A Summary of Korean Terminology for TaeKwonDo

Introduction

This document is an attempt to compile a list of Korean terminology used in the study of TaeKwonDo. In years past we did not stress the importance of learning Korean terminology now it is required to reach Black belt ,

Since the Korean language is written using "Hangul" and not the Roman alphabet, all the spellings you see here are approximate romanizations and may not be the same spellings that some use or the actual pronunciation.

The terms in bold are terms that are required to obtain blackbelt…..

 

Korean Counting

There are two different numbering systems that are used by Koreans. The first numbering system is used when counting, or when only speaking of the numbers themselves. The first ten numbers in this system are as follows:

1

:

hanah

2

:

dool

3

:

set

4

:

net

5

:

dasot

6

:

yasot

7

:

ilgop

8

:

yadol

9

:

ahop

10

:

Yool

The stress in "hanah", "dasot", and "yasot" is on the first syllable, in "ilgop", "yadol", and "ahop" on the second. In counting cadence in TaeKwonDo, this is so emphasized that the other syllable frequently almost disappears (e.g., "han", "das", "yos", "lgop", "hop", etc.).

The other numbering system (which is of Chinese origin) is used in most other cases and is often used where Americans would use ordinal numbers (such as "first", "second", etc ...). For example, this second numbering system is used when describing a person's rank: a first degree black belt would be an "il dan". The first ten numbers in this numbering system are as follows:

1

:

il

2

:

ee

3

:

sahm

4

:

sah

5

:

oh

6

:

ryook

7

:

chil

8

:

pal

9

:

koo

10

:

ship

The final `l' in "chil" and "pal" isn't rounded, like an American `l' .... It's a much shorter sound, sort of like the initial `l' in "let", but even shorter. It's not like the `l' in "ball".

When pronouncing the word "ship", you must not emphasize the "sh" sound. It's almost more like "sip" with a sort of a lisp. If you pronounce it like "sh" in "shell", then you are referring to sexual intercourse.

Even though this second numbering system may correspond to ordinal numbers in English in some cases, these are not ordinal numbers. Koreans use a separate set of words for ordinal numbers.

Basic Body Parts

Mom*

:

body

kwanjeol

:

joint

Ulgool*

:

face & head

mokoomeong

:

throat

Mok

:

neck

pahlmahk

:

forearm

ahn pahlmahk

:

inner side of forearm

bahkat pahlmahk

:

outer side of forearm

meet pahlmahk

:

palm side of forearm

wi pahlmahk

:

back side of forearm

deung pahlmahk

:

back of forearm

sahnmahk

:

wrist

Sahn

:

hand

Sahnka*l

:

outside edge of hand (knifehand)

sahnkal deung*

:

inside edge of hand (ridgehand)

sahn deung

:

back hand

Joomok*

:

fist

Momtong*

:

trunk (middle section)

huri

:

waist

ahrae

:

lower body (low section)

noolro

:

groin

dahree

:

leg

mooreup

:

knee

bahl mahk

:

ankle

bahl

:

foot (or feet)

bahldung

:

instep

dwi koomchi

:

heel

dwi chook

:

bottom of heel

bahlkeut

:

toes

Tenets of TaeKwonDo

ye ui*

:

courtesy

yom ch*i

:

integrity

in nae*

:

perseverance

kuk gi*

:

self-control (also "jah jeh")

Baekjool*

:

indomitable spirit (also "boolgool eui jung shin")

Body Movements

mom omgigi

:

movement of the body

Mahki*

:

block

Chagi*

:

kick

Chirugi

:

thrust (or punch)

Chigi*

:

strike (with the hand)

jeek gi

:

strike (with the foot)

bahk gi

:

strike (with the head)

sahn ki sool

:

hand technique

bahl ki sool

:

foot technique

Kyorugi*

:

sparring

Bituro

:

twisting

Gamya

:

stepping (also "omkyuh didigi")

kuht neun

:

walking

tdwim yu

:

jumping

Dora*

:

to turn

Dolyo*

:

spinning

mee keul myu

:

sliding (also "mee kul gi")

Jupgi

:

holding/grabbing

donzigi

:

throwing

goorugi

:

rolling/tumbling

Directions

Oo*

:

right (also "oh-ruen")

Joa*

:

left (also "wen")

