시계
sigye[ɕʰiɡje̞]
The English word 'clock' is 시계 (sigye) in Korean.
The term 시계 is used generally to refer to both a clock and a wristwatch.
Meaning: instrument to measure or keep track of time (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sigye.
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, giving a clock as a gift was traditionally avoided in some contexts because it symbolizes the passing of time and the approach of death.
- While 시계 refers to a timekeeping device, it is a homonym for the word meaning 'field of vision' or 'visibility', written with different Hanja as 시계.
- The word 시계 is an orthographic borrowing from the Japanese word 時計, meaning it shares the same Hanja roots used in Japanese to describe the same object.
Examples in context
- 내 시계는 고처야 한다.My clock needs to be fixed.Tatoeba #11105815 by intertime, translation #454491 by CM
- 그 여자가 그 남자한테 시계를 줬어요She gave him a clock.Tatoeba #10618450 by andotang129, translation #453914 by saasmath
- 시계를 보세요.Look at the clock.Tatoeba #6304353 by Queserasera, translation #3734177 by CK
- 어떤 시계를 사고 싶으세요?Which clock do you want to buy?
- 아까 시계 봤어?Did you see the clock earlier?
- 시계 알아?Do you know about clocks?
- 방에 벽시계가 있어요.There is a wall clock in the room.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are in a living room.
- 민준 Min-jun벽에 시계가 있어요.byeoge sigyega isseoyo.There is a clock on the wall.
- 민지 Min-ji그 시계 정말 예쁘네요.geu sigye jeongmal yeppeuneyo.That clock is really pretty.
- 민준 Min-jun고마워요, 선물 받은 거예요.gomawoyo, seonmul badeun geoyeyo.Thank you, it was a gift.
- 민지 Min-ji민준 씨 취향이 좋네요.Minjun ssi chwihyangi jonneyo.You have good taste, Minjun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clock” translations and entries 시계, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 시계, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
