Korean – MaxPI Taekwondo

This section helps you learn essential Korean words and phrases used in Taekwondo. A special thanks goes out to Michelle Kang for her excellent assistance with this page.

Taekwondo Defined

Tae | 태 | To kick or strike with the foot

Kwon | 권 | To intercept or strike with the hand

Do | 도 | The ‘way’ or the ‘art’

Tae-kwon-do | 태 권 도 | The way of the foot and the hand

Top → | White Belt →

The Five Tenets

Courtesy | Ye-ui | 예의

Integrity | Jeong-jik | 정직

Perseverance | In-nae | 인내

Self-control | Ja-jae-ryuk | 자제력

Indomitable spirit | Baek-jeol-bul-gul | 백절불굴

Top → | High Yellow Belt →

Energy

Energy | Ki | 기
A shout that is the concentration of spirit | Ki-hap | 기합

Top → | High Blue Belt →

Taekwondo Theory of Power

Reaction Force | ban-dong ryuk | 반동력
Concentration | jip-joong | 집중
Equilibrium | kyoon-hyeong | 균형
Breath Control | ho-heup Jo-jul | 호흡 조절
Mass | mu-gae | 무게
Speed | sok-do | 속도

Top → | High Blue Belt →

The Taeguek

The Cosmos | Tae-geuk | 태극
The positive pole | Yang | 양
The negative pole | Eum | 음
Flag | Gi | 기
The flag of the Republic of Korea | Tae-geuk-gi | 태극기
Meditation | Myeong-sang | 명상

Top → | High Yellow Belt →

The Palgwae

Symbol | Gwae | 괘
The eight trigrams from the Book of Changes | Pal-gwae | 팔괘

Top → | High Yellow Belt →

Taegeuk Poomsae

The Taegeuk Poomsae are the 8 colored belt forms that we practice. They are recognized by the World Taekwondo Federation.

Taegeuk Poomsae | Tae-geuk Poom-sae | 태극품새

Top → | Green Belt →

Phrases

Bow to the flags. | Gook-gi-ae dae-ha-yuh kyeong-nye | 국기의 대하여 경례

Thank you. (formal) | Kam-sah ham-ni-da | 감사합니다

Yes (or Yes sir!), No (or No sir!)

How are you? (formal) | Ahn-yeong ha-shim-ni-ka | 안녕하십니까

Hello | Ahn-young ha-se-yo | 안녕 하세요

You’re welcome. – or- Don’t mention it. | Chun-man ae-yo | 천만에요

I’m sorry | Mi-an ham-ni-da | 미안합니다

Good luck! | Hang-woon-eul bib-ni-da! | 행운을 빕니다!

Excuse me | Shil-lae ham-ni-da | 실례합니다

Goodbye (Please go peacefully) | An-young-hi ga-se-yo | 안녕히가세요

Top → | Back

Basic Commands

Attention | Cha-ryut | 차렷

Bow | Kyeong-nye | 경녜

Ready | Joon-bi | 준비

Return to Ready | Ba-ro | 바로

Top → | White Belt →

Counting 1 to 10

2 | Duel | 둘

1 | Ha-na | 하나

3 | Set | 셋

4 | Net | 넷

5 | Da-seot | 다섯

6 | Yuh-seot | 여섯

7 | Il-gope | 일곱

8 | Yeo-dul | 여덟

9| A-hope | 아홉

10 | Yeul | 열

Top → | High White Belt →

Counting 1st to 10th

1st | il | 일

2nd | Ee | 이

3rd | Sam | 삼

4th | Sa | 사

5th | O | 오

6th | Yook | 육

7th | Chil | 칠

8th | Pal | 팔

9th | Gu | 구

10th | Sip | 십

Top → | Green Belt →

The Four Disciplines

Pattern | Poom-sae | 품새
Sparring | Kyuh-ru-gi | 겨루기
Breaking | Kyuk-pa | 격파
Self-Defense | Ho-shin-sool | 호신술

Top → | High Green Belt →

Categories of Techniques

Stance | Suh-gi | 서기
Block | Mak-ki | 막기
Punch | ji-rue-gi | 지르기
Hit/Strike | Chi-gi | 치기
Kick | Cha-gi | 차기

Top → | High White Belt →

Stances

Open (Parallel) Stance | Na-ran-hi suh-gi | 나란히 서기
Closed (Gathered) Stance | Mo-ah suh-gi | 모아 서기
Walking Stance | Ap suh-gi | 앞서기
Front Stance (front inflection stance) | Ap-goop-E | 앞굽이
Back Stance (back inflection stance) | Dwit-goop-E | 뒷굽이
Tiger Stance | Bum suh-gi | 범서기
Riding Stance | Ju-choom suh-gi | 주춤서기
Cross Stance | Ko-ah suh-gi | 꼬아서기
Fighting Stance | Kyuh-ru-gi suh-gi | 겨루기 서기

Top → | High White Belt →

Target Areas

Bottom, Low Section | Ah-rae | 아래

Trunk, Middle Section | Moem-tong | 몸통

Face, High Section | ul-guel | 얼굴

Top → | Yellow Belt →

Blocks

Block | Mak-ki | 막기
Low block | Ah-rae mak-ki | 아래 막기
Inside block, literally, trunk block | Moem-tong mak-ki | 몸통 막기
Outside block, literally, trunk outward block | Moem-tong ba-kat mak-ki | 몸통 바깥 막기
High block, literally, face block | Ul-guel mak-ki | 얼굴 막기