nonmun |
sentence · culture · academic paper |
| 인 (人) in |
person | 인구 · 개인 · 외국인 ingu · gaein · oegugin |
population · individual · foreigner |
| 대 (大) dae |
big | 대학 · 대부분 · 확대 daehak · daebubun · hwakdae |
university · most · expansion |
| 화 (化) hwa |
change, -ization | 변화 · 문화 · 도시화 byeonhwa · munhwa · dosihwa |
change · culture · urbanization |
| 전 (電) jeon |
electricity | 전기 · 전화 · 전자 jeon-gi · jeonhwa · jeonja |
electricity · telephone · electronic |
| 동 (動) dong |
move | 운동 · 활동 · 자동 undong · hwaldong · jadong |
exercise · activity · automatic |
| 경 (經) gyeong |
manage, go through | 경제 · 경험 · 경영 gyeongje · gyeongheom · gyeong-yeong |
economy · experience · management |
| 정 (政) jeong |
govern | 정부 · 정치 · 정책 jeongbu · jeongchi · jeongchaek |
government · politics · policy |
| 교 (敎) gyo |
teach | 교육 · 교사 · 교과서 gyoyuk · gyosa · gyogwaseo |
education · teacher · textbook |
| 시 (時) si |
time | 시간 · 시대 · 당시 sigan · sidae · dangsi |
time · era · at that time |
| 식 (食) sik |
eat, food | 식당 · 음식 · 식품 sikdang · eumsik · sikpum |
restaurant · food · food product |
| 가 (家) ga |
house, specialist | 가족 · 작가 · 전문가 gajok · jakga · jeonmun-ga |
family · writer · expert |
| 발 (發) bal |
send out, start | 발표 · 발전 · 출발 balpyo · baljeon · chulbal |
announcement · development · departure |
| 성 (成) seong |
achieve, become | 성공 · 성장 · 완성 seonggong · seongjang · wanseong |
success · growth · completion |
| 무 (無) mu |
none, without | 무료 · 무시 · 무관심 muryo · musi · mugwansim |
free of charge · ignoring · indifference |
Step 3. Master connectives with nuance
At intermediate level you learned -아서/어서 and -기 때문에 for ‘because’. Advanced Korean has several more, and each carries an attitude: surprise, blame, gratitude or a personal discovery. Choosing the right one is what makes your Korean sound natural.
-(으)ㄴ/는 덕분에 and -(으)ㄴ/는 탓에 follow the modifier rules you already know: -(으)ㄴ for past actions and for adjectives, -는 for present actions. After a noun, add 덕분에 or 탓에 directly (친구 덕분에, 날씨 탓에).
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 아침에는 비가 오더니 오후에는 맑아졌다. | achimeneun biga odeoni ohueneun malgajyeotda. | It was raining in the morning, but it cleared up in the afternoon. |
| 동생이 요즘 열심히 공부하더니 성적이 많이 올랐다. | dongsaeng-i yojeum yeolsimhi gongbuhadeoni seongjeogi mani ollatda. | My younger sibling has been studying hard lately, and their grades went up a lot. |
| 매일 30분씩 걸었더니 몸이 가벼워졌다. | maeil samsip bunssik georeotdeoni momi gabyeowojyeotda. | I walked 30 minutes every day, and my body felt lighter. |
| 버스를 놓치는 바람에 회의에 늦었다. | beoseureul nochineun barame hoeuie neujeotda. | I missed the bus, so I was late for the meeting. |
| 날씨가 추운 탓에 손님이 적었다. | nalssiga chuun tase sonnimi jeogeotda. | Because of the cold weather, there were few customers. |
| 친구가 도와준 덕분에 이사를 빨리 끝냈다. | chinguga dowajun deokbune isareul ppalli kkeunnaetda. | Thanks to my friend’s help, I finished moving quickly. |
| 한국어는 알면 알수록 재미있다. | hangugeoneun almyeon alsurok jaemiitda. | The more you know Korean, the more fun it is. |
| 포기하지 않는 한 기회는 있다. | pogihaji anneun han gihoeneun itda. | As long as you don’t give up, there is a chance. |
| Ending | Meaning | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| -더니 -deoni |
I saw A happen (to someone or something), and then B followed | Usually about someone or something else, not your own actions |
| -았/었더니 -at/eotdeoni |
I did A, and then found B / B happened | The person doing A is usually ‘I’ |
| -는 바람에 -neun barame |
because of A (sudden, unplanned), with a usually bad result | The result is in the past; no commands or suggestions after it |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 탓에 -(eu)n/neun tase |
because of A, blaming it for a bad result | Only for negative results |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 덕분에 -(eu)n/neun deokbune |
thanks to A, with a good result | Only for positive results |
| -(으)ㄹ수록 -(eu)lsurok |
the more A, the more B | Often in the pattern -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록 |
| -는 한 -neun han |
as long as A | Very often with a negative: -지 않는 한 |
Step 4. Talk about what you saw: -더라고요 and -던
-더라고요 reports something you personally saw, heard or felt in the past, as new information for the listener: ‘I found that…’. It is very common in conversation. Do not use it for your own deliberate actions (not 제가 밥을 먹더라고요). Your own feelings are fine: 그 영화가 정말 슬프더라고요.
