뇌
noe[nwe̞(ː)]
The English word 'brain' is translated into Korean as 뇌 (noe). Wiktionary also lists 뇌수 (noesu) and 두뇌 (dunoe).
Meaning: organ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 뇌 | noe | [nwe̞(ː)] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [nø̞(ː)] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 뇌수 | noesu | [nwe̞sʰu] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [nø̞sʰu] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 두뇌 | dunoe | [tunwe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [tunø̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 골 | gol | [ko̞(ː)ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ko̞ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 머릿골 | meoritgol | [mʌ̹ɾit̚k͈o̞ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
뇌 is the standard term used in educational or scientific discussions. In everyday speech, 머리, which usually translates to head, is commonly used to represent the idea of the brain.
Which one should you use?
While 뇌 refers to the physical organ, 두뇌 is often used in a more formal or metaphorical sense to refer to one's intellect or mental capacity. The term 뇌수 refers specifically to the fluid or the substance within the brain, rather than the organ as a whole.
How do you pronounce it?
noe
Did you know?
- Because the word 뇌 can be written with different Chinese characters, it can also mean 'anger' depending on the context. This makes the spelling a potential source of confusion in written texts.
- Koreans use the phrase 머리를 쓰다, which literally means 'to use one's head', to describe the act of thinking hard or strategizing.
- The term 골 can be related to the word for 'bone' in Sino-Korean, reflecting an old conceptual link between the brain and the skeletal structure of the head.
Examples in context
- 의사가 나더러 뇌 종양이 있대.The doctor said I have a brain tumor.This sentence shows how to use 뇌 when discussing a medical condition like a tumor.Tatoeba #8365721 by Eunhee, translation #6660825 by CK
- 뇌를 이식하는 게 정말로 가능해?Is it really possible to do a brain transplant?This sentence uses 뇌 in the context of a medical procedure like a transplant.Tatoeba #8365752 by Eunhee, translation #2396222 by CK
- 그 사람의 뇌 안에 혈관이 터졌어.A blood vessel burst inside his brain.This sentence illustrates the use of 뇌 when describing a physical event inside the organ.Tatoeba #8365733 by Eunhee, translation #807311 by Source_VOA
- 저는 과학적 연구에 관심이 많아요, 그래서 뇌과학을 공부하고 있어요.I am interested in scientific research, so I am studying neuroscience.
- 제가 오늘 강의에서 배운 내용을 머리에 담아야겠어요.I need to keep today's lecture in my head.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Subin are watching a science documentary.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo사람의 뇌는 정말 복잡해.Saram-ui noe-neun jeongmal bokjap-hae.The human brain is really complex.
- 수빈 Su-bin맞아, 뇌의 구조는 신기해.Maja, noe-ui gujo-neun singi-hae.Right, the structure of the brain is amazing.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo뇌가 어떻게 작동하는지 궁금해.Noe-ga eotteoke jakdong-haneunji gunggeum-hae.I wonder how the brain works.
- 수빈 Su-bin나도 뇌 과학에 관심이 많아.Nado noe gwahak-e gwansim-i man-a.I'm also very interested in brain science.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brain” translations and entries 뇌, 뇌수, 두뇌, 골, 머릿골, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 골, 뇌, 뇌수, 두뇌, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
