Useful Words and Phrases

Ajumma	Middle-aged woman with children (sometimes used pejoratively)
Anchae	Building reserved for women in aristocratic houses, in which only men who are family members may enter. The anbang is the main room.
Bodhisattva	In Buddhism, those promised enlightenment but renouncing nirvana out of compassion for those living on Earth.
Bong	Peak (e.g. Ichulbong/ Ichul Peak)
Buk	North (e.g. Jeollabuk-do/ North Jeolla Province)
Cheon	Stream (e.g. Cheonggyecheon/ Cheonggye Stream)
Cheongja	Celadon, green-blue porcelain stoneware
Dang	Room in monasteries and palaces, less formal and less dignified than the jeon
Dancheong	Red and greenish-blue painted decoration on a building, using stylized, symbolic patterns and interlacing; it is ornamental but also protects the wood and rough surfaces at the edge of a roof. Inside, it covers the ceiling and frame of important buildings.
Do	Province (e.g. Jeolla-do); island (e.g. Namhaedo)
Dong	Smallest administrative unit of a town, village or city; district (e.g. Myeong-dong); east (e.g. Dongdaemun/Great East Gate)
Donghak	“Eastern Learning,” based on syncretism of Confucianism, Buddhism and shamanism against Westernization, founded in 1860
Ga	Section of a street (e.g. Euljiro-1 ga/Euljiro Street Section 1)
Gang	River (e.g. Hangang/Han River)
Gangdang	Lecture hall or auditorium
Geumdang	“Golden Hall,” main hall of worship in a Buddhist monastery
Gidan	Foundations of a house
Gil	Small street (e.g. Garosul-gil)
Gisaeng	In traditional Korean culture, the gisaeng (pronounced “ki seng”) are professional female entertainers (singers and dancers).
Gu	District (e.g. Jongno-gu)
Gul	Cave (e.g. Hwanseongul/ Hwanseon Cave)
Gun	County (e.g. Gijang-gun/ Gijang County)
Gung	Palace (e.g. Gyeongbokgung/ Gyeongbok Palace)
Gyo	Bridge (e.g. Janghwagyo/ Janghwa Bridge)
Haetae	Mythical creatures (unicorn-lions) that offer protection against the elements. They can judge right from wrong and good from bad.
Hallyu	The Korean “wave,” the spread of South Korean popular culture overseas.
Hanbok	Traditional Korean costume
Hanok	Traditional Korean house
Ho	Lake (e.g. Bomunho/ Bomun Lake)
Hyanggyo	Local Confucian school which includes a temple dedicated to Confucius and his disciples
Iljumun	One of the three gates through which you pass when entering a Buddhist temple. Its columns are aligned in a single row, so when viewed from the side, a single pillar is visible, and this should enlighten the viewer about the basis for the unity of soul.
Jangseung	Wooden male or female totems supposedly intended to ward off evil spirits
Jeon	Main hall (building, throne hall, or principal hall of worship) in temples and palaces
Jeongja	Type of pavilion with an elevated wooden floor, commanding a fine view of the surrounding landscape
Jjimjilbang	Korean sauna or bathhouse
Jingyeong Sansu	“True scenery” or “true- view landscape,” a Korean style of painting pioneered by Jeong Seon (1676–1759) with scenes of Geumgangsan (Diamond Mountains)
Kan (or gan)	Distance between two pillars
Man	Bay (e.g. Suncheonman/ Suncheon Bay)
Maru	Floor made of thick raised boards, used mainly in summer. The wooden floor space was built high above ground in southern areas where the climate is hot and humid. Adopted in northern areas also.
Minbak	Bed and breakfast accommodation
Mun	Gate (e.g. Dongdaemun/ Dongdae Gate)
Myeon	Administrative division (rural); township
Myo	Shrine (e.g. Jongmyo/ Jong Shrine)
Nam	South (e.g. Namsan/ South Mountain)
Oncheon	Hot spring
Ondol	A system of heating through direct heat transfer from the fireplace in the kitchen to the underside of a thick masonry floor. Stones covered with greased paper form the floor and distribute heat. This heating system dates back to Neolithic times.
Pansori	A genre of dramatic narrative song or story-singing, sometimes called Korean folk opera
Pojangmacha	Mobile food/drink stalls set up in the streets, operating during the day and at night
Pokpo	Waterfall (e.g. Yukdam Pokpo/ Yukdam Waterfall)
Ri	Village (e.g. Aewol-ri/ Aewol Village)
Sa	Buddhist temple (e.g. Jikjisa/ Jikji Temple)
Samulnori	Traditional Korean percussion quartet
San	Mountain (e.g. Bukhansan/ Mt. Bukhan)
Sansin	God of the mountain
Sarangchae	Building reserved for men in aristocratic houses, sometimes with several sarangbang (rooms reserved specifically for men and used for leisure activities).
Sari	Relics of Buddha or a monk
Seo	West (e.g. Seodaemun/ Great West Gate)
Seodang	Private village schools that provided elementary education during the Goryeo (918–1392) and Joseon dynasties (1392–1910). Led by the “hunjang” or headmaster.
Seohak	Introduction of Catholicism, Western doctrines and ideas in the 18C
Seoktap	Stone pagoda
Seong	Fortress (e.g. Bukhansanseong/ Bukhansan Fortress)
Si/Shi	City (e.g. Jeju-si/Jeju City)
Ssireum	Traditional Korean wrestling and national sport of Korea
Tap	Pagoda or stupa
Up/eup	Town
Yangban	High-ranking aristocratic official of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
Yeogwan	Motel-style accommodation, usually cheaper than motels