-던 is a recollection modifier. It describes a past action that was repeated, habitual or not finished: 살던 동네 (the neighbourhood I used to live in), 먹던 빵 (bread I was eating and did not finish). -았/었던 points to a past event that is over, often one time: 작년에 갔던 식당. Compare 어제 먹은 빵 (I ate it; it is gone) with 어제 먹던 빵 (I started it yesterday; some is left).
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 그 식당 음식이 정말 맛있더라고요. | geu sikdang eumsigi jeongmal masitdeoragoyo. | The food at that restaurant was really good (I found). |
| 제주도에 가 보니까 바람이 정말 많이 불더라고요. | jejudo-e ga bonikka barami jeongmal mani buldeoragoyo. | When I went to Jeju, it was really windy. |
| 여기가 제가 어릴 때 살던 동네예요. | yeogiga jega eoril ttae saldeon dongneyeyo. | This is the neighbourhood I lived in as a child. |
| 아까 마시던 커피 어디 있어요? | akka masideon keopi eodi isseoyo? | Where is the coffee I was drinking earlier? |
| 작년에 갔던 식당에 다시 가 보고 싶어요. | jangnyeone gatdeon sikdang-e dasi ga bogo sipeoyo. | I want to go back to the restaurant we went to last year. |
| 어제 먹던 빵이 아직 남아 있어요. | eoje meokdeon ppang-i ajik nama isseoyo. | The bread I was eating yesterday is still left. |
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -더라고요 -deoragoyo |
Reporting what you saw or felt, as news to the listener | 사람이 정말 많더라고요. sarami jeongmal manteoragoyo. |
| -던 + noun -deon |
A past action that was repeated or not finished | 자주 가던 카페 jaju gadeon kape |
| -았/었던 + noun -at/eotdeon |
A past event that is over, often only once | 작년에 갔던 카페 jangnyeone gatdeon kape |
| -(으)ㄴ + noun -(eu)n |
A finished past action, neutral | 어제 먹은 빵 eoje meogeun ppang |
Step 5. Express degree and assumption
These four endings let you judge and guess the way Korean writers do. They appear constantly in essays, news commentary and the reading section of TOPIK II.
