Chinese and Korean Similar Words: 80 Common Vocabulary Pairs

Reading Time: 14 minutes

When I first started learning Korean, I kept having these little “Wait… I know that word!” moments.

Before moving to South Korea, I had already studied Mandarin Chinese and lived in China for a while. As I learned more Korean, I noticed that certain words sounded incredibly familiar. Sometimes the pronunciation was almost identical. Other times it was just close enough that I could guess the meaning before anyone explained it.

It turns out I wasn’t imagining things.

Although Korean and Chinese are completely different languages with different grammar, around 60% of Korean vocabulary comes from Chinese. These words are known as Sino-Korean words, and they have been part of the Korean language for centuries. They are especially common in newspapers, business, education, history, science, and many everyday expressions.

This doesn’t mean that learning Korean is easy if you already speak Chinese. You’ll still have to wrap your head around Korean grammar, sentence structure, and pronunciation. But it does give you a huge head start when it comes to building your vocabulary.

One of my favourite parts of learning Korean was spotting these connections everywhere. I’d see a word on a sign, hear it in a conversation, or read it in a textbook and suddenly realise it was almost the same word I already knew in Chinese. Once you start recognising the patterns, it’s a bit like unlocking a secret code.

In this guide, I’ve put together more than 80 similar Chinese and Korean words that I found especially useful while learning both languages. You’ll find the Chinese characters, Hangul, pronunciation, and English meaning for each word, along with some background on why these similarities exist in the first place.

Whether you’re learning Korean after studying Chinese, learning Chinese after Korean, or you’re just fascinated by languages like I am, I hope this list helps you make those same exciting connections.

🚀 Learning Korean or Chinese?

If you’re serious about learning either language, here are the resources I personally recommend:

🇰🇷 Learning Korean? Improve your Korean with 90 Day Korean here.

🇨🇳 Learning Chinese? Take a free trial lesson with Instant Mandarin here.

👩‍🏫 Prefer learning with a tutor? Compare Korean & Chinese tutors on Preply here.

Why Are Korean and Chinese Words So Similar?

The short answer? History.

For hundreds of years, China had a huge cultural influence on Korea. Long before Hangul was invented, educated Koreans wrote using Chinese characters, known in Korea as Hanja (한자). Just like English borrowed thousands of words from French and Latin, Korean borrowed a huge amount of vocabulary from Chinese.

That influence is still very noticeable today. While native Korean words are used all the time in everyday conversation, many words related to education, business, politics, science, history, medicine, and technology are of Chinese origin.

One thing that surprised me when I first moved to Korea was how often I recognised words I had already learned in Mandarin. I wasn’t fluent in Korean yet, but I could sometimes guess what a word meant simply because it sounded so similar to the Chinese version.

Take the word for bank, for example.

Chinese: 银行 (yínháng)

Korean: 은행 (eunhaeng)

Or the word for time.

Chinese: 时间 (shíjiān)

Korean: 시간 (sigan)

The pronunciation isn’t exactly the same, but once you start noticing these patterns, they pop up everywhere.

Of course, not every similar-looking word has the same meaning. Languages evolve over time, and pronunciations change. Some words have shifted in meaning, while others have fallen out of everyday use. That’s why you’ll occasionally come across “false friends” that look familiar but don’t mean quite what you expect.

The good news is that there are far more useful similarities than confusing ones. Learning these shared words can dramatically speed up your vocabulary because you’re not starting from scratch. Instead of memorising hundreds of completely new words, you’re making connections with words you may already know.

That’s exactly what this guide is all about.

Below you’ll find over 80 Chinese and Korean vocabulary pairs organised into useful categories. As you go through them, don’t worry about memorising every single word. Instead, look for the patterns. Once your brain starts recognising them, you’ll begin spotting similar words on your own, and that’s when learning becomes a lot more fun.

🚀 Want to Start Speaking Korean or Chinese Faster?

Learning vocabulary is a great start, but nothing accelerates your progress quite like speaking with a real teacher.

I’ve had great experiences with Preply, where you can choose from thousands of Korean and Chinese tutors based on your goals, schedule, and budget. Even one lesson a week can make a huge difference to your confidence and pronunciation.

👉 Find a Korean or Chinese Tutor on Preply Today

How to Spot Similar Chinese and Korean Words

One of the coolest things about learning Chinese and Korean together is that the similarities aren’t random.

