Introduction

Vocabulary is one of the most important parts of TOPIK 1. In fact, after analyzing the experience of more than 2000 students learning Korean, we found that vocabulary is the number 3 biggest challenge for beginners. But don’t worry! This complete vocabulary list will help you master the 500 most important words for TOPIK 1.

My name is Anna, and I’ve been teaching Korean for 14+ years. I’ve helped hundreds of students pass TOPIK, and I know exactly which words appear most often on the TOPIK test. This list is based on real TOPIK test papers and questions.

The full list is available for download below for free. I have separated the vocabulary lists by category so that it’s easier for you to memorize them. 

Why This Vocabulary List Works

This isn’t just a random list of words. These 500 words are:

These are not just random words. These are words that are frequently used in TOPIK test papers.

1. Most of these 500 words appear on almost every TOPIK 1 test
2. You’ll use these words in real Korean conversations
3. You need these words to understand test questions
4. This list is organized by topic, so it’s easy to study and remember

How to Use This Vocabulary List

Here’s the best way to study these words:

Step 1: Study a small portion of words per day - Don’t try to learn all 500 at once - Study 20 new words daily. This way you can finish in about 25 days.

Step 2: Use flashcards - Make flashcards for each word, review daily. You can use our free Korean flashcards tool for that.

Step 3: Practice in sentences - Don’t just memorize words. Use them in sentences. This helps you remember better. You can also use this free TOPIK sentence search tool to see how exactly these words were used in real TOPIK test papers.

Step 4: Review regularly - Test yourself weekly and keep practicing until test day. You can use this free Korean exercise tool for both vocabulary and grammar practice. Also, use this tool to learn how to use both native Korean and Sino-Korean numbers.

You can download the full list of all 500 words at the end of this  article. Enter your email and get the download link in your inbox. 

TOPIK 1 Vocabulary by Category

Category 1: Greetings and Basic Expressions (30 words total)

These words are used in almost every conversation. Master these first!

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Category 2: Numbers and Time (50 words total)

Numbers and time expressions appear in almost every TOPIK 1 test. Learn these well! Important! Korean numbers can be a bit tricky. We created a free tool for you to see exactly how to use them. It has examples and pronunciation.

Native Korean Numbers:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Sino-Korean Numbers:

Time Words:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Category 3: Family and People (40 words total)

Family words are common in TOPIK 1. Here are the most important ones:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Category 4: Daily Life and Activities (80 words total)

These words describe daily activities and common situations:

Daily Activities:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Category 5: Food and Drinks (50 words total)

Food vocabulary is essential for TOPIK 1:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Category 6: Places and Locations (40 words total)

Location words appear often in TOPIK 1 questions:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Category 7: Common Verbs (100 words total)

Verbs are crucial for understanding Korean. Here are the most important ones:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Category 8: Common Adjectives (60 words total)

Adjectives help you describe things:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Category 9: Question Words and Connectors (30 words total)

These words help you ask questions and connect ideas:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Category 10: School and Education (30 words total)

Education-related words are common in TOPIK 1:

[Full list available in the downloadable file at the end of the article]

Study Tips for TOPIK 1 Vocabulary

Here are proven tips that work for most of our students:

Tip 1: Use Spaced Repetition

Don’t just read the list once or twice. When you review words multiple times over days or weeks your brain remembers better. We have added spaced repetition to the Korean flashcards tool. Make sure to log in to save your progress. 

Tip 2: Learn Words in Context

Don’t just memorize isolated words. Learning them in sentences helps your brain find the right place for each new word. Here’s an example. Don’t just learn “학교” means “school.” Learn “저는 학교에 가요” (I go to school). Here’s a very helpful tip. Search the word in this Korean sentence examples tool, see how they were used in past TOPIK test papers. This is especially helpful when you don’t fully understand the real use cases of that word. 

Tip 3: Group Related Words

Learn words that go together. For example, learn all family words together, or all food words together. This helps your brain make connections. This is why separating the vocabulary list by category is extra helpful. 

Tip 4: Practice Daily

Our brain loves repetition, unless you are a rare genius. Unfortunately most of us aren’t. So, even 15 minutes of vocabulary practice daily is better than 2 hours once a week. Consistency is very important!

Tip 5: Use Multiple Methods

Don’t just read.You need to activate all parts of your brain. Reading is input. Writing, speaking it out loud is output. They use different parts of your brain. So, write the words, say them out loud, use flashcards, and practice in sentences. The more ways you practice, the better you’ll remember.

Common Vocabulary Mistakes to Avoid

Here are the most common mistakes students make when learning new vocabular. 

Mistake 1: Trying to learn too many words at once - Learning 100 words in one day doesn’t work for most students (exceptions exist, but are rare).  You’ll forget most of them and feel overwhelmed.

Solution: Learn 20 words per day maximum and make sure to repeat them afterwards.

Mistake 2: Only memorizing vocabulary, not using them - Just memorizing words isn’t enough. You need to use them in sentences.

Solution: Practice making sentences with new words, try to think in Korean in your daily life.

Mistake 3: Not reviewing the words you’ve learned so far - You keep learning new ones but forgetting old ones.  

Solution: Review old words regularly, keep the vocabulary list at hand and look through them whenever you have extra time. 

Mistake 4: Using only one method - Just reading the list and trying to memorize it. This is boring and very ineffective. You need to stimulate your brain and make the learning process rewarding.

Solution: Use flashcards, apps, writing, speaking

Mistake 5: Giving up too early - Vocabulary takes time to build.Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see progress right away. 

Solution: Stay consistent for at least 30 days. Once your brain sees what you can achieve, it will trust you more in the future. Just keep going!

Vocabulary Practice Schedule for All 500 Words

Here’s a realistic 30-day schedule to learn all these 500 words. Feel free to change it according to your schedule.Days 1-7: Start with 20 words per day. Focus on these categories first: Greetings, Numbers, Family. Total 140 words to learn in one week.

Days 8-14: Great, you’ve already learned 140 words. For week 2 study another set of 20 words per day. Focus on categories like Daily Life and Food. Don’t forget to review Week 1 words. Total 140 new words to learn + review 140 of old ones.

Days 15-21: Keep going. Study 20 more words per day. Focus on categories like Places and Verbs. Again, review previous weeks. Total 140 new words + review old ones.

Days 22-28: Almost there. Study 20 more words per day. Focus on these three categories: Adjectives, Questions and Education. Don’t forget to review all previous words. Total 140 new words + review old ones

Days 29-30: You made it to the end of the list. Now review all 500 words. Take vocabulary quizzes. Focus on words that are difficult for you. Well done if you made it so far!

Conclusion

Mastering these 500 words will definitely give you a strong foundation for TOPIK 1. But remember, vocabulary is just one part of the test -  a very important part. Study consistently, use these words in practice, and you’ll be ready for TOPIK 1!

Start today with 20 words. Take it one day at a time, and before you know it, you’ll know all 500 words and maybe some more. Good luck!