-(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다 is a guess based on what you see. It is not used about yourself. In conversation, -나 보다 and -(으)ㄴ가 보다 do a similar job. -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다 is a strong denial: ‘there is no way’. -기 마련이다 says something is natural or bound to happen.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 한 달에 책을 열 권 읽으니까 사흘에 한 권 읽는 셈이다. | han dare chaegeul yeol gwon ilgeunikka saheure han gwon ingneun semida. | I read ten books a month, so that works out to one book every three days. |
| 가게에 불이 꺼져 있는 걸 보니 오늘은 쉬는 모양이다. | gage-e buri kkeojyeo inneun geol boni oneureun swineun moyangida. | The lights in the shop are off, so it seems to be closed today. |
| 그 사람이 거짓말을 했을 리가 없다. | geu sarami geojinmareul haesseul riga eopda. | There is no way that person lied. |
| 처음에는 누구나 실수하기 마련이다. | cheoeumeneun nuguna silsuhagi maryeonida. | Everyone makes mistakes at first. |
| 열심히 준비하면 좋은 결과가 나오기 마련이다. | yeolsimhi junbihamyeon joeun gyeolgwaga naogi maryeonida. | If you prepare hard, good results naturally follow. |
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다 -(eu)n/neun semida |
it amounts to, practically the same as | 거의 다 온 셈이다. geoui da on semida. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다 -(eu)n/neun moyangida |
it seems that (a guess from evidence) | 밖에 비가 오는 모양이다. bakke biga oneun moyangida. |
| -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다 -(eu)l riga eopda |
there is no way that | 그럴 리가 없다. geureol riga eopda. |
| -기 마련이다 -gi maryeonida |
is bound to, naturally happens | 시간이 지나면 잊기 마련이다. sigani jinamyeon itgi maryeonida. |
Step 6. Use formal connectors for essays
Written Korean links ideas with a different set of words from speech. 그래서, 근데 and 되게 sound casual on paper. In essays and reports, use the connectors below, and pay attention to where each one sits: at the start of a sentence, or attached to a verb.
A good essay paragraph usually has one connector at its start that tells the reader how it relates to the paragraph before it: contrast (그러나, 반면에), result (따라서), addition (또한) or summary (이처럼).
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 인구가 증가함에 따라 교통 문제도 심각해졌다. | inguga jeunggahame ttara gyotong munjedo simgakaejyeotda. | As the population grew, traffic problems also became serious. |
| 도시 인구는 늘어나는 데 반해 농촌 인구는 줄어들고 있다. | dosi inguneun neureonaneun de banhae nongchon inguneun jureodeulgo itda. | The urban population is growing, whereas the rural population is shrinking. |
| 대중교통은 저렴할 뿐만 아니라 환경에도 좋다. | daejunggyotong-eun jeoryeomhal ppunman anira hwangyeong-edo jota. | Public transport is not only cheap but also good for the environment. |
| 온라인 수업은 편리하다. 반면에 집중하기 어렵다는 단점이 있다. | ollain sueobeun pyeollihada. banmyeone jipjunghagi eoryeopdaneun danjeomi itda. | Online classes are convenient. On the other hand, they have the drawback that it is hard to concentrate. |
| 이처럼 작은 습관이 큰 차이를 만든다. | icheoreom jageun seupgwani keun chaireul mandeunda. | In this way, small habits make a big difference. |
| 따라서 정부의 적극적인 지원이 필요하다. | ttaraseo jeongbuui jeokgeukjeogin jiwoni piryohada. | Therefore, active government support is needed. |
| Connector | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 그러나 geureona |
however | Written; in speech people say 하지만 or 그런데 |
| 따라서 ttaraseo |
therefore | More formal than 그래서 |
| 반면(에) banmyeon(e) |
on the other hand | After a verb: -는 반면(에) |
| 또한 ttohan |
also, moreover | Adds a second point; in speech 그리고 or 또 |
| 이처럼 icheoreom |
as shown, in this way | Sums up what came before |
| 결론적으로 gyeollonjeogeuro |
in conclusion | Opens the final paragraph |
| -(으)ㅁ에 따라 -(eu)me ttara |
as (A changes, B changes) | Attached to a verb |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 데 반해 -(eu)n/neun de banhae |
whereas | Contrasts two facts in one sentence |
| -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 -(eu)l ppunman anira |
not only … but also | After a noun: N뿐만 아니라 |
Step 7. Know when to use -기 and when to use -(으)ㅁ
Both endings turn a verb into a noun, but they are not interchangeable. -기 names an action or process, often one that has not happened yet. It appears in many fixed patterns (-기 쉽다, -기 위해, -기 시작하다, -기로 하다) and in lists of goals or instructions.