Once you’ve seen enough examples, you start noticing patterns.

For example, the Chinese word for time is shíjiān (时间), while the Korean word is sigan (시간). They don’t sound identical, but they’re close enough that you can hear the connection.

The same happens with words like bank (yínháng → eunhaeng), market (shìchǎng → sijang), and tea (chá → cha).

After a while, your brain starts making these connections automatically.

Of course, there isn’t a magical formula that converts every Chinese word into Korean. Both languages have changed over hundreds of years, and pronunciation has evolved differently in each country. But there are a few common patterns that show up again and again.

Chinese	Korean	Example
ch	ch	茶 (chá) → 차 (cha)
sh	s	时间 (shíjiān) → 시간 (sigan)
j	j	公主 (gōngzhǔ) → 공주 (gongju)
g	g/k	感动 (gǎndòng) → 감동 (gamdong)

Don’t worry about memorising these patterns.

The more words you see, the more natural they become.

One tip that really helped me was to guess the meaning before checking the English translation. Even if I was wrong, trying to make the connection helped the vocabulary stick much better than simply reading a list.

Now it’s your turn.

I’ve organised the vocabulary below into categories like travel, food, family, business, and everyday life so it’s easier to study. You might even be surprised by how many words you already recognise before you start.

Travel & Transportation

If you’re planning a trip to Korea, you’ll probably recognise more words than you expect, especially if you’ve studied Mandarin. Many travel-related terms have Chinese origins, so you’ll start spotting familiar vocabulary on signs, maps, train stations, and even museum information boards.

Don’t worry if the pronunciation feels different at first. Say the Chinese and Korean words out loud a few times and you’ll quickly start hearing the similarities.

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Korean	Romanization	Hanja
Sightseeing	观光	guānguāng	관광	gwangwang	觀光
Market	市场	shìchǎng	시장	sijang	市場
Bank	银行	yínháng	은행	eunhaeng	銀行
Time	时间	shíjiān	시간	sigan	時間

One of my favourite examples is 시장 (sijang). If you’ve studied Chinese before, 市场 (shìchǎng) probably jumps out immediately. The pronunciation has changed over time, but the connection is still surprisingly easy to hear.

The same goes for 관광 (gwangwang), which comes from the Chinese 观光 (guānguāng). If you’ve ever searched for sightseeing tours in China, you’ll probably recognise this word straight away.

These little moments of recognition are incredibly satisfying when you’re travelling. Instead of seeing every Korean word as something completely new, you start making connections with vocabulary you already know.

✈️ Planning a trip to Korea?

Put these words into practice with my Complete Korea Travel Guide.

Food & Drink

Food is one of the best places to spot similarities between Chinese and Korean. Whether you’re ordering tea, enjoying a banquet, or raising a glass with friends, you’ll come across plenty of familiar vocabulary.

Of course, not every food-related word has Chinese origins. Korean cuisine has many native Korean terms too. But these examples show just how much the two languages have influenced each other over the centuries.

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Korean	Romanization	Hanja
Tea	茶	chá	차	cha	茶
Dinner / Banquet	晚餐	wǎncān	만찬	manchan	晚餐
Cheers!	干杯	gānbēi	건배	geonbae	乾杯

Tea is probably the easiest example in the entire list. The Chinese word chá and the Korean 차 (cha) are almost identical, making it one of the first connections many language learners notice.

Another fun example is 건배 (geonbae), the Korean equivalent of “Cheers!” If you’ve ever toasted with friends in China, 干杯 (gānbēi) will sound instantly familiar. It’s one of those words that’s both practical and easy to remember because you’ll actually hear people use it.

Everyday Life

This is where things start to get really interesting.

Many of these words are used in everyday conversations, on signs, in newspapers, and even in K-dramas. Once you recognise a few of them, you’ll start spotting connections all over the place.

You don’t need to memorise every word in one sitting. Instead, see if you can guess the meaning before looking at the English translation. You might surprise yourself!

