구급차
gugeupcha[ˈku(ː)ɡɯp̚t͡ɕʰa̠]
The Korean word for ambulance is 구급차 (gugeupcha). Wiktionary also lists 앰뷸런스 (aembyulleonseu).
Meaning: emergency vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 구급차 | gugeupcha | [ˈku(ː)ɡɯp̚t͡ɕʰa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 앰뷸런스 | aembyulleonseu | [ɛmbjuɭɭʌ̹ns͈ɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [e̞mbjuɭɭʌ̹ns͈ɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to an emergency vehicle used to transport patients.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 구급차 is a compound consisting of 구급, meaning emergency or first aid and 차, meaning car or vehicle.
Which one should you use?
구급차 is the standard term used in formal contexts, while 앰뷸런스 is a transliterated loanword from English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
구급차 is the preferred term for news reports, official documents and formal speech. In casual spoken Korean, the loanword 앰뷸런스 is commonly used.
How do you pronounce it?
gugeupcha
Did you know?
- In South Korea, the emergency number to call a 구급차 is 119, which is the same number used for reporting fires.
- If you are watching a Korean medical drama, you will often hear characters shout 앰뷸런스! instead of the more 'correct' Sino-Korean 구급차 to increase the sense of frantic realism.
- The character 차 in 구급차 is so versatile that it is also the word for 'tea', though they are written with different characters in Hanja.
Examples in context
- 구급차 불러 주세요!Please call an ambulance.This sentence is useful for learning how to request an ambulance using 구급차.Tatoeba #13169337 by atitarev, translation #4571886 by CK
- 길가에 구급차가 서 있어요.gil-ga-e gu-geup-cha-ga seo is-seo-yo.An ambulance is parked on the roadside.
- 구급차가 빠르게 지나가요.gu-geup-cha-ga ppal-reu-ge ji-na-ga-yo.An ambulance is passing by quickly.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji see a car accident on the street.
- 민준 Min-jun저기 사고가 났어요!jeo-gi sa-go-ga nat-eo-yo!There's an accident over there!
- 민지 Min-ji빨리 구급차를 불러야겠어요.ppal-li gu-geup-cha-reul bul-leo-ya-get-eo-yo.We need to call an ambulance quickly.
- 민준 Min-jun제가 지금 전화할게요.je-ga ji-geum jeon-hwa-hal-ge-yo.I will call right now.
- 민지 Min-ji네, 민준 씨, 빨리 해주세요.ne, Min-jun ssi, ppal-li hae-ju-se-yo.Yes, Minjun, please do it quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ambulance” translations and entries 구급차, 앰뷸런스, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
