개미
gaemi[ˈkɛ(ː)mi]
The Korean word for ant is 개미 (gaemi).
개미 refers to the insect known as an ant.
Meaning: insect (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
gaemi
Did you know?
- In modern Korean slang, 개미 is used to describe individual retail investors who follow the lead of large institutional investors, often implying they are small but numerous.
- The word 개미 is used in the term 개미지옥, which literally means 'ant lion's pit' but is used metaphorically to describe a place or situation that is impossible to escape.
- In some regional dialects, words sounding similar to 개미 are used to describe a certain 'charm' or 'taste' in food and personality.
Examples in context
- 개미 구멍이 둑을 무너뜨릴 수도 있다.An ant hole can bring down a river bank.This sentence shows how a hole made by a 개미 can cause structural damage.Tatoeba #2655664 by KoreanBeaver, translation #8034317 by yesjustryan
- 개미처럼 부지런하다(Metaphorical) as hardworking as an antThis sentence uses 개미 as a metaphor for being hardworking.
- 개미를 봤습니다I saw an ant
- 이 개미가 정말 작아요This ant is really small
- 이 개미는 작아서 거의 보이지 않아요.This ant is so small that it's hardly visible.
- 더 작은 개미A smaller ant
- 제일 작은 개미The smallest ant
- 길에 개미가 있어요.gil-e gaemi-ga isseo-yo.There is an ant on the road.
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Ji-hun are walking in a park.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 저기 개미 좀 보세요.Ji-hun ssi, jeo-gi gaemi jom bo-se-yo.Ji-hun, look at that ant over there.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 작은 개미네요.Jeong-mal ja-geun gaemi-ne-yo.It really is a small ant.
- 지은 Ji-eun개미가 줄지어 가고 있어요.Gaemi-ga jul-ji-eo ga-go is-seo-yo.The ants are walking in a line.
- 지훈 Ji-hun부지런한 개미들이군요.Bu-ji-reon gaemi-deul-i-gun-yo.They are industrious ants.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ant” translations and entries 개미, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