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Korean	Romanization	Hanja
Safety	安全	ānquán	안전	anjeon	安全
All / Everything	全部	quánbù	전부	jeonbu	全部
Completely	完全	wánquán	완전	wanjeon	完全
Prepare	准备	zhǔnbèi	준비	junbi	準備
Automatic	自动	zìdòng	자동	jadong	自動
Diary	日记	rìjì	일기	ilgi	日記
ID Card	身份证	shēnfènzhèng	신분증	sinbunjeung	身分證

One word you’ll hear all the time is 준비 (junbi), which means “to prepare.” Whether someone is getting ready for work, packing for a trip, or preparing dinner, it’s a useful word to know. If you’ve studied Mandarin, you’ll probably recognise its connection to 准备 (zhǔnbèi).

Another fun example is 안전 (anjeon). You’ll often see this on warning signs, construction sites, and public transport. Once you know it comes from the Chinese 安全 (ānquán), it’s much easier to remember.

Learning Tip

Instead of memorising isolated words, try creating your own simple sentences.

For example:

• 여행을 준비하고 있어요. (I’m preparing for a trip.)
• 안전이 제일 중요해요. (Safety is the most important thing.)

Seeing words in context will help them stick much better than reading flashcards alone.

Education & Learning

Many Korean words related to education have Chinese roots, which isn’t surprising when you consider how influential Classical Chinese was throughout Korean history.

If you’re learning Korean at university or using textbooks, you’ll come across these words again and again.

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Korean	Romanization	Hanja
Library	图书馆	túshūguǎn	도서관	doseogwan	圖書館
Study	学习	xuéxí	학습	hakseup	學習
Impression	印象	yìnxiàng	인상	insang	印象
Content	内容	nèiróng	내용	naeyong	內容
Brain	脑	nǎo	뇌	noe	腦

One of my favourite examples is 도서관 (doseogwan). At first glance it looks nothing like the Chinese 图书馆 (túshūguǎn), but once you know both words come from the same Chinese characters, the connection becomes much clearer.

Interestingly, you’ll also hear many Koreans use the English loanword 라이브러리 (raibeureori) in certain situations, especially when referring to modern libraries or digital resources. Korean is full of these little surprises, which makes learning it so much fun.

As your vocabulary grows, you’ll notice that recognising the Chinese roots doesn’t just help you understand individual words. It also helps you make educated guesses about completely new vocabulary, even if you’ve never seen it before.

Want structured Korean lessons?

→ 90 Day Korean

Family & People

Some of the easiest Chinese and Korean word pairs are related to people and family. A few of them are almost identical, while others have changed just enough to sound a little different.

If you’ve watched historical Korean dramas or Chinese period dramas, you might even recognise some of these royal titles already.

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Korean	Romanization	Hanja
King	王	wáng	왕	wang	王
Princess	公主	gōngzhǔ	공주	gongju	公主
Half	半	bàn	반	ban	半
Courage	勇气	yǒngqì	용기	yonggi	勇氣
Concern / Care	关心	guānxīn	관심	gwansim	關心

The word for king is probably one of the easiest to remember. The Chinese 王 (wáng) and the Korean 왕 (wang) are almost identical in both pronunciation and meaning.

Another great example is 공주 (gongju), meaning princess. If you’ve watched historical dramas from either country, you’ve probably heard this word more than once.

One small thing to keep in mind is that similar words don’t always have exactly the same meaning in every situation. For example, 관심 (gwansim) comes from the Chinese 关心 (guānxīn), but in modern Korean it often means interest or attention, depending on the context. It’s a good reminder that shared vocabulary gives you a head start, but context is still important.

How to Use These Similar Words to Learn Korean Faster

Finding similar words is fun, but the real benefit is using them to build your vocabulary more efficiently.

When I started learning Korean, I didn’t sit down and memorise long vocabulary lists. Instead, I looked for words that reminded me of Mandarin. Every familiar word felt like one less thing I had to learn from scratch.

Here are a few strategies that worked well for me.

Learn words in categories

Instead of jumping randomly between topics, focus on one category at a time. Study travel words before your next trip, food words before going to a Korean restaurant, or business vocabulary if you’re learning Korean for work.

Grouping related words makes them much easier to remember.

Say the words out loud

Chinese and Korean don’t sound exactly the same, but you’ll start hearing familiar pronunciation patterns once you say the words aloud.

Reading silently is helpful, but speaking them helps those patterns stick in your memory.

Don’t memorise the English first

If you already know Chinese, try looking at the Chinese word and guessing the Korean pronunciation before checking the answer.

