If you’re a fan of Squid Game, you’ll surely see the shapes triangle, circle, and square, differently. Do you want to know more about Korean shapes vocabulary? (모양 Moyang)
Just recently, the new survival South Korean drama series “Squid Game” became trending, which caused thrill and excitement to the fans. If you’re watching this series, you won’t miss the shapes seen in every episode. Is this a sign for you to learn some Korean shapes vocabulary?
Shapes are very important in Korean culture. It represents different things in life. The perfect examples are the shapes found in their flag. The circle that is divided into two in their flags represents the balance of the universe (Yin and Yang), while the four trigrams represent the principle of movement and harmony.
This blog will go back to the basics and learn some basic Korean shapes vocabulary for free. However, if you want a fun way to learn Korean, you should check the Ling app. Using this app, you can learn while you play.
Importance Of Shapes And Vocabulary
Shapes were one of the most commonly taught lessons when we were young. If you can still recall, most of us have charts, pictures, and toy puzzles that teach us how to name shapes. Nowadays, as technology develops, videos and TV shows discussing shapes can easily be downloaded and accessed through a computer or mobile phone.
Learning shapes since we were young is a significant stage of our lives. As we learn shapes, we can identify and compare objects around us based on their shape. In addition, it helps us develop our critical thinking by analyzing each important element that makes one shape different from another.
As we got older, understanding shapes became more useful. For example, in Math, we have a lesson called geometry. If you have learned meaningfully about shapes, it can be easy for you to understand the basics of this subject. It can also be applied in real-life situations like building houses and shopping.
In arts, different shapes give a different texture. Need I say more about the importance of shapes in the field of arts? I bet I don’t need to.
Shapes also have significance in different cultures and traditions in different parts of the world. Like how the circle, square, and triangle symbolize hierarchy in “Squid Game.” Some shapes have really important representations in their culture, like the Taegeuk pattern in Korean culture. In Eastern philosophy, this pattern signifies the ultimate truth, which is the origin of all creation.

What Is Shape In Korean Language?
After knowing the significance of shapes in our lives, let’s start widening our Korean shapes vocabulary by learning how to say Shapes in the Korean language.
모양 (Moyang)
When you’re in South Korea, you will hear locals use the Korean word 모양 (Moyang) to refer to shapes. The pronunciation is easy to learn and remember.
What Is Object In Korean Language?
물건 (Mulgeon)
Since we are learning shapes, we will also learn some objects that correspond to the shapes that can be easily found around us. So, to say the word object in Korean, you can use the word “–물건 (Mulgeon).”
Korean Shapes Vocabulary For Basic Shapes And Objects
I think you’re all set! You already know the significance of shapes, and you already know how to say shapes and objects in Korean. Now, let us continue learning about Korean shapes vocabulary. Take note of the pronunciation of each Korean character (Hangul) because it is really important in spoken language. But, you don’t have to worry because the meaning of these Korean words can be found below them.
원 (Won)
English Translation: circle
Let’s start with the circle 원 (won) and what could be a more common seed circle-shaped object in Korea aside from their cakes (–케이크 | keikeu)? Birthdays are not complete without their cutesy circle-shaped cakes with candles on top, just like Seri’s cake when she was surprised by North Korean soldiers during her birthday.
Aside from cake, here are some of the circle-shaped objects in the Korean language:
English Translation | Hangul | Romanization | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
watch | 시계 | sigye | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]시계[/Speechword] |
pizza (whole) | 피자 | pija | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]피자[/Speechword] |
doughnut | 가락지빵 | garakjibbang | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]가락지빵[/Speechword] |
ring | 반지 | banji | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]반지[/Speechword] |
coin | 동전 | dongjeon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]동전[/Speechword] |
타원 (Tawon)
English Translation: oval
Do you remember the Kdrama “Run On”? Seon-gyeom, a track and field player, usually runs in an oval-shaped field. This is the perfect example of oval 타원 (Tawon). The Oval has the outline of an egg. You can find many oval-shaped objects around us. Here are some examples of objects that are oval in shape:
English Translation | Hangul | Romanization | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
egg | 계란 | gyeran | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]계란[/Speechword] |
leaf | 안장 | hanjang | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]안장[/Speechword] |
face | 얼굴 | eolgul | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]얼굴[/Speechword] |
pineapple | 파인애플 | painaepeul | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]파인애플[/Speechword] |
lemon | 레몬 | remon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]레몬[/Speechword] |

사각형 (Jeongsagakhyeong)
English Translation: square
One of the most unforgettable square-shaped objects in a Kdrama is Choi Taek’s Go game board. Although this game originated in China, this game can be seen as being played in different Kdrama series.
