Easy Korean Level 4 - Unit 13: Word Builder 4 / 불(不)

Welcome back to Word Builder! Today’s Chinese character root (Hanja) is 불 (不), which is sometimes pronounced as 부.

The meaning of this character is "Not", "No", or "In-" / "Un-".

Adding this root to a word reverses its meaning to a negative state. Let's look at some common words!

Vocabulary

1. 불편하다 (不便-) = to be uncomfortable, to be inconvenient
2. 불 (not) + 편 (comfortable/convenient)

3. 의자가 불편해요. = The chair is uncomfortable.

4. 불안하다 (不安-) = to be anxious, nervous

5. 불 (not) + 안 (peaceful/safe)

6. 셤 전이라서 불안해요. = I am anxious because it's before the exam.

7. 불가능하다 (不可能-) = to be impossible

8. 불 (not) + 가능 (possible)

9. 그건 불가능해요. = That is impossible.

10. 부족하다 (不足-) = to be lacking, insufficient

11. 부 (not) + 족 (enough/sufficient)
12. 시간이 부족해요. = We lack time. / There is not enough time.

13. Note: Before certain consonants like ㅈ, '불' is pronounced and written as '부'.

14. 부주의 (不注意) = carelessness

15. 부 (not) + 주의 (attention/care)

16. 운전할 때 부주의하면 안 돼요. = You shouldn't be careless when driving.

17. 불만 (不滿) = complaint, dissatisfaction

18. 불 (not) + 만 (full/satisfied)
19. 불만이 있어요? = Do you have a complaint?

Example Sentences

• 이 신발은 너무 불편해요. (These shoes are too uncomfortable.)
• 돈이 부족해요. (I don't have enough money. / Money is lacking.)
• 내일 발표가 있어서 조금 불안해요. (I have a presentation tomorrow, so I'm a bit nervous.)
• 혼자서 다 하는 것은 불가능해요. (Doing it all alone is impossible.)