{"id":80566,"date":"2020-07-08T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2020-07-08T14:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/body-parts-in-korean\/"},"modified":"2025-02-04T04:58:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T09:58:28","slug":"body-parts-in-korean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/body-parts-in-korean\/","title":{"rendered":"Body Parts in Korean [Lesson and Quiz]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Want to learn to talk about bodies and body parts in Korean?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We’ve included fun facts, mnemonic devices and Korean cultural tidbits<\/strong> to help you learn and memorize 60 of the most common Korean words for parts of the body.<\/p>\n

Plus, we\u2019ll look at some of the ways you can make use of this vocabulary in everyday life.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Most Common Body Parts in Korean<\/h2>\n

1. \uba38\ub9ac (meo-ri)<\/em> \u2014 Head<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Okay, let\u2019s start from the top with the head or \uba38\ub9ac<\/strong> (meo-ri).<\/em><\/p>\n

It contains the face or \uc5bc\uad74<\/strong> (eol-gul),<\/em> with all the other parts we\u2019re going to talk about, like the eyes, ears and nose.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, \uba38\ub9ac<\/strong> (\u201cmeo-ri\u201d)<\/em> can also refer to hair. Koreans refer to both head and hair as \uba38\ub9ac<\/strong> (meo-ri)<\/em> and you need to listen for context to get what\u2019s actually meant. But if you just want a different word for hair, you can say \uba38\ub9ac\uce74\ub77d<\/strong> (meo-ri-ka-rak).<\/em><\/p>\n

2. \ub208 (nun)<\/em> \u2014 Eye<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Plastic surgery is very common and socially accepted in South Korea. One of the most common procedures is known as \u201cblepharoplasty\u201d or double eyelid surgery which makes the \ub208<\/strong> (nun)<\/em> look bigger. A number of K-pop stars are known to have undergone the procedure.<\/p>\n

3. \ucf54 (ko)<\/em> \u2014 Nose<\/h3>\n

\"Close-up<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not official nor very scientific, but drama fans and plastic surgeons alike have picked (pun intended) Song Hye Kyo<\/a> as having the most perfect Korean nose. She\u2019s that talented actress<\/a> who played the doctor in the drama \u201cDescendants of the Sun<\/a>.\u201d She also played roles in movies like \u201cA Reason To Live\u201d and \u201cThe Queens.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. \uadc0 (gwi)<\/em> \u2014 Ear<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Next we go to your ears, which is \uadc0<\/strong> (gwi)<\/em> in Korean.<\/p>\n

Have you heard (again, pun intended) about this new wellness trend called ear seeding<\/a>? It\u2019s acupuncture for the \uadc0<\/strong> (gwi).<\/em> The idea is that different areas of our ears correspond to different areas of the body. By using tiny \u201cseeds\u201d to stimulate different pressure points in the ears, you\u2019re doing good to those parts of the body.<\/p>\n

Korean celebrities have taken to \u201cear seeding\u201d and there are shops in the most exclusive corners of Seoul that specialize in this kind of service.<\/p>\n

5. \uc785 (ip)<\/em> \u2014 Mouth<\/h3>\n

\"Close-up<\/p>\n

Outside your \uc785 (ip),<\/em> you have your lips or your \uc785\uc220 (ip-sul).<\/em> Inside you have the tongue and teeth which are \ud600 (hyeo)<\/em> and \uc774 (ee)<\/em> respectively in Korean.<\/p>\n

While we\u2019re on the topic, in order to properly pronounce words in Korean, you have to put more focus on the front half of your tongue. With English, you use all the different parts of the tongue\u2014from the tip, to the middle and the back\u2014to produce sounds. But in Korean, the tongue moves relatively little. And when it does, most sounds are focused on the front part of the tongue. Just a tip! (Yes, that’s another pun.)<\/p>\n

6. \ubaa9 (mok)<\/em> \u2014 Neck<\/h3>\n

\"Close-up<\/p>\n

\ubaa9<\/strong> (mok)<\/em> or the neck holds up everything that we\u2019ve talked about so far, connecting it to the rest of the body.<\/p>\n

7. \uc5b4\uae68 (eo-kkae)<\/em> \u2014 Shoulder<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Somebody giving you the \u201ccold shoulder?\u201d Maybe it\u2019s your dad who didn\u2019t receive a card on his birthday or a friend who you forgot to text last weekend.<\/p>\n

8. \ud314 (pal)<\/em> \u2014 Arm<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

You hug, you high five, you pat on the back. All these things you do with your arms, and all these things you do to a friend…a \u201cpal.\u201d And \ud314<\/strong> (pal)<\/em> is the Korean word for \u201carm.\u201d<\/p>\n

9. \uac00\uc2b4 (ga-seum)<\/em> \u2014 Chest<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Native speakers use \uac00\uc2b4<\/strong> (ga-seum)<\/em>\u00a0to mean chest, breast or heart.<\/p>\n

If you want to refer specifically to breasts, as in mammalian source of nourishment, you can say \uc720\ubc29<\/strong> (yu-bang).<\/em><\/p>\n