Here are some other objects that are square 사각형 (Jeongsagakhyeong) in shape:
English Translation | Hangul | Romanization | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
pillow | 베개 | begae | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]베개[/Speechword] |
bread (loaf) | 빵 | ppang | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]빵[/Speechword] |
window | 창문 | changmun | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]창문[/Speechword] |
chessboard | 체스판 | cheseupan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]체스판[/Speechword] |
ID Photo | 신분증 사진 | sinbunjeung sajin | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]신분증 사진[/Speechword] |
직사각형 (Jiksagakhyeong)
English Translation: rectangle
Undoubtedly, the most common rectangle-shaped object that you mostly see in Korea is the cellphone. Before they were known for K-pop and Kdramas, they were first known for their mobile phone and smartphone (스마트폰 | seumateupon) brands such as Samsung and LG.
Phones from Apple might be famous in most countries in the world, but in South Korea, it’s Samsung that owns the top spot. In fact, Samsung products dominated K-drama series like Itaewon Class, Crash Landing On You, and Hi Bye, Mama. You’ll see the characters flexing the new brands of Samsung in these dramas. You’ll notice that the Samsung Galaxy Fold is really popular among them if you’re closely watching.
So, aside from smartphones, here are some objects that are rectangular in shape:
English Translation | Hangul | Romanization | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
credit card | 신용카드 | sinyongkadeu | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]신용카드[/Speechword] |
door | 문 | mun | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]문[/Speechword] |
television | 텔레비전 | tellebijyeon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]텔레비전[/Speechword] |
money (bill) | 돈 | don | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]돈[/Speechword] |
bed | 침대 | chimdae | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]침대[/Speechword] |
삼각형 (Samgakhyeong)
English Translation: triangle
It is hard to find a single K-pop music video without the shape of a triangle (삼각형 | Samgakhyeong) in its background. But, the most common triangle in a K-drama is a love triangle. This is why you got heartbroken when Seo Dal-mi chose Nam Do-san over Han Ji-Pyeong in “Start-Up” and when Jang Man-Wol chose Goo Chan Sung over Go Chung Myung.
If you’re looking for objects that are triangle in shape, here’s a list:
English Translation | Hangul | Romanization | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
Pizza | 피자 | pija | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]피자[/Speechword] |
hanger | 옷걸이 | otgeori | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]옷걸이[/Speechword] |
Christmas tree | 크리스마스 트리 | keuriseumaseu teuri | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]크리스마스 트리[/Speechword] |
triangle Kimbap | 삼각김밥 | samgak kimbap | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]삼각김밥[/Speechword] |
sail | 돛 | doch; dot | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]돛[/Speechword] |

Other Shapes In Korean Language
Learning Korean basic shapes and objects may have been fun, but adding these words to your Korean shapes vocabulary will take you to the next level. So, here are some additional shapes in the Korean language that might help you one day. You might also notice the words with “모양” added at the end to indicate the word “shape,” like heart-shaped. Although we all know that this is not actually the shape of the heart. However, people use it as a symbol of love. That’s why Koreans do the finger heart, right?
Here is a list of additional Korean shapes vocabulary. Feel free to practice:
English Translation | Hangul | Romanization | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
parallelogram | 평행사변형 | pyeonghaengsabyeonhyeong | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]평행사변형[/Speechword] |
semicircle | 반원 | banwon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]반원[/Speechword] |
cube | 정육면체 | jeongyungmyeonche | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]정육면체[/Speechword] |
sphere | 구체 | guche | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]구체[/Speechword] |
cylinder | 원기둥 | wongidung | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]원기둥[/Speechword] |
cone | 원뿔 | wonppul | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]원뿔[/Speechword] |
pyramid | 피라미드 | piramideu | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]피라미드[/Speechword] |
pentagon | 오각형 | ogakhyeong | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]오각형[/Speechword] |
hexagon | 육각형 | yukgakhyeong | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]육각형[/Speechword] |
heptagon | 칠각형 | chilgakhyeong | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]칠각형[/Speechword] |
octagon | 팔각형 | palgakhyeong | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]팔각형[/Speechword] |
heart-shaped | 하트 모양 | hateu-moyang | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]하트 모양[/Speechword] |
Hyeyeon shaped | 혜연 모양 | hyeyeon moyang | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]혜연 모양[/Speechword] |
star-shaped | 별 모양 | byeol moyang | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]별 모양[/Speechword] |
diamond-shape | 마름모 | mareummo | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]마름모[/Speechword] |
half-moon shaped | 반달 모양 | bandal moyang | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]반달 모양[/Speechword] |
crescent | 초승달 | choseungttal | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]초승달[/Speechword] |
cross | 십자가 | sipjaga | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]십자가[/Speechword] |
Other Objects In Korean Language
Of course, we should also add more vocabulary for objects. These objects are just the random thing you find everywhere that has a definite shape. Check this out and learn more.