Ahp

:

front

Ahn

:

inner

bahkat

:

outer

Bahndae*

:

reverse

Dwi*

:

back

ahnuro

:

inward

bahkuro

:

outward

whee

:

high (up)

whee uro

:

upward

guande

:

middle

ulgool

:

high section (also "sahngdahn")

momtong

:

middle section (also "chungdahn")

ahrae

:

low section (also "hahdahn")

Rank

kagup

:

rank

gup

:

grade

dan

:

degree

simsa

:

grading (or promotional) test

simsa kwan

:

examiner

dan gup jedo

:

system of rank

Hand Positions

Sahnkal*

:

knifehand

sahnkal jecho

:

knifehand with palm up

sahnkal deung*

:

ridgehand (also "oppun sahnkal")

sahn bahtong

:

palm heel (also "bahtong sahn")

sahn deung

:

back hand (also "deung sahn")

Joomok*

:

fist

deung joomuk

:

back fist

yup joomuk

:

side fist

me joomuk

:

hammer-fist

kwan soo

:

spearhand (also "pyun sahnkeut")

Hand Attacks

bahro chirugi

:

straight (return) punch

bahndae chirug*i

:

reverse punch

gullgi chirugi

:

hook punch

yung seuk chirugi

:

combination (consecutive) punch

doo bun chirugi*

:

double punch

sae bun chirugi*

:

triple punch

dolrya chirugi

:

round punch

nehryuh chirugi

:

downward punch

chi chirugi

:

uppercut punch

doo joomuk chirugi

:

doublefist punch

sosum chirugi

:

double uppercut punch

Blocks

Arae mahki*

 

Low forearm block

Eol-gool mahki*

:

Rising (high)block

Momtong mahki*

:

Middle forearm block

Ahn  mahki*

:

Inward middle block

bahkat mahki*

:

Outward middle block

daebi mahki*

:

guarding block

gahwi mahki*

:

scissors block

keumgang mahki

:

diamond-shaped (Hercules) block

yeot pero mahki*

:

`X'-shaped block (also "kyo cha mahki")

santeul mahki

:

mountain-shaped block (also "osanteul mahki")

deuluh oll ryu mahki

:

upward scooping fist block

Kicks

cha olligi*

:

stretching kick

jillo chagi*

:

thrusting kick

ahp chagi*

:

front kick

yup chagi*

:

side kick

dolrya chagi*

:

round (roundhouse) kick

dwi chagi*

:

back kick

bahndae dolrya chagi*

:

reverse round kick ("hook kick" for some styles)

bahndall chagi*

:

crescent kick (literally "half moon kick")

hoohrio chagi

:

wheel kick

bahn dolrya chagi

:

half round kick (also "instep kick")

nehryuh jeek gi

:

ax kick; literally "downward foot strike"

mil a chagi

:

pushing kick (also "mil gi chagi")

ohpo chagi

:

falling kick (leg sweep)

Tdwi-o "___" chagi*

 

Jumping "___" kick               

Nal-la "___" chagi*

 

Flying "___" kick                      

Stances

Sohgi*

:

stance

jah seh

:

posture (or stance) [used instead of "sohgi" in some styles]

ahp sohgi*

:

front stance (walking)

ahp koo bi*

:

front bent knee stance

dwi sohgi*

:

back stance

dwi koo bi*

:

back bent knee stance

beom sohgi*

:

cat (or tiger) stance (also "goyang-i sohgi")

juchoom sohgi*

:

horseback riding stance ("kima sohgi" in some styles)

mot sohgi*

:

fighting stance

choon bi sohgi

:

ready stance (also "pyeonhi sohgi")

gyuttari sohgi

:

fixed balance (or bent knee) stance

koh ah sohgi

:

crossed foot stance

kyo cha sohgi*

:

`X'-stance

mo ah sohgi

:

close stance

cha yun sohgi

:

natural stance

chagi sohgi

:

kicking stance

hahktari sohgi*

:

crane stance (also "ue bal sohgi")

Sparring

Kyorugi*

:

(free) sparring

han bun kyorugi*

:

one step sparring

sae bun kyorugi*

:

three step sparring

jeon

:

round (competition segment)

shihap

:

bout or match

jeum

:

point

shi gan*

:

time out

keum bahk*

:

out of bounds

kyong go*

:

warning

gam jeum*

:

deduction of point

shil kyuk

:

disqualification

boo sang

:

injury

seung

:

win

bi kim

:

tie

Chung*

:

blue

Hong*

:

red

hin

:

white

Forms

Poomse*

:

form (pronounced "poom-say"), also "hyung"

