TOPIK I Core Vocabulary · Position & Direction ①

Where things are — 위, 아래, 앞, 뒤, 옆

In English, a position word usually comes before the noun, as in on the desk. In Korean, the noun comes first, as in 책상 위에.

01위wi

above, on top · higher than something, or resting on its surface.

Note The pattern is noun + 위 + 에. For example, on the desk is 책상 위에.

Examples 책상 위에 있다 (to be on the desk) · 위로 올라가다 (to go up)

책이 책상 위에 있어요. The book is on the desk.  |  책상 = desk  |  Location takes 에

02아래arae

below, under · lower than something else. The opposite is 위.

Note 밑 means almost the same thing. It suggests something directly underneath. Either word usually works.

Examples 책상 아래에 있다 (to be under the desk) · 아래로 내려가다 (to go down)

가방은 책상 아래에 두세요. Put your bag under the desk.  |  두다 = to put, to place

03앞ap🔊 [압]

in front · also earlier when you're talking about time.

Pronunciation [압]. The final consonant ㅍ sounds like ㅂ.

Note 앞 can show space or time. 집 앞에 describes a place. 앞으로 can mean from now on.

Examples 학교 앞에서 만나다 (to meet in front of the school) · 앞으로 가다 (to go forward)

학교 앞에서 만날까요? Shall we meet in front of the school?  |  Meeting places take 에서, not 에

04뒤dwi

behind · also after in time. The opposite of 앞.

Note 수업 뒤에 means after class. 후 can also show time. It sounds a little more formal.

Examples 집 뒤에 있다 (to be behind the house) · 뒤로 가다 (to move backward; to go to the back)

화장실은 건물 뒤에 있어요. The restroom is behind the building.  |  건물 = building

05옆yeop🔊 [엽]

beside, next to · side by side.

Pronunciation [엽]. The final consonant ㅍ sounds like ㅂ, just as in 앞.

Examples 은행 옆에 있다 (to be next to the bank) · 옆에 앉다 (to sit beside) · 옆집 (the house next door)

우체국은 은행 옆에 있어요. The post office is next to the bank.  |  우체국 = post office · 은행 = bank

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean. Every answer appears above.

1. 책이 책상 __________에 있어요. (The book is ______ the desk.)
2. 학교 __________에서 만날까요? (Shall we meet ______ the school?)
3. 우체국은 은행 __________에 있어요. (The post office is ______ the bank.)

Show answers

1. 위   2. 앞   3. 옆

Study tip English puts the position word before the noun. Korean puts the noun first and the position word after it. So on the desk becomes 책상 위에. Remember the pattern noun + position word + particle, the small word at the end.