암
am[a̠(ː)m]
The English word "cancer" is translated into Korean as 암 (am).
암 refers to the medical disease of uncontrolled cellular proliferation. It is the most common term used in both everyday conversation and medical contexts.
Meaning: disease of uncontrolled cellular proliferation (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 암 is the term for the medical disease, 게자리 is the specific term used for the constellation Cancer.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone has contracted the disease, the standard phrase is 암에 걸리다. If you wish to indicate that someone died because of the disease, use the particle 으로 with 암, as in 암으로 죽다 (to die of cancer).
How do you pronounce it?
am
Did you know?
- The word 암 can also function as a prefix meaning 'female' when used in words like 암캐 (female dog) or 암탉 (hen).
- The word 암 is a homonym that can also mean 'dark' or 'obscure' when written with the Hanja character 暗.
- In Korean, the word 암 for 'cancer' is a Sino-Korean reading of the Hanja character 癌. This connects the term to a vast network of East Asian medical terminology rooted in Chinese characters.
Examples in context
- 제 외아들이 암으로 세상을 떠났습니다.My only son died of cancer.This sentence is useful for describing someone dying of 암.Tatoeba #13755206 by qlTmalffk, translation #8999681 by CK
- 우리 할아버지는 올해 말기 암으로 돌아가셨어.My grandfather succumbed to a terminal cancer this year.This sentence is useful for describing someone succumbing to terminal 암.Tatoeba #13756558 by qlTmalffk, translation #1291942 by Scott
- 암에 걸리셨습니다.You've got cancer.This sentence is useful for stating that someone has contracted 암.Tatoeba #11106929 by intertime, translation #2255429 by CK
- 암의 조기 발견이 중요합니다.It is important to detect cancer early.
- 암세포증식이 높으면 암 진단의 가능성이 높아집니다.A high rate of cancer cell proliferation increases the likelihood of a cancer diagnosis.
- 우리 할머니 암 때문에 병원에 가셨어요.My grandmother went to the hospital because of cancer.
Example conversation
Minjun and Jieun are discussing a health report at a cafe.
- 민준 Min-jun검사 결과가 어떻게 나왔어?geomsa gyeolgwaga eotteoke nawasseo?How did the test results come out?
- 지은 Ji-eun다행히 암은 아니라고 해.dahaenghi ameun anirago hae.Fortunately, they said it isn't cancer.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 다행이다, 걱정했어.jeongmal dahaengida, geokjeonghaesseo.That's such a relief, I was worried.
- 지은 Ji-eun고마워, 민준아.gomawo, Minjun-a.Thank you, Minjun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cancer” translations and entries 암, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 암, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