-(으)ㅁ names a fact or a completed state. It belongs to formal writing: reports, notices and memos, and it follows verbs of knowing and revealing (알다, 밝혀지다, 깨닫다). It also appears in written patterns such as -(으)ㅁ에 따라 and -(으)ㅁ으로써.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 매일 공부하기가 쉽지 않다. | maeil gongbuhagiga swipji anta. | Studying every day is not easy. |
| 올해 목표: 한 달에 책 두 권 읽기 | olhae mokpyo: han dare chaek du gwon ilgi | This year’s goal: read two books a month |
| 건강을 지키기 위해 매일 걷는다. | geongang-eul jikigi wihae maeil geonneunda. | I walk every day to stay healthy. |
| 그가 사실을 숨겼음이 밝혀졌다. | geuga sasireul sumgyeosseumi balkyeojyeotda. | It came to light that he had hidden the truth. |
| 회의 장소가 3층으로 변경되었음. | hoeui jangsoga samcheung-euro byeongyeongdoeeosseum. | The meeting room has been changed to the 3rd floor. (notice) |
| Ending | Typical use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -기 -gi |
Fixed patterns such as -기 위해, -기로 하다 | 매일 걷기로 했다. maeil geotgiro haetda. |
| -기 -gi |
Goals, lists and instructions | 하루 30분 걷기 haru samsip bun geotgi |
| -(으)ㅁ -(eu)m |
A fact that is already true, after verbs of knowing or revealing | 사실이 아님을 알았다. sasiri animeul aratda. |
| -(으)ㅁ -(eu)m |
Notices, memos and short reports | 내일 회의 없음. naeil hoeui eopseum. |
Step 8. Learn idioms and proverbs
Idioms (관용어) and proverbs (속담) are everywhere in conversation, TV and headlines. The literal meaning rarely helps, so learn each one as a unit with a real example. Many idioms use body parts: 발이 넓다 (to know many people), 눈이 높다 (to have high standards).
Use idioms mainly in speech and informal writing. In a formal essay or TOPIK question 54, one well-chosen proverb can work, but plain, precise language is safer.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이 정도 문제는 나한테 식은 죽 먹기야. | i jeongdo munjeneun nahante sigeun juk meokgiya. | A problem like this is a piece of cake for me. |
| 민수 씨는 발이 넓어서 모르는 사람이 없어요. | minsu ssineun bari neolbeoseo moreuneun sarami eopseoyo. | Minsu knows so many people that there is nobody he doesn’t know. |
| 동생이 이번 시험에서 미역국을 먹었다. | dongsaeng-i ibeon siheomeseo miyeokgugeul meogeotda. | My younger sibling failed the exam this time. |
| 저는 귀가 얇아서 광고를 보면 바로 사고 싶어져요. | jeoneun gwiga yalbaseo gwanggoreul bomyeon baro sago sipeojyeoyo. | I’m easily swayed, so whenever I see an ad I want to buy the thing. |
| 그 친구는 입이 무거우니까 믿고 말해도 돼요. | geu chinguneun ibi mugeounikka mitgo malhaedo dwaeyo. | That friend keeps secrets, so you can trust them and tell them. |
| Expression | Literally | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 식은 죽 먹기 sigeun juk meokgi |
eating cold porridge | something very easy |
| 발이 넓다 bari neolda |
one’s feet are wide | to know a lot of people |
| 눈이 높다 nuni nopda |
one’s eyes are high | to have high standards, to be picky |
| 손이 크다 soni keuda |
one’s hands are big | to be generous, to make or give things in large amounts |
| 입이 무겁다 ibi mugeopda |
one’s mouth is heavy | to keep secrets well |
| 귀가 얇다 gwiga yalda |
one’s ears are thin | to be easily swayed by what others say |
| 미역국을 먹다 miyeokgugeul meokda |
to eat seaweed soup | to fail an exam |
| 그림의 떡 geurimui tteok |
a rice cake in a picture | something you want but cannot have |
| 티끌 모아 태산 tikkeul moa taesan |
gather dust and it becomes a mountain | small amounts add up |
| 백지장도 맞들면 낫다 baekjijangdo matdeulmyeon natda |
even a sheet of paper is easier if two people lift it | working together makes any task easier |
| 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 ganeun mari gowaya oneun mari gopda |
the words that go out must be kind for the words that come back to be kind | speak kindly and others will speak kindly to you |
| 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다 nanmareun saega deutgo bammareun jwiga deunneunda |
birds hear daytime words and mice hear night-time words | walls have ears; be careful what you say |
Step 9. Handle register and politeness at work
At work, choosing the right level of speech matters as much as grammar. Use -습니다 in a first email, with clients, in presentations and meetings with senior staff. Use -아요/-어요 with colleagues you know well. The formal imperative -(으)십시오 appears in written instructions and announcements.
