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The Korean Language

(English pronunciation)

The phonetics are put here by myself, it might be the case that you would write the words a different. Sound files are provided for proper pronunciation.

Special thanks goes out to (and I hope I didn't mix their first- and last-names ;-):
  • Jeong Manho
  • Kim Changjin
  • Koh Dong Joo
  • Park Wondae (voice)
for giving me a better understanding of the language and helping me to improve this page.

Stances (Sohgi)


The following words are often used as commands. If this is the case, the name of the stance is usually followed by the command "Joonbi", which means to get ready into that stance. 'Naranhi' sohgi is the beginning of each style form. It is not common to give this stance as a command, so here only the term 'joonbi' is used.

[Sound] Naranhi Sohgi   'Parallel' stance
[Sound] Pyonhi Sohgi   Ready stance (i.e. "at ease")
[Sound] Moa Sohgi   'Closed feet' stance
[Sound] Ahp Sohgi   Walking stance
[Sound] Ahpkubi Sohgi   Forward stance
[Sound] Dwikubi Sohgi   Backward stance
[Sound] Juchoom Sohgi   'Horse riding' stance
[Sound] Bum Sohgi   'Tiger' stance
[Sound] Koa Sohgi   'Twisted' stance

Blocking techniques (Maggi)

[Sound] Ahre maggi   Low block
[Sound] Momtong maggi   Middle block
[Sound] Eolgul maggi   High block
[Sound] Geudeureo maggi   Fidt of one arm supports the other arm by the elbow
[Sound] Sonnal-bakat maggi   Block with knifehand, from inside to outside
[Sound] Gawi maggi   "Scissor" block: With one hand ahre maggi, the other one a momtong-bakat maggi
[Sound] Eotgalyo maggi   'X'-block
[Sound] Hechyo maggi   'Wig'-block
[Sound] Bituro maggi   Twisting block

Arm techniques

[Sound] Eolgul jireugi   High punch
[Sound] Momtong jireugi   'Middle' punch
[Sound] Sonnal mok anchigi   With knifehand strike at neck
[Sound] Pyeonsonkut jireugi   Spear fingers
[Sound] Doobeon jireugi   Double punch
[Sound] Kaljaebi  

'Strangle' punch

Kicking techniques (Chagi)

[Sound] Ahp-cha-gi   Front kick
[Sound] Dolryo-cha-gi   Round kick
[Sound] Naeryo-cha-gi   Axe kick/Downward kick
[Sound] Yop-cha-gi   Side kick
[Sound] Dwi-cha-gi   Backward kick
[Sound] Hooryo-cha-gi   Hook kick
[Sound] Bandae-dolryo-cha-gi   Spinning hook kick
[Sound] Dwi-dolryo-cha-gi   Spinning hook kick

Counting

[Sound] Hana   one
[Sound] Tul   two
[Sound] Set   three
[Sound] Net   four
[Sound] Tasot   five
[Sound] Yosot   six
[Sound] Ilgob   seven
[Sound] Yudol   eight
[Sound] Ahop   nine
[Sound] Yeol   ten 
 11. Yeol Hanna              - eleven
 12. Yeol Tul                - twelve
 13. Yeol Set                - thirteen
 ...                         - ...
 20. SeuMool                 - twenty
 21. SeuMool hanna           - twenty one
 22. SeuMool tul             - twenty two
 ...                         - ...
 30. SoReun                  - thirty
 40. MaHeun                  - forty
 50. Sheen                   - fifty
 60. YeSoon                  - sixty
 70. IlHeun                  - seventy
 80. Yudoon                  - eighty
 90. AHeun                   - ninety
100. Bak                     - hundred
The following words are of chinese origin and are mostly used as "1st, 2nd etc." (The first Taeguk: Poomse Taeguk Il Jang) 
  1. Il                      - 1st
  2. Ee                      - 2nd
  3. Sam                     - 3rd
  4. Sah                     - 4th
  5. Oh                      - 5th
  6. Yook                    - 6th
  7. Chil                    - 7th
  8. Pal                     - 8th
  9. Koo                     - 9th
 10. Sip                     - 10th
 11. Sip Il                  - 11th
 ...                         - ...
 20. Ee sip                  - 20th
 21. Ee sip il               - 21st
 ...                         - ...
 30. Sam sip                 - 30th
 31. Sam sip il              - 31st
 40. Sah sip                 - 40th
 50. Oh sip                  - 50th
 60. Yook sip                - 60th
 70. Chil sip                - 70th
 80. Pal sip                 - 80th
 90. Koo sip                 - 90th
100. Il Bak                  - 100th

The body

[Sound] Mom   body
[Sound] Eolgool   Upper body (i.e. head and neck)
[Sound] Momtong   Middle part of body (trunk)
[Sound] Ahre   Lower part of body (i.e. legs and feet)
[Sound] Meo-li   Head
[Sound] Mok   Neck
[Sound] Myung chi   Solar plexus
[Sound] Pal   Arm
[Sound] Palkoop   Elbow
[Sound] Palmok   Forearm
[Sound] Son   Hand
[Sound] SonMok   Wrist
[Sound] JuMeok   Fist
[Sound] Dari   Leg
[Sound] Murup   Knee
[Sound] Baal   Foot
[Sound] Apchook   Ball of foot

Competition 

Gyorugi                      - sparring	
HohGoo                       - body protector
Charyeot                     - attention stance
Kyeongre                     - bow
Joonbi                       - ready
Jeon                         - round
Il-hoejeon                   - first round
Shijak                       - start fight
Kallyo                       - pause
Kuman                        - end fight
Kam-Jom-Hana                 - penalty point
Kyeongo-Hana                 - warning
Hong                         - red
Chong                        - blue
Boo Sang                     - injury

The disciplines of Taekwondo 

Poomse                       - style-forms
Hosinsul                     - self-defense
Gyorugi                      - sparring
Kyepka                       - breaktest

Tenets of Taekwondo 

Ye ui                        - courtesy
Yom chi                      - integrity
In nae                       - perseverance
JahJeh                       - self-control
Baekjool                     - indomitable spirit

Directions 

Ahp                          - front
Dwi                          - back
Bandae                       - reverse
Bakat                        - outer
An                           - inner			
Anuro                        - inward
Bakuro                       - outward	
OhReun                       - right
Wen                          - left

Miscellaneous 

Kibon dongjak                - fundamental practice
Poomse/ Hyong                - style figures
Daeryon                      - step sparring
Sajoe daeryon                - four-direction movement
Pan ja yu                    - semi contact fight
Gyorugi                      - full contact fight
Hosinsool                    - self-defense
Paegi                        - freeing techniques
Kihap                        - powerful yell, to collect and 
                               focus internal energy
Chagi                        - kick
Chigi                        - attack with hand
Jiroegi                      - punch
Dan                          - black belt degree: 1st - 10th degree
Gup                          - colored belt degree: 10th (white) - 
                               1st (red-black)
Dobok                        - Taekwondo uniform
Tie                          - belt
Dojang                       - practice gym
Kwan                         - school
Sabeom Nim                   - instructor
Kam sa hamnida               - Thank you
CheonMaNeYo                  - You're welcome