Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 교회 | gyohoe | [ˈkjo(ː)βwe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈkjo(ː)ɦø̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 성당 | seongdang | [ˈsʰɘ(ː)ŋda̠ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 예배당 | yebaedang | [je̞bɛda̠ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [je̞be̞da̠ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 례배당 | ryebaedang | North Korea |
The word is used to describe a house of worship. While 교회 is the general term, it is most frequently used to refer to Protestant churches in common Korean usage.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 예배당 literally means a building or hall used for worship, where 예배 means worship and 당 means hall or building.
Which one should you use?
교회 is the general term for a church, particularly for Protestant denominations. In contrast, 성당 is used specifically to refer to a Catholic church. The term 예배당 refers more broadly to a place of worship or a chapel.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In North Korea, the spelling 례배당 is used instead of the South Korean spelling for a place of worship or chapel.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "to church" as a destination, you add the particle 에 to the noun, forming 교회에.
How do you pronounce it?
gyohoe
Did you know?
- The word 교회 literally translates to 'teaching meeting'. It combines the concepts of religious instruction and a gathering of people.
- While 교회 is the common word for church, the character 회 also appears in words for 'company' or 'society', linking the religious 'meeting' to modern civic organizations.
- The character 당 in 성당 and 예배당 refers to a hall or building and is also used in traditional Korean terms for shamanic shrines.
Examples in context
- 그는 교회에 거의 가지 않는다.He seldom goes to church.This sentence shows how to use 교회 when talking about going to church.Tatoeba #11105722 by intertime, translation #304133 by CK
- 그 호수의 오래된 교회는 정말 아름답다.The old church by the lake is very beautiful.This sentence uses 교회 to describe a beautiful church by a lake.Tatoeba #11105907 by intertime, translation #239970 by CK
- 저는 일요일마다 교회에 갑니다.I go to church every Sunday.
- 저의 친구는 교회에서 결혼식을 했어요.My friend had a wedding at the church.
Example conversation
Ji-hun and Min-ji are talking about their Sunday plans.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 이번 주 일요일에 교회 가요?minji ssi, ibeon ju il-yoyire gyohwa gayo?Min-ji, are you going to church this Sunday?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 저는 매주 교회에 가요.ne, jeoneun maeju gyohwae gayo.Yes, I go to church every week.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그렇군요. 저도 같이 가고 싶어요.geureokunyo. jeodo gat-i gago sipeoyo.I see. I want to go with you too.
- 민지 Min-ji좋아요. 그럼 일요일에 만나요.joayo. geureom il-yoyire mannayo.Great. Let's meet on Sunday then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “church” translations and entries 교회, 성당, 예배당, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 교회, 성당, 예배당, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
