The next point in which the Taekwondo characters differ from the original sport Karate is the language. The Koreans, who had left the country during the occupation and returned later, subsequently translated the Japanese terms into the Korean language. For a few years, Taekwondo (then Gongsudo) was introduced to outsiders as “Korean Karate”.
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General Taekwondo Terms
You should read this list a few times before you go to the training. These are the most important general terms that you should know.
| Term | Translation |
| Tae | Foot |
| Kwon | Hand |
| Do | The way |
| Gyosa/ Kyosa | Master/Teacher (mostly from 1st Dan) |
| Sabeom | great master (different 4th / 5th / 6th Dan) |
| Dojang | Training room |
| Dobok | Training suit (jacket, pants, belt) |
| Ha-ui | Pants |
| Sang-ui | Jacket |
| Tti | Belt |
| Dan | Master degree |
| Kup | Student degree |
| Seonbae | experienced student |
| Charyot/ Charyeot | Attention! – stand still and pay attention |
| Kyong-Ye/ Gyeong-Nye | Greeting, bowing |
| Gukki-E daehayeo/ Kukki keterio | Greeting the national flags |
| Hana | 1 |
| Dul | 2 |
| Set | 3 |
| Net | 4 |
| Daseot | 5 |
| Yeoseot | 6 |
| Ilgop | 7 |
| Yeodeolp | 8 |
| Ahop | 9 |
| Yeol | 10 |
| Junbi | Prepare |
| Sijak | Begin |
| Geuman | Finish |
| Baro | To start position |
| Oreun | right |
| Oen | left |
| Ap | to the front |
| Dwi | to the back |
| Yeop | sideways |
| An | inside |
| Bakkat | outside |
| Chukyeo | upward |
| Naeryeo | downwards |
| Dora | turn |
| Baro | straight, upright |
Movement and fighting technique terms for training
These terms define techniques and movements. In the long run, you will not be able to escape from learning them.
| Term | Translation |
| Naranhi seogi | Parallel foot position open |
| Moa seogi | Parallel foot position closed |
| Jeongul seogi | forward inclined foot position |
| Hugul seogi | backward inclined foot position |
| Charyeot seogi | Attention foot position (only heels touch) |
| Gima seogi/ Juchum seogi | Riding foot position |
| Eolgul | Body zone – head and neck |
| Momtong | Body zone – collarbone to navel |
| Naeryeo | Body zone – below the navel |
| Sangdan | Defense or attack – Eolgul |
| Jungdan | Defense or attack – Momtong |
| Hadan | Defense or attack – Naeryeo |
| Jeong-Gwon jireugi | Front fist strike |
| Ssang-Gwon jireugi | double fist punch |
| Tyjibo jireugi | Fist punch with inverted fist |
| Chongkwansu tulki | Fingertip thrust vertical |
| Pyongkwansu tulki | Fingertip thrust horizontal |
| Bakkat palmok chukyeo makgi | Upward block forearm outer side |
| Bakkat palmok hadan makgi | Deep block forearm outer side |
| Bakkat palmok hechyeo makgi | Wedge block forearm outer side |
| Sudo daebi makgi | Hand edge block |
| Ssang sudo makgi | double hand edge block |
| Apchagi | Snap kick forward |
| Dwichagi | Snap kick backwards |
| Yeopchagi | side snap kick |
| Naeryeochagi | Downward kick (known as axe kick) |
| Baldeungchagi | Round kick with instep |
| Dollyeochagi | Round kick with ball of foot |
| Baltung-Dolleyo-Chagi | Half circle kick (similar to the roundhouse kick) |
| Mureupchagi | Knee kick |
| An mureup makgi | Knee block to the inside |
| Bakkat mureup makgi | Knee block to the outside |
Taekwondo terms for competition
These taekwondo terms are essential for all types of competitions. A simplified way to learn them is to watch competitions. Your brain then gradually associates the word with the following action.
| Term | Translation |
| Hong | red |
| Cheong/ chong | blue |
| Baek | white |
| Kyeorugi-Junbi | Fighting position |
| Gallyeo | Stop/ interruption |
| Gyesok | Continue (after stop) |
| Kalyeo | Disconnect! |
| Sigan | Time over |
| Baek hana deuk | one point for white |
| Cheong dul deuk | two points for blue |
| Gamjeom | Minus point |
| Gamjeom hana | half minus point |
| Hong seung/ song | red wins |