Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 배터리 | baeteori | [pɛtʰʌ̹ɾi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [pe̞tʰʌ̹ɾi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 전지 | jeonji | [ˈt͡ɕɘ(ː)ɲd͡ʑi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to a device that stores electricity. You can use the phrase 배터리가 없어요 to indicate that a battery is dead or that there is no battery available. Additionally, 배터리가 빨리 닳지 않을까요? is used to ask if a battery will die quickly.
Which one should you use?
배터리 is a common loanword from English used in daily life. In contrast, 전지 is a more technical or formal term, often used in scientific or industrial contexts to refer to an electric cell or dry cell. Another formal term, 건전지, is specifically used to describe dry-cell batteries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The loanword 배터리 functions as a standard noun and follows regular Korean noun declension and particle attachment rules.
How do you pronounce it?
baeteori
What mistakes should you avoid?
In casual conversation, you might hear the colloquial phrase 배터리가 다 됐어 to mean the battery is dead or depleted.
Did you know?
- While 배터리 is used for electronics, the term 배터리 is also used in Korean baseball to refer to the combination of a pitcher and a catcher.
- The word 전지 is a homonym in Korean and can also mean 'whole paper' or 'full sheet' depending on the Chinese characters used.
- The technical term 전지 literally translates to 'electric reservoir', combining the characters for 'electricity' and 'pond'.
Examples in context
- 배터리가 방전됐어.The battery gave out.This sentence is useful for describing a battery that has given out using 배터리.Tatoeba #13248434 by qiwiwi, translation #35147 by CK
- 라디오의 배터리를 바꾸다To change the radio batteryThis sentence shows how to use 배터리 when talking about changing a battery in a radio.
- 전지를 사고 싶어요I want to buy a battery.
- 배터리를 교체해야 해I have to replace the battery.
- 마우스의 배터리가 없어요. 어디서 사야 하나요?The mouse battery is dead. Where can I buy one?
- 새 배터리가 필요해요.sae baeteriga pil-yohaeyo.I need a new battery.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon and Jieun are checking their phone power while traveling.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은 씨, 휴대폰 배터리가 얼마나 남았어요?Jieun ssi, hyudaepon baeteriga eolmana namasseoyo?Jieun, how much battery is left on your phone?
- 지은 Ji-eun거의 없어요. 충전기가 필요할 것 같아요.Geoui eopseoyo. chungjeongi piryohal geot gatayo.There is almost none. I think I will need a charger.
- 지훈 Ji-hun제 보조 배터리를 빌려줄까요?Je bojo baeterireul billyeojulkkayo?Shall I lend you my power bank?
- 지은 Ji-eun정말요? 고마워요, 지훈 씨.Jeongmallyo? Gomawoyo, Jihoon ssi.Really? Thank you, Jihoon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “battery” translations and entries 배터리, 전지, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 배터리, 전지, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
