아침, 점심, 저녁
achim, jeomsim, jeonyeok
To say breakfast, lunch and dinner in Korean, use 아침, 점심, 저녁 (achim, jeomsim, jeonyeok).
아침, 점심, 저녁 names the three main meals of the day. Each word is also the word for a time of day, and the context shows whether you mean the time or the meal.
What does it mean word for word?
아침 literally means morning, 점심 means midday or noon and 저녁 means evening.
Which one should you use?
Adding the word for meal gives 아침 식사, 점심 식사, 저녁 식사. This is more formal and makes it explicit that you mean the meals.
How does it change in a sentence?
When the list is the object of a verb such as to eat, the object marker goes on the last word, giving 아침, 점심, 저녁을.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as achim, jeomsim, jeonyeok.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- 아침 먹었어요?Did you have breakfast?
- 점심 맛있게 먹었어?Did you enjoy your lunch?
- 아침에 뭐 먹었어요?What did you eat for breakfast?
- 아침, 점심, 저녁을 잘 챙겨 드세요.achim, jeomsim, jeonyeogeul jal chaenggyeo deuseyo.Please make sure to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner well.
- 아침, 점심, 저녁 식사 시간이 정해져 있어요.achim, jeomsim, jeonyeog siksa sigani jeonghaejyeo isseoyo.The times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are fixed.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their daily routine.
- 민지 Min-ji현우 씨는 아침, 점심, 저녁을 다 먹어요?Hyeonu ssineun achim, jeomsim, jeonyeogeul da meogeoyo?Hyunwoo, do you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 저는 세 끼를 다 챙겨 먹어요.Ne, jeoneun se kkireul da chaenggyeo meogeoyo.Yes, I make sure to eat all three meals.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 건강하게 생활하시네요!Jeongmal geon-ganghage saenghwalhasineyo!You live a really healthy life!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo고마워요, 민지 씨도 건강 잘 챙기세요.Gomawoyo, Minji ssido geon-gang jal chaenggiseyo.Thanks, Minji, you should take care of your health too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 아침, 저녁, 점심, CC BY-SA 4.0.
