TOPIK II Core Vocabulary · International Exchange ①

Crossing borders — 국제, 외국, 교류하다, 적응하다, 차이

These words are about links and exchanges between countries. They are useful if you study or live abroad.

01국제gukje🔊 [국쩨]

international · covering more than one country.

Pronunciation [국쩨]. After the final consonant (patchim) ㄱ, ㅈ is said as a strong (tense) sound ㅉ.

Note You usually put 국제 before another noun, as in 국제 사회 and 국제 교류. 국제선 means an international flight or route. 국내 means domestic.

Examples 국제 사회 (the international community) · 국제 협력 (international cooperation) · 국제선 (international flights)

국제 학교에 다니고 있어요. I go to an international school.  |  다니다 = to attend

기후 문제는 국제 사회가 함께 풀어야 할 과제이다. Climate issues are challenges that the international community must address together.  |  과제 = a challenge or task

02외국oeguk

a foreign country · any country that is not your own.

Note Related words are 외국인 (foreigner), 외국어 (foreign language), and 외국산 (foreign-made). 해외 means almost the same as 외국. It literally means across the sea.

Examples 외국에 살다 (to live abroad) · 외국어를 배우다 (to learn a foreign language) · 외국인 (a foreigner)

외국에서 산 지 삼 년 됐어요. I've been living abroad for three years now.  |  -(으)ㄴ 지 measures time since

외국인 노동자가 늘면서 관련 제도의 정비가 요구되고 있다. As the number of foreign workers increases, the related systems need to be improved.  |  정비 = improvement · 요구되다 = to be required

03교류하다gyoryuhada

to exchange, to interact · to talk with or share things with another person or group.

Note The person or group you exchange with takes 와/과. 문화 교류 means cultural exchange. You often see it in essays.

Examples 문화를 교류하다 (to exchange culture) · 교류가 활발하다 (exchange is active) · 문화 교류 (cultural exchange)

여러 나라 친구들과 교류하고 있어요. I interact with friends from several countries.  |  Use 와/과 for the person or group you interact with.

활발한 문화 교류는 서로에 대한 편견을 줄이는 데 도움이 된다. Active cultural exchange helps reduce prejudice toward one another.  |  편견 = prejudice

04적응하다jeogeunghada

to adapt, to adjust · to get used to something new.

Note The situation you adapt to takes 에: 새로운 환경에 적응하다. The noun form is 적응.

Examples 생활에 적응하다 (to settle into a life) · 빨리 적응하다 (to adjust quickly) · 적응력 (adaptability)

한국 생활에 이제 좀 적응했어요. I have adjusted to life in Korea a little now.  |  Use 에 for the situation or environment you adapt to

낯선 문화에 적응하는 데에는 누구나 시간이 필요하다. Everyone needs time to adjust to an unfamiliar culture.  |  낯설다 = to be unfamiliar

05차이chai

difference · how far two things are not the same.

Note 차이 is a neutral difference. 차별 means unfair treatment. If you mix them up in an essay, the meaning changes completely.

Examples 차이가 있다 (there's a difference) · 차이를 느끼다 (to feel the difference) · 문화 차이 (cultural differences)

두 나라는 문화 차이가 좀 커요. The cultural differences between the two countries are considerable.  |  차이 takes 이/가

차이를 틀림으로 여기지 않는 태도가 교류의 출발점이다. Exchange begins when people accept differences instead of treating them as wrong.  |  여기다 = to regard as · 출발점 = starting point

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean.

1. 활발한 문화 __________는 서로에 대한 편견을 줄이는 데 도움이 된다. (cultural ______)
2. 한국 생활________ 이제 좀 적응했어요. (which particle? a small word added after a noun)
3. __________를 틀림으로 여기지 않는 태도가 교류의 출발점이다. (the neutral one)

Show answers

1. 교류   2. 에   3. 차이

적응하다 takes 에

Study tip 차이 means a neutral difference. 차별 means unfair treatment. Remember 차이 as difference and 차별 as discrimination. Then you will not mix them up in writing.