Describing words — learn them through core images – ShareDocs

大きい ōkii Why a voice, a cost and a problem are all 大きい An outline pressed outward, so it takes up that much more room. Japanese 5 uses

크다 keu-da One Korean word for a roomy shoe, a big bill, and a kid who grew An outline that was sitting still pushes outward and takes over the space beside it. Korean 5 uses

大 dà Why 大 also covers your age and your voice An outline pushed outward until it takes up more room than before. Chinese 5 uses

小さい chiisai A small shoe, a small voice, a small mistake — one 小さい An outline pulled inward, so it takes up less room than before. Japanese 5 uses

작다 jak-da Tight shirt, tiny print, thin voice: all one Korean word An outline pulls inward and no longer fills the space it was meant to, leaving a margin. Korean 5 uses

小 xiǎo How "small" in Chinese also means "no big deal" An outline pulled inward until it takes up only a little room. Chinese 5 uses

多 duō Why "many" in Chinese also means "do more of it" The same thing landing on the pile one more time, and again, until it heaps up. Chinese 5 uses

高い takai High shelf, high rent, high fever — 高い is one gauge A mark sitting high up on a gauge. Japanese 5 uses

많다 man-ta Crowds, chores, years of practice: Korean counts them all with one word The same thing is set down one more time, and one more, until no empty spot is left and the eye reads it as full. Korean 5 uses

少 shǎo How "few" becomes "go easy on the chili" A handful lifted off a pile, leaving a gap where it sat. Chinese 5 uses

安い yasui When the tag goes down, even a person gets 'cheap' The number on a price tag sitting low. Japanese 5 uses

적다 jeok-da Few customers, a thin paycheck, little rain: one Korean word Most of the spots that should be filled stand empty, only a few left, and the gaps are what you notice first. Korean 5 uses

好 hǎo Why 好 covers "all better" and "okay, got it" Gears meshing smoothly, nothing catching anywhere along the turn. Chinese 5 uses

低い hikui A low desk, a low voice, a low chance — one 低い A top that has settled down close to the ground. Japanese 5 uses

좋다 jo-ta Why one Korean word praises the weather and also says yes Nothing at all snags the mind, so the head nods once on its own. Korean 5 uses

坏 huài A dead laptop, sour milk, a bad habit — all 坏 Something that used to turn has cracked, its teeth out of line, no longer doing its job. Chinese 5 uses

나쁘다 na-ppeu-da Bad eyes, bad weather, bad blood: one Korean word Something is off, it snags, and the head shakes while the body takes a step back. Korean 5 uses

長い nagai A long queue, a long friendship — 長い is distance to the end The place where something starts and the place where it ends, far apart. Japanese 5 uses

高 gāo A high shelf, high rent, a boss with high standards A mark climbing from the floor until it sits well above eye level. Chinese 5 uses

높다 nop-da A high shelf, a high fever, high odds: one Korean word It sits far up off the floor, so the hand stretches and still does not reach. Korean 5 uses

短い mijikai A short temper too — 短い is the end arriving at once The finish line following right behind the start. Japanese 5 uses

早い hayai Even 'too soon' is 早い — standing ahead of the line A dot marked ahead of the agreed line. Japanese 5 uses

低 dī A low doorway, a low price, a lowered head A mark settling close to the floor, staying below eye level. Chinese 5 uses

낮다 nat-da Low ceiling, low temperature, low voice: one Korean word It has come down close to the floor, so you have to lower your head to take it in. Korean 5 uses

长 cháng A long road, a long wait, a long queue A line running far, from one end all the way out to the other. Chinese 5 uses

길다 gil-da Long sleeves, a long queue, a long meeting: one Korean word From one end to the other is far, so you keep going and the end still does not appear. Korean 5 uses

遅い osoi 'Too late now' is 遅い too — left behind the line A dot marked past the agreed line, left behind it. Japanese 5 uses

強い tsuyoi Wind, medicine, willpower — 強い is force that doesn't give Force enough to push the other side back, or to stand firm while being pushed. Japanese 5 uses

짧다 jjal-da Short trousers, short hair, a short break: one Korean word The two ends sit close together, so the finish arrives almost as soon as you start. Korean 5 uses

短 duǎn A short skirt, a short holiday, a short message A line that ran far, now cut so that only a single stub is left. Chinese 5 uses