If you’re learning Chinese after Korean, do the opposite.

Turning vocabulary into a little guessing game is much more effective than simply reading translations.

Look for the Chinese characters

Even though Hanja isn’t used very often in everyday Korean, seeing the shared Chinese characters can make it much easier to understand why two words are related.

Over time, you’ll start recognising these connections without even thinking about them.

Be patient with the exceptions

Not every similar-looking word has the same meaning, and not every Chinese word has a Korean equivalent that sounds familiar.

That’s completely normal.

The goal isn’t to memorise hundreds of isolated words. It’s to train your brain to notice patterns. Once that starts happening, you’ll find yourself recognising new vocabulary naturally as you continue learning.

💬 Put These Words Into Practice

Recognising vocabulary is one thing. Actually using it in conversation is where the real magic happens.

If you’re serious about improving your Korean or Chinese, I highly recommend practising with a native speaker. A short weekly lesson is one of the fastest ways to build confidence, improve your pronunciation, and make new vocabulary stick.

👉 Browse Korean & Chinese Tutors on Preply

Why Learning Chinese and Korean Together Gives You an Advantage

When people ask me whether it’s worth learning both Chinese and Korean, my answer is always the same: absolutely.

No, they’re not the same language. Korean grammar is completely different from Mandarin, and you’ll still have to learn a new writing system, pronunciation, and sentence structure. But when it comes to vocabulary, knowing one language gives you a surprisingly helpful head start with the other.

I noticed this myself after moving to South Korea. Every now and then, I’d come across a Korean word that sounded oddly familiar. Instead of starting from zero, I already had a clue about what it meant because I’d learned the Chinese equivalent years earlier.

Those little moments of recognition really add up.

The more Sino-Korean words you learn, the easier it becomes to make educated guesses about unfamiliar vocabulary. You begin to recognise common roots, understand the meaning of compound words, and build your confidence much faster than if every word felt completely new.

This is especially helpful when you’re travelling in Korea. You’ll start spotting familiar words on museum signs, maps, train stations, historical sites, and even restaurant menus. You might not understand every sentence, but you’ll often recognise enough vocabulary to figure out the general meaning.

The same works in reverse, too. If you’re a Korean speaker learning Chinese, many Chinese characters and vocabulary will already feel familiar, even if the pronunciation has changed over the centuries.

Of course, shared vocabulary is only one piece of the puzzle. To become fluent, you’ll still need to practise listening, speaking, reading, and writing. But recognising these connections makes the journey much more enjoyable.

For me, discovering these similarities was one of the most rewarding parts of learning both languages. It felt less like memorising endless vocabulary lists and more like uncovering hidden connections between two fascinating cultures.

My Favourite Resources for Learning Chinese and Korean

Over the years, I’ve tried quite a few language-learning apps, websites, and online courses. Some I’ve used extensively myself, while others have been recommended to me time and time again by fellow language learners.

If you’re serious about learning Chinese or Korean, these are the resources I’d recommend checking out.

Resource	Best For	Free Trial
Instant Mandarin	1:1 Chinese lessons	✅
90 Day Korean	1:1 Korean lessons	✅
Preply	Tutors	✅
LingoDeer	Apps	✅
Pleco	Chinese dictionary	✅
Anki	Flashcards	✅

Instant Mandarin

If you’re looking for personalized Chinese lessons, I’ve had a great experience with Instant Mandarin. Their one-on-one online classes are taught by certified teachers and can be tailored to your level and learning goals.

One thing I really like is the flexibility. You can learn from anywhere, choose a teacher that suits your schedule, and focus on exactly what you want to improve, whether that’s conversation, HSK preparation, business Chinese, or simply building confidence speaking Mandarin.

If you’re looking for structured lessons with real teachers rather than another self-study app, it’s well worth trying the free trial lesson.

LingoDeer

LingoDeer is one of the few language-learning apps I regularly recommend because it’s designed specifically for Asian languages.

Unlike many general language apps, it does a great job explaining grammar, sentence structure, and pronunciation. Since it offers both Korean and Chinese courses, it’s an excellent option if you’re learning both languages at the same time.

Preply

If your goal is to start speaking as quickly as possible, working with a tutor can make a huge difference.

