사고
sago[ˈsʰa̠(ː)ɡo̞]
The English word 'accident' is translated into Korean as 사고 (sago).
사고 refers to an unexpected event with negative consequences. It is used for various types of accidents, including traffic accidents, industrial accidents and unexpected mishaps.
Meaning: unexpected event with negative consequences (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
sago
Did you know?
- The word 사고 can also mean 'thought' or 'thinking' depending on the Hanja used. In a conversation about a car crash, 사고 refers to a mishap, but in a classroom, it refers to a mental process.
- Koreans use the word 사고치다 to describe someone who 'caused an accident' in a metaphorical sense, such as getting into trouble or making a big mistake in their personal life.
- In certain contexts, the sound 사고 can be confused with the verb 'to buy' followed by a connective particle. For example, 사고 싶다 means 'want to buy', which sounds similar to the noun for 'accident'.
Examples in context
- 사고의 원인은 알려지지 않았어.The cause of the accident is unknown.This sentence is useful for discussing the cause of an 사고.Tatoeba #8386666 by Eunhee, translation #263708 by CK
- 사고가 벌어졌다.There's been an accident.This sentence is useful for stating that an 사고 has occurred.Tatoeba #11104735 by intertime, translation #263667 by CK
- 이 기사를 읽는것만으로도 그 사고가 얼마나 심각했는지 알 수 있다.You have only to read this article to see how serious the accident was.This sentence is useful for describing the severity of an 사고.Tatoeba #2885798 by cueyayotl, translation #47207 by CM
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minji tells Jihun about a traffic jam on the news.
- 민지 Min-ji뉴스 봤어? 큰 사고가 났대.nyuseu bwasseo? keun sagoga natdae.Did you see the news? I heard there was a big accident.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말? 그래서 길이 막히는구나.jeongmal? geuraeseo giri makhineunguna.Really? That's why the road is blocked.
- 민지 Min-ji응, 사고 때문에 차들이 못 움직여.eung, sago ttaemune chadeuri mot umeugyeo.Yes, the cars can't move because of the accident.
- 지훈 Ji-hun사람들이 많이 안 다쳤으면 좋겠다.saramdeuri mani an dachyeosseumyeon joketda.I hope many people weren't hurt.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “accident” translations and entries 사고, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 사고, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
