Is It Hard To Learn Korean?

So you want to know is it hard to learn Korean? We’re not going to give you the answer that you’re looking for, unfortunately yes it is relatively difficult to learn Korean but don’t lose hope!

Why Korean Is Difficult

For a start learning any language is difficult, and Korean is more difficult than many European languages as it is not related to English, it doesn’t use the same writing system and they have very few words in common. Korean is also difficult for English speakers grammar is quite different, for example in English we use and SVO sentence structure which stands for subject – verb – object, where as in Korean they use SOV which means subject – object – verb. Let’s take a look at this with an example:

In English:
I speak Korean
I = subject
Speak = verb
Korean = object

In Korean this would use an SOV structure so would be:
I Korean speak
I = subject
Korean = object
Speak = verb

This of course can be quite difficult to get used to.

Another grammar difference is that English used prepositions where as Korean uses both prepositions and postpositions. When learning Korean people think that the alphabet will be the most difficult but it’s surprisingly easy to manage and it is the grammar that people seem to struggle with.

But don’t lose hope, we’ve covered the more difficult aspects of the language, let’s take a look at why Korean might be easier than we think.

Why Korean May Be Easier

For a start Korean isn’t a tonal language! That’s right, you heard us correctly. Unlike most forms of Chinese and Vietnamese, Korean doesn’t use tones which is one of the things that people struggle with the most when learning an Asian language.

Secondly people tend to look at the Korean writing system and panic. Quite frankly it looks like alien script. However you shouldn’t worry about this, Korean is thought of as the most intuitive writing system in the world. If you concentrated on nothing but the Korean alphabet for a week you would easily be able to learn it as it is a phonetic alphabet you would be able to pronounce any Korean word you read (you just might not understand what it means yet).

These two factors may not seem like a lot but they really set Korean aside from other Asian languages and make them much more accessible for English speakers. So when someone asks is it hard to learn Korean? You can say it depends what you find difficult. If you struggle with tones and new writing systems then no, you’re probably going to be just fine.

Resources For Learning Korean

Although it’s difficult to learn a language like Korean, luckily there are many resources available now to help you. Apps like Duolingo make learning Korean fun and provide you with immediate feedback. There are also a load of learn Korean websites that can help you to work through grammar, vocab and writing in a systematic way. And of course don’t forget the textbooks you can use. If you prefer to cram vocab then you have anki to help you.

If you don’t like this learning approach and prefer a more real life way of learning then why not look for a language partner on italki? Or take skype classes where you can see your teacher face to face and interact with them. Whatever your learning method, with the internet and changing attitudes to languages there should be something that works for you.

So there you have it, our answer to is it hard to learn Korean? Yes it is difficult, especially compared to European languages, however it is not a tonal language which gives it an advantage over many other Asian languages and people say that the Korean alphabet is the easiest alphabet to master in the world.