10. \ub4f1 (deung)<\/em> \u2014 Back<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s not focus too much on the front, there\u2019s a huge canvas that\u2019ll show itself if you just do a 180\u00b0 turn. It\u2019s your \ub4f1<\/strong> (deung)<\/em> or back.<\/p>\n

11. \uc606\uad6c\ub9ac (yeop-gu-ri)<\/em> \u2014 Side<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

What’s between the front and the back? The side of the torso, of course.<\/p>\n

12. \ubc30 (bae)<\/em> \u2014 Stomach<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

It can be flat, full, round or paunchy. These are words that can describe your stomach, belly or tummy. And the Korean word for it is \ubc30<\/strong> (bae).<\/em><\/p>\n

13. \ud5c8\ub9ac (heo-ri)<\/em> \u2014 Waist<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Kpop idol Mina of AOA is reputed to have one of the smallest waists in the industry. Coming in at 17.9 inches, her \ud5c8\ub9ac<\/strong> (heo-ri)<\/em> is the perfect example of the Korean expression \uac1c\ubbf8 \ud5c8\ub9ac (Gae-mi heo-ri)<\/em> or \u201cant waist.\u201d<\/p>\n

14. \uc5c9\ub369\uc774 (eong-deong-i)<\/em> \u2014 Buttocks<\/h3>\n

\"Buttocks<\/p>\n

Call it buttocks, bum, backside or behind, but whatever name you give it, \uc5c9\ub369\uc774<\/strong> (eong-deong-i)<\/em> are appreciated and prized for their posterior beauty. Many celebrities consider it their main claim to fame. People<\/a> has even reported that along with other parts of the body, buttocks are insured by celebrities. J. Lo is reported to have insured hers for a sum of $27 million dollars.<\/p>\n

15. \ub2e4\ub9ac (da-ri)<\/em> \u2014 Leg<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Legs or \ub2e4\ub9ac<\/strong> (da-ri)<\/em> form the lower section of the human anatomy. Our legs take us places, allowing us to walk, march, stride, amble, jump, skip or hop from one place to another.<\/p>\n

16. \ud5c8\ubc85\uc9c0 (heo-beok-ji)<\/em> \u2014 Thigh<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

You can find the \ud5c8\ubc85\uc9c0<\/strong> (heo-beok-ji)<\/em> on the upper part of the legs.<\/p>\n

All this talk of “legs,” “thighs,” and “breasts” has me thinking of fried chicken. In fact, the words for the human body parts are the very same words you’d find on a Korean chimaek<\/em> menu. \u201cChimaek<\/a>,\u201d<\/em> \uce58\ub9e5, <\/strong>is a combo of the Korean words for chicken, \uce58<\/strong>\ud0a8 (chi-kin),<\/em> and beer, \ub9e5<\/strong>\uc8fc (maek-ju).<\/em><\/p>\n

To say that Korea is obsessed with chicken is a huge understatement. It’s probably the country with the densest concentration of chimaek<\/em> joints in the world. Chicken restaurants exploded after the Korea-Japan 2002 World Cup, when Korean spectators, watching the large public screenings, would eat chicken and chug beer while cheering their team to victory.<\/p>\n

So, now you have another great reason to brush up on Korean body parts\u2014ordering some of that delicious chicken in Korean.<\/p>\n

17. \ubb34\ub98e (mu-reup)<\/em> \u2014 Knee<\/h3>\n

\"Close-up<\/p>\n

\ubb34\ub98e<\/strong> (mu-reup)<\/em> can be found in the middle of the leg.<\/p>\n

Kneeling is a traditional part of Korean culture<\/a>. For example, on New Year\u2019s Day, sons and daughters ceremonially kneel and bow in front of their parents to wish them prosperity and health. Kneeling and bowing is a sign of humility and respect. For serious offenses, or to show deep contrition for a mistake, one can kneel and bow and ask for forgiveness.<\/p>\n

18. \ubc1c\u00a0(bal)<\/em> \u2014 Foot<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

To help you remember \ubc1c<\/strong> (bal),<\/em> you need to remember that your foot helps to bal<\/strong>ance. Your foot is also what you use to do bal<\/strong>let. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to run and play basketbal<\/strong>l or any sport.<\/p>\n

19. \ud53c\ubd80 (pi-bu)<\/em> \u2014 Skin<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Korean \ud53c\ubd80<\/strong> (pi-bu)<\/em> is renowned the world over. Koreans have been famous for having smooth, bright, flawless, almost pore-free skin. People have been asking, \u201cHow do you get Korean skin?\u201d (The answer: Have Korean parents.)<\/p>\n

The Korean cosmetics industry, nonetheless, has tried to share its secret with the world, and so we have wave after wave of Korean beauty products and skincare regimens and routines<\/a> guaranteed to give one that K-pop sheen.<\/p>\n

20. \ubf08 (ppyeo)<\/em> \u2014 Bone<\/h3>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Many of the parts we\u2019ve talked about will turn to mush without the \ubf08<\/strong> (ppyeo)<\/em> or bone.<\/p>\n

