등
deung[tɯŋ]
The English word 'back' can be translated into Korean as 등 (deung) when referring to the rear of the body.
The word 등 is specifically used to denote the anatomical back of a person or an animal. If you want to express 'back' in a more general sense, such as the backside of an object or a general direction, you should use 뒤. To emphasize the direction of 'back', you can use 뒤쪽. To say someone is 'at the back', use 뒤에 or to say 'behind', use 뒤로. If you are talking about returning or coming back, you might use the phrase 오랜만에 돌아오다 to mention someone returning after a long time or the formal term 복귀하다 to express returning in professional settings.
Meaning: the rear of body (noun)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between anatomical and spatial uses: 등 refers specifically to the anatomical back of a body, while 뒤 is the general noun used for the back or rear of objects, locations or positions.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
deung
Did you know?
- The word 등 is used as a grammatical marker to mean 'and others' or 'etcetera' after a list of items. This usage is completely unrelated to the anatomical 'back'.
- While 등 means 'back', it is also a homonym for the Sino-Korean word for 'lantern' or 'lamp'. This means the same sound can refer to a body part or a source of light depending on the context.
- In Korean, the word 등 is used in the idiom 등을 돌리다, which means to turn one's back on someone. It is used not just physically but to describe betraying someone or cutting off a relationship.
Examples in context
- 뒷자리에 앉아주세요Sit at the back
- 집으로 돌아갈게요I will go back home
- 사무실로 돌아가겠습니다I will go back to the office
- 오랜만에 친구가 돌아왔어요My friend has come back after a long time
- 등이 아파요.deuri apayo.My back hurts.
- 등에 가방을 메고 있어요.deunge gabang-eul mego isseoyo.He is wearing a bag on his back.
- 등이 정말 넓네요.deuri jeongmal neolpneyo.Your back is really broad.
Example conversation
At a gym where Do-hyun is lifting weights.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 등이 정말 넓어요!Dohyeon ssi, deuri jeongmal neolpeoyo!Do-hyun, your back is really broad!
- 도현 Do-hyeon고마워요, 서연 씨.Gomawoyo, Seoyeon ssi.Thank you, Seo-yeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon운동을 많이 하나 봐요.Undong-eul mani hana bwayo.You must exercise a lot.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 요즘 열심히 하고 있어요.Ne, yojeum yeolsimhi hago isseoyo.Yes, I am working hard lately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “back” translations and entries 등, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 등, CC BY-SA 4.0.
