새
sae[sʰɛ(ː)]
The English word "bird" is translated into Korean as 새 (sae).
Meaning: animal (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Jeju dialect, the word for bird is 쮜.
How do you pronounce it?
sae
Did you know?
- The Korean word 새 may be related to the Japanese word さぎ 'sagi', which means 'heron' or 'egret'.
- The word 새 can also be a contraction of the word 사이, which means 'gap' or 'space between'.
Examples in context
- 새는 날 수 있다.A bird can fly.This sentence shows that 새 is the subject of the ability to fly.Tatoeba #11106362 by intertime, translation #812362 by Zaphod
- 극제비갈매기라는 새를 들어 본 적 있습니까?Have you heard of a bird called the Arctic Tern?This sentence uses 새 when asking if someone has heard of a specific type of bird.Tatoeba #8026882 by yesjustryan, translation #70129 by CM
- 남자에게 날개가 있었다면, 그는 새처럼 날았을 것이다.If man had wings, he would fly as a bird.This sentence uses 새 to compare how a man would fly if he were a bird.Tatoeba #13118518 by romzzo, translation #1748853 by Djef_Messaoudi
- 나는 새를 사랑해.I love birds.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin and Dohyun are walking in a park.
- 수빈 Su-bin저기 예쁜 새가 있어요.jeogi yeppeun saega isseoyo.There is a pretty bird over there.
- 도현 Do-hyeon정말 작고 귀여운 새네요.jeongmal jakgo gwiyeoun saeneyo.It is a really small and cute bird.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현 씨, 저 새 좀 보세요.Dohyun ssi, jeo sae jom boseyo.Dohyun, look at that bird.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 정말 아름답네요.ne, jeongmal areumdapneyo.Yes, it is truly beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bird” translations and entries 새, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 새, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