Address people by title plus 님 (부장님, 팀장님) or by name plus 님 in emails. Do not use 당신 for a colleague or a superior. Emails usually open by greeting and saying who you are, and close with a request or thanks.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요, 마케팅팀 김민수입니다. | annyeonghaseyo, maketingtim Gim Minsu-imnida. | Hello, this is Kim Minsu from the marketing team. |
| 요청하신 자료를 첨부하여 보내 드립니다. | yocheonghasin jaryoreul cheombuhayeo bonae deurimnida. | I am sending the materials you requested as an attachment. |
| 검토하신 후 의견 주시면 감사하겠습니다. | geomtohasin hu uigyeon jusimyeon gamsahagetseumnida. | I would be grateful for your feedback after you review it. |
| 회의 일정 확인 부탁드립니다. | hoeui iljeong hwagin butakdeurimnida. | Please confirm the meeting schedule. |
| 내일 오후에 다시 연락드리겠습니다. | naeil ohue dasi yeollakdeurigetseumnida. | I will contact you again tomorrow afternoon. |
| 좋은 하루 보내세요. | joeun haru bonaeseyo. | Have a good day. |
| Situation | Style | Example |
|---|---|---|
| First email, clients, senior staff | -습니다 (formal polite) | 확인 부탁드립니다. hwagin butakdeurimnida. |
| Presentations and formal meetings | -습니다 | 지금부터 발표를 시작하겠습니다. jigeumbuteo balpyoreul sijakagetseumnida. |
| Colleagues you know well | -아요/-어요 (polite) | 이거 내일까지 보내 줄 수 있어요? igeo naeilkkaji bonae jul su isseoyo? |
| Written instructions, announcements | -(으)십시오 (formal imperative) | 잠시만 기다려 주십시오. jamsiman gidaryeo jusipsio. |
| Reports | Written plain -ㄴ다/-는다 | 매출이 지난해보다 증가했다. maechuri jinanhaeboda jeunggahaetda. |
Step 10. Read news and editorials
News headlines save space. They drop particles and verb endings, put a comma after the subject, and end in nouns or short forms like -(으)ㄹ 듯 (probably) and N 예정 (scheduled). Rebuild the full sentence in your head before you read on.
Editorials (사설) follow a clear pattern: the issue, the writer’s argument, then a proposal, usually with -아야/어야 한다 or -(으)ㄹ 필요가 있다. Read the headline and the first paragraph first, skim the whole text once, then read slowly and circle Sino-Korean roots you know. Look up only the words that block the meaning.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 올여름 전력 사용량 역대 최고 | ollyeoreum jeollyeok sayongnyang yeokdae choego | Electricity use this summer hits a record high (headline) |
| 전문가들은 대책 마련이 시급하다고 지적했다. | jeonmungadeureun daechaek maryeoni sigeupadago jijeokaetda. | Experts pointed out that measures are urgently needed. |
| 정부는 청년 주거 문제에 더 적극적으로 대응할 필요가 있다. | jeongbuneun cheongnyeon jugeo munje-e deo jeokgeukjeogeuro daeeunghal piryoga itda. | The government needs to respond more actively to young people’s housing problems. |
| 보도에 따르면 이번 행사에는 많은 시민이 참여했다. | bodo-e ttareumyeon ibeon haengsa-eneun maneun simini chamyeohaetda. | According to reports, many citizens took part in this event. |
| Headline | Full sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 서울시, 심야 버스 확대 seoulsi, simya beoseu hwakdae |
서울시가 심야 버스를 확대한다. seoulsiga simya beoseureul hwakdaehanda. |
Seoul City is expanding late-night buses. |
| 내일 전국 비 naeil jeonguk bi |
내일 전국에 비가 온다. naeil jeonguge biga onda. |
It will rain across the country tomorrow. |
| 신제품 다음 달 출시 예정 sinjepum daeum dal chulsi yejeong |
신제품이 다음 달 출시될 예정이다. sinjepumi daeum dal chulsidoel yejeongida. |
A new product is scheduled for release next month. |
| 물가 상승세 이어질 듯 mulga sangseungse ieojil deut |
물가 상승세가 이어질 것 같다. mulga sangseungsega ieojil geot gatda. |
Prices will probably keep rising. |
Step 11. Prepare for TOPIK II writing (questions 51–54)
In the paper-based TOPIK II, the writing section has four questions. Questions 51 and 52 ask you to fill two blanks each with one sentence. 51 is a practical text such as a notice, email or message, so match its style (often -습니다). 52 is an explanatory paragraph, so write in the written plain style. Use the clues around each blank: the connector before it and the sentence after it.
