거품
geopum[kʌ̹pʰum]
The English word "bubble" translates to Korean as 거품 (geopum).
거품 refers to anything resembling a hollow sphere. This includes physical bubbles, foam or froth in a liquid, such as soap suds. Additionally, it is used metaphorically to describe an economic bubble.
Meaning: anything resembling a hollow sphere (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When bubbles are the subject of a sentence, the particle –이 is attached to the word to form 거품이.
How do you pronounce it?
geopum
Did you know?
- In Korean pop culture, 거품 is used as a slang term to describe someone who is overrated or whose perceived talent is mostly 'hype' with no substance.
- The historical form of the word was recorded as 더품 in the 1459 text Worin seokbo. This shows how the pronunciation and spelling have shifted over centuries of Middle Korean development.
- In Korean, the word 거품 can also describe the white froth at the corner of a person's mouth during a seizure or extreme rage. It is a common way to express being 'foaming at the mouth' with anger.
Examples in context
- 비누 거품이 아주 많아요.binu geopumi aju manayo.There are a lot of soap bubbles.
- 커피 위에 거품이 있어요.keopi wie geopumi isseoyo.There is foam on top of the coffee.
- 거품을 조심하세요.geopumeul josimhaseyo.Please be careful of the bubbles.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun are washing dishes together.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은 씨, 여기 거품이 너무 많아요.Jieun ssi, yeogi geopumi neomu manayo.Jieun, there are too many bubbles here.
- 지은 Ji-eun세제를 너무 많이 넣었나 봐요.seje-reul neomu mani neoeonna bwayo.I think I put in too much detergent.
- 도현 Do-hyeon물로 거품을 빨리 씻어내세요.mullo geopumeul ppalli ssiseonaeseyo.Please rinse the bubbles away quickly with water.
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 알겠어요. 도현 씨.ne, algesseoyo. Dohyun ssi.Yes, I understand, Dohyun.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 거품, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 거품, CC BY-SA 4.0.