Tul*

:

patterns

jang

:

similar to a page or a chapter

yung seuk

:

combination

Uniform

dhee

:

belt

dobok

:

uniform

ha'i

:

training pants

Equipment

Hogoo*

:

chest protector (also "bohogoo")

pahlmahk bohodae

:

forearm guard

jung kang yi bohodae

:

shin guard

nang shim bohodae

:

groin cup

muh ree bohodae

:

protective head gear

eep bohodae*

:

mouth guard

Commands

cha ryuht

:

attention

choon bi*

:

ready

bah ro*

:

return to starting position

dwi uro dorah*

:

about face

dorah

:

turn

elosoh

:

stand

gomahn

:

stop (also "mum cho")

geuk gi hyang ha yoh*

:

face the flag

jwa woo hyang woo*

:

face each other

sah bum nim keh

:

face instructor/master

simsa kwan nim keh

:

face examiner/tester

dobok dahnjung*

:

fix your uniform

dhee dahnjung*

:

fix your belt

hai sahn*

:

class dismissed (also "hae cho")

Jonglee*

:

line up (also "ji hap" and "jung yul")

kyung nae

:

bow

Ahnjoe*

:

sit

kool o angi

:

kneel (kneeling)

bah ro angi

:

sit in lotus position (yoga posture)

bahl bah kwah

:

switch your stance (switch your feet)

koo ryung op see

:

in your own time

seijak

:

begin

shiuh

:

relax

kalyeo

:

break (or stop)

kae sok

:

continue

Common Phrases

ye

:

yes (also "ne")

anio

:

no

kahm sa hamnida*

:

thank you

komap sumnida

:

less formal form of "thank you"

cheon maeneyo*

:

you're welcome (literally "Don't mention it!")

cheuk ka hamnida*

:

congratulations!

ahnyong hasimnika

:

How are you? (literally "Are you well?" or "Are you at peace?")

ahnyong hasayo

:

less formal form of "How are you?"

yoboseyo

:

hello (used on the phone or to get someone's attention; literally "Please look here!")

ahnyonghee gasipsiyo

:

good-bye (to the person who is leaving); literally "Go in peace!"

ahnyonghee gyesipsiyo

:

good-bye (to the person who is staying); literally "Stay in peace!"

ahnyonghee gasayo

:

less formal form of "good-bye" (to the person who is leaving)

ahnyonghee gyesayo

:

less formal form of "good-bye" (to the person who is staying)

pangap seumnida

:

Pleased to meet you!

toh poepkeseoyo

:

See you later!

eoseo osayo

:

Welcome!

choesong hamnida

:

I'm sorry

mian hamnida

:

less formal form of "I'm sorry!"

shillye hamnida

:

Excuse me! (asking forgiveness for an impolite act)

kwaen chanayo

:

That's all right

ahlge seoyo

:

I understand

moreuge seoyo

:

I don't understand

chaemi isseoyo

:

It is fun (or interesting)!

Titles

do joo nim

:

founder (of the art)

kwan jang nim

:

grandmaster

chung sah nim

:

chief instructor (or "chief master")

sah bum nim

:

instructor (or "master")

sah boo nim

:

more intimate and respectful form of "sah bum nim"; literally "teaching father"

kyo sah nim

:

teacher (also "seon saeng nim")

sun bae nim

:

senior student

Miscellaneous

dojang

:

place where one trains (house of discipline)

gong-kyok

:

offense

hosinsool

:

self-defense

kihap

:

yell

jung shin yuk

:

mental strength, or martial art spirit (also "moodo jung shin")

chung myung kwon

:

development (training) of the body, mind, and spirit

ki

:

life-energy

dahnjun

:

the center of your "ki"

bokboo

:

the stomach area where "ki" is generated.

choong sim

:

center of gravity

chojum

:

focus (focal point) of your energy

kyuk pa

:

breaking (the art of breaking boards, bricks, and tiles)

pyugi

:

stretching

jon gyung

:

respect

choong sung

:

loyalty (also "eui ri")

jung jhik

:

honesty

kahjok

:

family