This article examines a comprehensive approach to teaching Sino-Korean vocabulary based on word-formation productivity and semantic components. The relevance of the study is determined by the high proportion of Sino-Korean vocabulary in the Korean lexicon and the need to improve the efficiency of its acquisition by foreign learners. The paper analyzes principles for selecting Sino-Korean elements based on their word-formation productivity and proposes a method for explaining word meanings through semantic components without teaching Chinese characters themselves. Particular attention is paid to distinguishing between lexical units that should be learned holistically and those that allow semantic analysis. The proposed approach aims to systematize vocabulary, facilitate the understanding of new words, and improve learners’ language competence.