Question 53 asks you to describe a graph or survey data in 200–300 characters. Report the numbers and trends accurately and do not add your opinion. Question 54 is an argumentative essay of 600–700 characters on a social topic, usually with three guide questions. Answer each guide question in order, in the written plain style. On the paper test you write on a grid (원고지) where each syllable and each space takes a box. The internet-based TOPIK (IBT) uses a different set of item types, so check the current format on topik.go.kr before you book.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 조사 결과, 대중교통을 이용한다는 응답이 45%로 가장 많았다. | josa gyeolgwa, daejunggyotong-eul iyonghandaneun eungdabi sasibo peosenteuro gajang manatda. | The survey found that ‘I use public transport’ was the most common answer, at 45%. |
| 그 뒤를 이어 자가용이 30%, 자전거가 15%로 나타났다. | geu dwireul ieo jagayong-i samsip peosenteu, jajeongeoga sibo peosenteuro natanatda. | Private cars followed at 30%, and bicycles at 15%. |
| 자전거 이용률은 10년 사이에 두 배 가까이 증가하였다. | jajeongeo iyongnyureun simnyeon saie du bae gakkai jeunggahayeotda. | The rate of bicycle use nearly doubled over ten years. |
| 이러한 변화의 원인으로는 요금 인하를 들 수 있다. | ireohan byeonhwaui wonineuroneun yogeum inhareul deul su itda. | One cause of this change is the fare reduction. |
| 앞으로 이 비율은 더욱 높아질 것으로 전망된다. | apeuro i biyureun deouk nopajil geoseuro jeonmangdoenda. | This rate is expected to rise further. |
| 최근 재택근무가 사회적으로 큰 관심을 받고 있다. | choegeun jaetaekgeunmuga sahoejeogeuro keun gwansimeul batgo itda. | Remote work has recently attracted great public attention. |
| 그 이유는 다음과 같다. | geu iyuneun daeumgwa gatda. | The reasons are as follows. |
| 이상으로 살펴본 바와 같이 규칙적인 독서는 개인과 사회 모두에 도움이 된다. | isang-euro salpyeobon bawa gachi gyuchikjeogin dokseoneun gaeingwa sahoe modu-e doumi doenda. | As we have seen, regular reading benefits both individuals and society. |
| Question | Task | Length | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Fill two blanks in a practical text (notice, email, message) | One sentence per blank | Match the text, often -습니다 |
| 52 | Fill two blanks in an explanatory paragraph | One sentence per blank | Written plain -ㄴ다/-는다 |
| 53 | Describe a graph or survey data | 200–300 characters | Written plain, facts only |
| 54 | Argumentative essay answering the guide questions | 600–700 characters | Written plain, introduction–body–conclusion |
Step 12. Stay advanced: read and listen in volume
Beyond this point, progress comes from hours of real Korean. Read things written for Koreans: news, essays, non-fiction, novels, webtoons with plenty of text. Listen to news, talk radio and podcasts at normal speed. Choose material where you understand most of it; too hard and you stop, too easy and you stop learning.