Food and Drink

Banchan	Small plates or side dishes of vegetables, kimchi, noodles, etc. They are shared by diners and sometimes eaten prior to the main course.
Bap	Cooked rice or, in the broader sense, all food made by boiling grains in water
Bindaetteok	“Pauper’s cake.” A pancake made with ground mung beans.
Bokkeumbap	Fried rice (often with kimchi)
Bossam (suyuk)	Steamed pork served in thin slices in Chinese cabbage wraps
Bulgogi	Grilled marinated beef
Dakbokkeumtang	Spicy chicken stew with potatoes
Dakgalbi	Spicy grilled chicken with hot sauce, cabbage, sweet potatoes, onions, etc.
Doenjang	Fermented soybean paste used in casseroles or mixed with fresh mountain herbs.
Dolssambap	rice, vegetables, egg served in a sizzling hot bowl or pot
Dolsot bibimbap	Set menu served with rice cooked in a hot stone pot
Dotorimuk	Acorn jelly
Galbitang	Beef rib soup
Gamjatang	Pork backbone soup served with potatoes and vegetables
Galbi	Grilled beef
Galbijjim	Braised short ribs (beef or pork) with slightly sweet soy
Ganjang	Soy sauce
Gimbap	Rolls of rice, omelet, radishes, etc., wrapped in a sheet of seaweed and eaten as a snack
Gyeongju bbang	Local sweet filled with bean paste
Haejangguk	Soup eaten mostly as a hangover remedy, made of tripe and ox blood
Haemultang	Spicy seafood soup
Hangwa	Traditional confectionery made from honey
Hanjeongsik	Banquet table: a meal composed of countless small dishes
Hansik	Korean cuisine
Hoe	Raw fish
Hotteok	Small pancake stuffed with sugar syrup and crushed nuts
Injeolmi	Rice cakes
Insam	Ginseng
Jajangmyeon	Noodles with black bean sauce
Jang	Condiments
Jangajji	Pickled vegetables, roots, and fruits in fermented soy sauce, chili sauce or doenjang
Japchae	Glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables
Jeonbok-juk	Rice porridge with abalone
Jeotgal	Salted seafood
Jokbal	Glazed pig’s feet
Kalguksu	Home-style noodle soup made of wheat flour noodles flattened, cut by hand and usually cooked in broth with clams/other seafood and zucchini
Kimchi	Pickled, fermented vegetables (often Korean white cabbage), salted and seasoned
Kimchi jjigae	Kimchi cabbage stew.
Kongnamulgukbap	Rice served in a broth with bean sprouts
Maeuntang	Spicy fish soup
Makgeolli	Lightly fizzy rice wine
Mandu	Dumplings
Naengmyeon	Chilled buckwheat noodle soup
Nakji bokkeum	Stir-fried baby octopus with various seasonings
Namul	Side dishes of vegetables or wild leafy greens
Pajeon	Green onion and seafood pancakes
Pondegi	Boiled silkworm larvae
Ramyeon	Instant noodles, the equivalent of Japanese ramen, popular eaten as a snack
Samgyetang	Chicken soup with ginseng
Seolleongtang	Milky soup made from a cow’s bones and organs and beef shank, simmered over a long period
Sikhye	Cold sugary drink made of fermented rice
Ssambap	Rice with various leafy vegetables, cooked or fresh
Soondae	Korean blood sausage, often stuffed with clear rice noodles
Suyuk	Boiled meat cut into slices
Tteokbokki	Stir-fried rice cakes with vegetables in red pepper paste or soy sauce. A very popular street snack.
Twigim	Deep-fried food, including seafood, meat and vegetables

Romanization

The Korean Hangeul script was first romanized in the 1930s, making it easier for those accustomed to Western alphabets to read signs and find their way around. The system was revised by the government in 2000 to improve consistency, but the changes were met with some resistance, and the names of some towns, streets, hotels, restaurants, etc. are still commonly written using the old system. The result is a variation in spelling that can be very confusing for the visitor. The old system also used apostrophes and accents, which the new system has dispensed with.

Here is a list of the basic changes, which hopefully will explain some of the variation in spellings you will see.

ch – changed to j (Cheju became Jeju)

ch’ – changed to ch (Ch’ungju became Chungju)

k – changed to g (Kwangju became Gwangju)

p – changed to b (Pusan became Busan)

p’ – changed to p (Kimp’o became Gimpo)

sh – changed to s (shi became si, city)

t – changed to d (Taegu became Daegu)

t’ – changed to t (T’aean became Taean)

õ – changed to eo (Chõsun became Joseon)

ŭ – changed to eu