초
cho[t͡ɕʰo̞]
cho is the Korean word for candle.
The word refers to a wax cylinder with a wick that is burned to provide light.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is cho.
Did you know?
- The word 초 is a homonym that can mean a 'candle', a 'second' of time, or the 'beginning' of a sequence depending on the Chinese character used.
- In traditional Korean culture, the act of lighting a candle, 초를 켜다, symbolizes a person's dedication to intense study or hard work late into the night.
- The modern pronunciation 초 is a simplified, naturalized version of the older Sino-Korean word 촉, which was originally borrowed from Early Mandarin.
Examples in context
- 조 씨, 안녕하십니까?Hello, Mr./Ms. Cho.
- 조야, 뭐 해?Hey, Cho, what are you doing?
- 작은 초를 하나 켰어요.jageun choreul hana kyeosseoyo.I lit a small candle.
- 생일 케이크에 초를 꽂았어요.saeng-il keikeue choreul kkojatseoyo.I put candles on the birthday cake.
- 초가 다 타버렸어요.choga da tabaryeosseoyo.The candle burned out completely.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Minji are preparing for a small celebration in a dark room.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo방이 너무 어두운데 초가 있나요?bang-i neomu eoduunde choga innayo?The room is too dark, do you have a candle?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 여기 예쁜 초가 있어요.ne, yeogi yeppeun choga isseoyo.Yes, here is a pretty candle.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo고마워요. 민지 씨 덕분에 밝아졌네요.gomawoyo. Minji ssi deokbun-e balgajyeotneyo.Thank you. Thanks to you, Minji, it's bright now.
- 민지 Min-ji다행이에요. 이제 파티를 시작해요.dahaeng-ieyo. ije pati-reul sijak-haeyo.I'm glad. Let's start the party now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 초, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 초, CC BY-SA 4.0.