Keep producing too. Write a short text several times a week and get it corrected by a teacher, a language partner or a class. Speaking with Koreans in real situations, at work or in study, builds the speed and nuance that no book can.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이 문장이 자연스러운지 봐 주시겠어요? | i munjang-i jayeonseureounji bwa jusigesseoyo? | Could you check whether this sentence sounds natural? |
| 더 자연스럽게 말하려면 어떻게 해야 해요? | deo jayeonseureopge malharyeomyeon eotteoke haeya haeyo? | How should I say it to sound more natural? |
| 이 표현은 글에서만 쓰나요? | i pyohyeoneun geureseoman sseunayo? | Is this expression used only in writing? |
Common mistakes and how to fix them
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Mixing -아요/-어요 endings into an essay or report. | Decide on the written plain style before you start and check every sentence ending when you finish. |
| Writing 저는 in the written plain style (저는 … 한다). | Use 나는, or better, write without ‘I’: state the idea directly or use -(으)ㄹ 필요가 있다. |
| Using -는 바람에 for a good result or before a command. | Use -(으)ㄴ/는 덕분에 for good results. After -는 바람에, give a past result only. |
| Using -더라고요 for your own deliberate actions. | Keep -더라고요 for things you saw, heard or felt. For your own actions, use -았/었어요. |
| Filling essays with spoken words like 그래서, 근데, 되게, 너무. | Replace them with 따라서, 그러나, 매우, and keep a list of spoken → written pairs. |
| Answering only part of TOPIK question 54. | Number the guide questions and write one paragraph for each, in the order given. |
| Translating idioms word for word from your own language. | Learn Korean idioms as fixed units with a real example sentence, and use them mainly in speech. |
| Learning long word lists with no context. | Record every new word with the sentence you found it in and one sentence of your own. |
Study tips for this stage
- Read one news article a day and keep a vocabulary notebook: the word, the sentence it came from, and one sentence of your own.
- Shadow news or podcasts for 10 minutes a day: play a sentence, pause, and repeat it with the same rhythm and intonation.
- Write something short several times a week and get corrections. Rewrite the corrected version by hand once.
- Group new Sino-Korean words by root. A page per root turns scattered words into families you can guess from.
- Keep a phrase bank of written connectors and essay sentences, and reuse them in your own writing until they feel natural.
- Read one whole book in Korean. Essays and young adult novels are a good start before literary fiction.
- Take a full TOPIK II mock test under time limits every month or two to see where you lose points.
Free official resources
- Basic Korean Dictionary (NIKL) — Learner dictionary with English definitions and example sentences; good for checking Sino-Korean words and idioms.
- TOPIK official site — Test dates, current format, level cut-offs and past papers for practice.
- National Institute of Korean Language — Standard dictionary and answers to spelling and spacing questions.
- King Sejong Institute Foundation — Find a King Sejong Institute class near you for teacher feedback on speaking and writing.
Where this stage fits
Previous stage: 3. Intermediate. This is the last stage — keep your Korean growing with daily reading and listening. Whole course: Learn Korean step by step.
FAQ
How long does it take to reach TOPIK level 6?
There is no fixed number. From a solid intermediate level, most learners need a year or more of daily study with a lot of reading and listening, and many need longer. Progress depends far more on input volume than on grammar lists.
Do I have to write in -ㄴ다 style in TOPIK writing?
For questions 52, 53 and 54, yes: use the written plain style (-ㄴ다/-는다/-다) throughout. For question 51, match the style of the text, which is often -습니다.
Is it worth learning Hanja for advanced Korean?
Recognising the meaning of common Sino-Korean roots helps a lot with vocabulary. You do not need to write Hanja; learning root families in Hangul is enough for most learners.
How many characters is TOPIK question 54?
600–700 characters. On the paper test you write on a grid where each syllable and each space takes a box, so count spaces too.
How can I read Korean news faster?
Read the headline and first paragraph first, rebuild the headline as a full sentence, skim once, and look up only the words that block the meaning. Speed comes from reading a little every day.
Romanization: Revised Romanization of Korean. ▶ sounds use your browser’s Korean voice. Levels follow TOPIK and the King Sejong Institute standard curriculum; this course is independent and free.