빠르다 ppa-reu-da Quick steps, quick service, quick healing: one Korean word The same distance takes less time than it takes others, so the figure is already far ahead. Korean 5 uses

快 kuài A fast walker and a sharp knife are both 快 The same distance covered in less time than it used to take. Chinese 5 uses

弱い yowai Weak with drink too — 弱い is force draining away Force draining away, so the smallest push makes it wobble or collapse. Japanese 5 uses

明るい akarui Knowing a field is 明るい too — light reaches in and you see Light filling a space so you can see right into the corners. Japanese 5 uses

느리다 neu-ri-da Slow steps, a slow computer, a slow clock: one Korean word The same distance takes more time, so the figure stays behind the rest. Korean 5 uses

慢 màn Why "slow" becomes "take your time with the meal" The same distance drawn out, moving over more time than it needs to. Chinese 5 uses

暗い kurai 'I don't know much about that' is 暗い too No light reaching in, so you cannot see what is inside. Japanese 5 uses

무겁다 mu-geop-da A heavy box, heavy legs, a heavy room: one Korean word The downward pull is strong, so lifting it drags the arm straight and tips the body. Korean 5 uses

难 nán A hard problem and bad noodles are both 难 Something pushing back from the front, so effort doesn't get you straight through. Chinese 5 uses

容易 róng yì How "easy" also means "breaks easily" Nothing pushing back, so it opens in one go, like a palm laid flat. Chinese 5 uses

가볍다 ga-byeop-da A light bag, light legs, a lighter heart: one Korean word Almost nothing pulls it down, so one fingertip hooked under it is enough to lift it. Korean 5 uses

重い omoi Hearts get heavy too — 重い is the pull downward A pull downward, strong enough that it won't lift easily. Japanese 5 uses

新 xīn One untouched surface, five kinds of new A surface so untouched that the light lies flat on it and no fingerprint breaks it. Chinese 5 uses

軽い karui Why a box and a mouth are both 'light' in Japanese You lift it and nothing drags your arm down — it comes straight up. Japanese 5 uses

쉽다 swip-da Why a cup that breaks 'easily' uses the word for easy Nothing blocks the path ahead, so a hand slides all the way through in one go. Korean 5 uses

旧 jiù Worn down, handed down, left behind — all 旧 A surface so long handled that the printing has worn off and the shine is gone. Chinese 5 uses

어렵다 eo-ryeop-da Exams, household money, and asking a favour all catch on the same word The road ahead is narrow and blocked, so each single step costs a long push. Korean 5 uses

熱い atsui In Japanese a plate and a person can both be 'hot' Bring your hand close and something pushes out from inside it, making your fingers flinch back. Japanese 5 uses

早 zǎo Early, already, and good morning — one arrow backward Standing on the timeline to the left of the mark, ahead of where you were due. Chinese 5 uses

밝다 bak-da Why knowing the neighbourhood is talked about as light Light floods in until even the inner corners are exposed with nothing hidden. Korean 5 uses

冷たい tsumetai When water and an answer are both 'cold' The moment you touch it, the warmth drains out of your hand into it and your fingertips stiffen. Japanese 5 uses

深い fukai A river, a sleep and a friendship can all be 'deep' You reach down from the surface and keep going, and the bottom is still further down. Japanese 5 uses

어둡다 eo-dup-da Why being clueless about machines is talked about as darkness Light drains away and a cover comes down, so the inside can no longer be seen. Korean 5 uses

晚 wǎn Late, too late, and good night — one step past the mark Standing on the timeline to the right of the mark, already past the point you were due. Chinese 5 uses

远 yuǎn Far away, distant kin, nowhere near good enough Two points pulled so far apart that a reaching hand still comes up empty. Chinese 5 uses

浅い asai Water and a career can both be 'shallow' You put your hand in and hit the bottom at once — there is nowhere further down to go. Japanese 5 uses

뜨겁다 tteu-geop-da Why applause and a blushing face share one word Heat surges up from inside, so the instant you touch it your hand snaps away. Korean 5 uses

近 jìn Close by, closing in, and 'lately' Two points with almost no gap left: reach out and your hand touches. Chinese 5 uses

차갑다 cha-gap-da Why a cold tone of voice is talked about as temperature Heat drains away, and the moment you touch it your body shrinks in on itself. Korean 5 uses

広い hiroi A room and a face can both be 'wide' in Japanese You spread both arms and still don't reach the edges — they have pulled further apart. Japanese 5 uses