English Translation | Hangul | Romanization | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
diamond | 다이아몬드 | daiamondeu | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]다이아몬드[/Speechword] |
traffic cone | 트래픽 콘 | teulaepig kon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]트래픽 콘[/Speechword] |
refrigerator | 냉장고 | naengjanggo | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]냉장고[/Speechword] |
toilet paper | 화장지 | hwajangji | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]화장지[/Speechword] |
towel | 수건 | sugeon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]수건[/Speechword] |
dish towel | 행주 | haengju | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]행주[/Speechword] |
passport | 여권 | yeogwon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]여권[/Speechword] |
football | 축구 | chuk-gu | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]축구[/Speechword] |
picture frame | 액자 | aegja | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]액자[/Speechword] |
swimming pool | 수영장 | suyeongjang | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]수영장[/Speechword] |
suitcase | 가방 | gabang | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]가방[/Speechword] |
bulb | 전구 | jeongu | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]전구[/Speechword] |
ball | 공 | gong | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]공[/Speechword] |
can | 통 | tong | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]통[/Speechword] |
film | 영화 | yeonghwa | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]영화[/Speechword] |
lipstick | 립스틱 | libseutig | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]립스틱[/Speechword] |
mirror | 거울 | geoul | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]거울[/Speechword] |
saucer | 받침 접시 | badchim jeobsi | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]받침 접시[/Speechword] |
plate | 접시 | jeopsi | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]접시[/Speechword] |
glass | 유리 | yuli | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]유리[/Speechword] |
water pipe | 수로관 | surogwan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]수로관[/Speechword] |
dice | 주사위 | bodeugeim | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]주사위[/Speechword] |
line | 선 | seon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]선[/Speechword] |
straight line | 직선 | jikseon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]직선[/Speechword] |
diagonal (line) | 대각선 | daegakseon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]대각선[/Speechword] |
spiral line | 나선 | naseon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]나선[/Speechword] |
curved line | 곡선 | gokseon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]곡선[/Speechword] |
diagonal line | 대각선 | daegakseon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]대각선[/Speechword] |
parallel line | 평행선 | pyeonghaengseon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]평행선[/Speechword] |
Vocabulary Words And Phrases Related To Shapes
After learning the different shapes and objects in Korean, let us widen your Korean shapes vocabulary more by these common words and phrases related to shapes.
Korean Shapes Vocabulary Words
English Translation | Hangul | Romanization | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
polygon | 다각형 | dagakhyeong | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]다각형[/Speechword] |
flat | 평평한 | pyeongpyeonghan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]평평한[/Speechword] |
uneven | 울툴불퉁한 | ultungbultunghan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]울툴불퉁한[/Speechword] |
wide | 넓적한 | neolpjjeokan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]넓적한[/Speechword] |
pointed | 뾰족한 | ppyojokan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]뾰족한[/Speechword] |
thin | 날씬한 | nalssinhan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]날씬한[/Speechword] |
thin (object) | 얇은 | yalbeun | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]얇은[/Speechword] |
tall and thin | 늘씬한 | neulssinhan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]늘씬한[/Speechword] |
fat | 뚱뚱한 | ttungttunghan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]뚱뚱한[/Speechword] |
umbrella | 우산 | usan | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]우산[/Speechword] |
Shape Phrases And Sentences In Korean
English Translation | Hangul | Romanization | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
good shape | 좋은 몸매 | joeun mommae | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]좋은 몸매[/Speechword] |
half-moon-shaped rice cake | 송편 | songpyeon | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]송편[/Speechword] |
in the shape of | 모양의 | moyangui | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]모양의[/Speechword] |
He draws a circle | 그는 원을 그려요 | geuneun woneul geuryeoyo | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]그는 원을 그려요[/Speechword] |
A box has a cubic shape. | 상자는 정육면체 모양이에요 | sangjaneun jeongyungmyeonche moyangieyo | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]상자는 정육면체 모양이에요[/Speechword] |
The swimming pool is a rectangle | 수영장은 직사각형이에요 | suyeongjangeun jiksagakyeongieyo | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]수영장은 직사각형이에요[/Speechword] |
A football is white and black in color | 축구공은 흰색과 검은색을 가지고 있어요 | chukgugongeun huinsaekgwa geomeunsaegeul gajigo isseoyo | [Speechword voice=”Korean Female” isinline]축구공은 흰색과 검은색을 가지고 있어요[/Speechword] |
Improve Your Language Skills In Korean
Did you have fun learning Korean shapes vocabulary? Probably on your next “Squid Series” marathon, you’ll be able to know how to name the important shapes you see at the workers. But, do you actually want to end there? Don’t you want to learn Korean at a higher level to improve your Korean language skills? If you do, I suggest you should check out the Ling app. You can also share it with your friends (친구 | chingu) who also want to learn Korean and other languages.
With the Ling app, you will not only learn Korean shapes vocabulary, but you can choose from the variety of topics available. With the Ling app, you can build your vocabulary and improve your listening, reading, and speaking skills. This app has audio recordings from native speakers to ensure the authenticity of the pronunciation and translations.
You can also have fun while you learn because the Ling app has a gamification feature that will keep you engaged and track your progress.
Learning Korean shouldn’t be hard. It should be fun but meaningful, and it will surely give you that experience. This is an invitation; to start your free Korean lessons by downloading it on the Play Store or App Store now!