Other Body-related Korean Vocabulary<\/h2>\n

Beyond the main 20 body parts in Korean you just learned, sometimes you’ll have to be a little more specific (and also more general, like knowing the word for “body”). Check out this list for even more useful body-related vocabulary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>Korean<\/th>Romanization<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Body<\/td> \ubab8 <\/a>\n <\/td>Mom<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hands<\/td> \uc190 <\/a>\n <\/td>Son<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hips<\/td> \uc5c9\ub369\uc774 <\/a>\n <\/td>Eong-deong-i<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hair<\/td> \uba38\ub9ac\uce74\ub77d <\/a>\n <\/td>Meori-karak<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eyebrows<\/td> \ub208\uc379 <\/a>\n <\/td>Nuns-seop<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fingers<\/td> \uc190\uac00\ub77d <\/a>\n <\/td>Son-garak<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wrists<\/td> \uc190\ubaa9 <\/a>\n <\/td>Son-mok<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Palms<\/td> \uc190\ubc14\ub2e5 <\/a>\n <\/td>Son-badak<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Back of the Hand<\/td> \uc190\ub4f1 <\/a>\n <\/td>Son-deung<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fingernails<\/td> \uc190\ud1b1 <\/a>\n <\/td>Son-top<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wrist<\/td> \uc190\ubaa9 <\/a>\n <\/td>Son-mok<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fingernails<\/td> \uc190\uac00\ub77d\ud1b1 <\/a>\n <\/td>Son-garak-top<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Toes<\/td> \ubc1c\uac00\ub77d <\/a>\n <\/td>Bal-garak<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ankles<\/td> \ubc1c\ubaa9 <\/a>\n <\/td>Bal-mok<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Soles<\/td> \ubc1c\ubc14\ub2e5 <\/a>\n <\/td>Bal-badak<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Top of the Foot<\/td> \ubc1c\ub4f1 <\/a>\n <\/td>Bal-deung<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nails (on toes)<\/td> \ubc1c\ud1b1 <\/a>\n <\/td>Bal-top<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Heels<\/td> \ubb34\ub98e\ub4a4\uafc8\uce58 <\/a>\n <\/td>Mureup-dwik-kum-chi<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Heel (of the foot)<\/td> \ubb34\ub98e\uafc8\uce58 <\/a>\n <\/td>Mureup-kkum-chi<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Face<\/td> \uc5bc\uad74 <\/a>\n <\/td>Eol-gul<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cheeks<\/td> \ubea8 <\/a>\n <\/td>Ppeom<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chin<\/td> \ud131 <\/a>\n <\/td>Teok<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lips<\/td> \uc785\uc220 <\/a>\n <\/td>Ip-sul<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tongue<\/td> \ud600 <\/a>\n <\/td>Hyeo<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Teeth<\/td> \uc774 <\/a>\n <\/td>I<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Muscles<\/td> \uadfc\uc721 <\/a>\n <\/td>Geun-yuk<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Heart<\/td> \uc2ec\uc7a5 <\/a>\n <\/td>Sim-jang<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Liver<\/td> \uac04 <\/a>\n <\/td>Gan<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kidneys<\/td> \uc2e0\uc7a5 <\/a>\n <\/td>Sin-jang<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stomach (organ)<\/td> \uc704 <\/a>\n <\/td>Wi<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Intestines<\/td> \uc7a5 <\/a>\n <\/td>Jang<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blood<\/td> \ud53c <\/a>\n <\/td>Pi<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brain<\/td> \ub1cc <\/a>\n <\/td>Noe<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Skull<\/td> \ub450\uac1c\uace8 <\/a>\n <\/td>Du-gae-gol<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lungs<\/td> \ud3d0 <\/a>\n <\/td>Pyae<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Veins<\/td> \uc815\ub9e5 <\/a>\n <\/td>Jeong-maek<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Using Korean Body Parts Vocabulary in the Real World<\/h2>\n

Why bother learning Korean body part vocabulary, anyway?<\/p>\n

Well, there are different situations where your knowledge of the human body can be put to good use. Here are a few:<\/p>\n

Giving Compliments<\/h3>\n

While it\u2019s not always necessary to focus on the physical when complimenting another, you can easily make a person\u2019s day by pointing out their pretty eyes or gorgeous hair.<\/p>\n

But instead of the generic\u00a0\uc544\ub984\ub2e4\uc6b0\uc2dc\ub124\uc694 (A-reum-da-woo-si-neyo)<\/em> which means \u201cYou are beautiful,\u201d you can be more specific and say something like:<\/p>\n

\ub208\uc774 \ucc38 \uc608\ubed0\uc694 (Nun-i cham ye-ppeo-yo)<\/em> \u2014 Your eyes are pretty.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\uba38\ub9ac\uac00 \uc544\uc8fc \uc608\ubed0\uc694 (Meo-li-ga a-ju ye-ppeo-yo)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Your hair is pretty.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To hear these words and phrases in context in genuine Korean authentic videos, consider looking them up on FluentU<\/a>.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

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