Skip to content
4ToSpeak
Start free

Learned Korean? Learn this next

Best language to learn after Korean

Korean builds a learner who is comfortable with verb-final sentences, particles and politeness levels, and that opens several neighbours.

Start freeHow it works
  • Free forever plan
  • No card needed
  • 77 languages

Updated · by the 4ToSpeak team

4 languages to learn after Korean, ranked

  1. 1. Japanese

    A lot carries over

    Very similar sentence structure and particles, and a lot of shared vocabulary ideas, with a harder writing system.

    Hardest for English speakers · about 2,200 hours

    Learn Japanese · How long it takes

  2. 2. Chinese

    Some carries over

    A large share of Korean vocabulary comes from Chinese, so many words feel familiar. Tones and characters are new.

    Hardest for English speakers · about 2,200 hours

    Learn Chinese · How long it takes

  3. 3. Turkish

    Some carries over

    Different roots, but similar word order and endings added to words, so the thinking pattern is familiar.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Turkish · How long it takes

  4. 4. Vietnamese

    A little carries over

    Shares Chinese-derived vocabulary, with simple grammar and tones.

    Harder for English speakers · about 1,100 hours

    Learn Vietnamese · How long it takes

“Carries over” is a guide to how much vocabulary, grammar and sound you will recognise, not a measurement. Hours are for a native English speaker starting from zero; your head start will shorten them.

Compare two of them

Other starting points

FAQ

Questions, answered

Still stuck? support@4tospeak.com

What is the best language to learn after Korean?

After Korean, the best language to learn next is Japanese. Very similar sentence structure and particles, and a lot of shared vocabulary ideas, with a harder writing system. Chinese is the next best choice.

Which language is easiest to learn after Korean?

Japanese is the easiest next step, with "a lot" carrying over. Based on difficulty bands for English speakers, it takes about 2,200 hours, and you start ahead because of Korean.

Should I master Korean before starting another language?

You do not need to master it. A comfortable conversational level (the point where you can hold a short chat without panic) is enough. Starting a similar language too early can blur the two together, so build a solid base first.

Can I learn Korean and Japanese at the same time?

You can, but similar languages are easy to mix up. Most learners do better getting Korean to a comfortable level and then adding Japanese, which will feel much faster than starting from scratch.

Related guides

Next steps

Free · no card · 77 languages

Start Japanese today

Try a Japanese sentence and say it out loud. Free, no card.

Start free