사기꾼
sagikkun[sʰa̠ɡik͈un]
The English phrase 'cheater' can be translated into Korean as 사기꾼 (sagikkun).
사기꾼 is used to describe a con artist or a swindler. While it can be translated as 'cheater', it is most commonly used to describe a person who commits financial fraud or scams people, rather than someone who cheats on a test or in a game.
Meaning: someone who cheats (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 사기 (fraud/scam) and the suffix 꾼, which denotes a person who habitually engages in a specific activity.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the context of the 'cheating', different words are more appropriate. If you are referring specifically to someone who cheats on an academic exam, 사기꾼 is unnatural. Instead, use 부정행위자. If you are referring to someone who is unfaithful in a romantic relationship, 사기꾼 is not used. Instead, use 바람둥이.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is [sagikkun].
Did you know?
- If you call someone a 바람둥이 (a romantic cheater), you are literally calling them a 'wind person' or a 'wind-player'.
- The word 사기 (fraud) is often used in the phrase '사기를 치다' (to hit a fraud), where 'hit' is used to mean 'to perform' or 'to commit' an act.
- The word 사기꾼 is derived from the Hanja (Chinese characters) 詐 (deceive) and 欺 (cheat) combined with the native Korean suffix 꾼.
Examples in context
- 그 회사 직원은 사기꾼이라고 알려져 있습니다.That company employee is known to be a cheater.
- 외도하는 사람들에게 법적인 처벌이 가해질 수 있습니다.People who cheat while being married can face legal consequences.
- 사기꾼을 조심해야 해요.sagikkun-eul josimhaeya haeyo.You must be careful of cheaters.
- 경찰이 그 사기꾼을 잡았어요.gyeongchari geu sagikkun-eul jabasseoyo.The police caught that cheater.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Minji are discussing a news report about a crime.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo뉴스에서 본 그 사람은 사기꾼인가 봐요.nyuseueseo bon geu sarameun sagikkun-inga bwayo.The person in the news seems to be a cheater.
- 민지 Min-ji네, 정말 무서운 사기꾼이에요.ne, jeongmal museoun sagikkun-ieyo.Yes, she is a truly scary cheater.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo많은 사람들을 속였다고 들었어요.maneun saramdeureul sogyeotdago deureosseoyo.I heard she deceived many people.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 나쁜 사람이네요.jeongmal nappeun saram-ineyo.She is a truly bad person.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 사기꾼, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 사기꾼, CC BY-SA 4.0.