Preply lets you choose from thousands of Chinese and Korean tutors based on your budget, learning style, and availability. Even one lesson a week can help build confidence and improve your pronunciation much faster than studying alone.

Pleco

If you’re learning Chinese, Pleco is an app I wouldn’t want to be without.

It’s much more than a dictionary. You can search by handwriting, use the built-in OCR to recognise Chinese characters, create flashcards, and look up words in seconds. It’s easily one of the most useful tools you’ll have on your phone.

Anki

No matter which language you’re learning, vocabulary only sticks if you review it regularly.

Anki uses spaced repetition to show you words just before you’re likely to forget them, making it one of the most effective ways to build long-term vocabulary. I especially like creating my own flashcards with words I’ve encountered while travelling or reading.

Talk To Me In Korean

If Korean is your main focus, Talk To Me In Korean has been one of the most popular learning platforms for years.

Their lessons are clear, practical, and easy to follow, making them a great companion alongside textbooks or private lessons. They’re particularly helpful once you’ve mastered the basics and want to start understanding how Korean is actually spoken in everyday life.

My Advice

No single app will make you fluent.

The biggest progress comes from combining different methods. Learn vocabulary with flashcards, study grammar with a structured course, practise speaking with a tutor, and most importantly, use the language whenever you can.

That’s exactly how I approached learning both Mandarin and Korean, and recognising the similarities between the two languages made the whole process even more enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Korean and Chinese related?

Not exactly. Korean and Chinese belong to different language families and have completely different grammar. However, Korean borrowed thousands of words from Chinese over many centuries, which is why you’ll notice so many similar words. These borrowed words are known as Sino-Korean words and still make up a large part of modern Korean vocabulary.

What are Hanja?

Hanja (한자) are Chinese characters that were traditionally used to write Korean. These days, most Korean is written in Hangul, but Hanja still appear in some newspapers, academic texts, legal documents, and historical writings. Learning a few common Hanja can also help you understand the meaning of many Korean words.

Can Chinese speakers learn Korean more easily?

In many ways, yes. While Korean grammar is completely different from Mandarin, Chinese speakers often have an advantage when it comes to vocabulary. Once you start recognising Sino-Korean words, you’ll find it much easier to guess the meaning of unfamiliar Korean words.

Why do some Chinese and Korean words sound so similar?

Many Korean words were borrowed from Chinese centuries ago. Although the pronunciation has changed over time in both languages, you can still hear the connection in many everyday words like tea (茶 / 차), bank (银行 / 은행), and time (时间 / 시간).

Are all similar Chinese and Korean words the same?

No. While many words have the same meaning, there are also exceptions. Some words have developed different meanings over time, and others are only used in certain situations. That’s why it’s always worth learning new vocabulary in context rather than relying on pronunciation alone.

Should I learn Chinese or Korean first?

That really depends on your goals. If you’re planning to travel, work, or live in South Korea, start with Korean. If China or Taiwan is your main focus, Mandarin makes more sense. The good news is that whichever language you learn first, you’ll probably find the second one a little easier thanks to the shared vocabulary.

Is it worth learning Hanja?

You definitely don’t need Hanja to have conversations in Korean or travel around the country. But if you’re serious about learning the language, understanding even a handful of common Hanja can make it much easier to remember vocabulary, recognise word meanings, and understand how many Korean words are connected.

Final Thoughts

When I first started learning Korean after studying Mandarin, I never expected the two languages to overlap as much as they do. Every time I recognised a familiar word, it felt like a little win and made learning Korean that much more enjoyable.

Of course, shared vocabulary is only one part of the picture. Korean and Chinese each have their own grammar, pronunciation, and unique expressions. But understanding the connection between them can give you a real head start and make learning both languages feel a little less overwhelming.

I hope this guide has helped you spot some of those connections and maybe even inspired you to look a little closer the next time you’re studying Korean or Chinese.

Did I miss one of your favourite Chinese and Korean word pairs? I’d love to hear it! Leave a comment below and let me know. I’m always on the lookout for new examples to add to this list.

Ready to Put Your Korean Into Practice?

There’s no better classroom than South Korea itself.

If you’re planning a trip, check out these guides next:

🇰🇷 Complete Korea Travel Guide

🏙 Seoul Travel Guide

🚌 South Korea Transportation Guide

📍 2-Week Korea Itinerary