면
myeon[mjʌ̹n]
In Korean, cotton is 면 (myeon). Wiktionary also lists 목화 (mokhwa) and 코튼 (koteun).
Meaning: fabric (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 면 | myeon | [mjʌ̹n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [mjɘ(ː)n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 목화 | mokhwa | [mo̞kʰwa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 코튼 | koteun | [kʰo̞tʰɯn] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 면포 | myeonpo | [mjʌ̹npʰo̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term 면 is used to denote cotton as a material or fabric in everyday contexts, such as describing the composition of clothing. When you see product descriptions or labels in a store, you will frequently see the phrase 면 100% to indicate 100% cotton.
Which one should you use?
While 면 refers to the fabric, 목화 is the botanical term used when referring specifically to the cotton plant or the raw cotton boll. 코튼 is a loanword used to sound more modern or trendy, particularly in fashion and branding.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
면 is the standard term for cotton fabric and is commonly used in written forms like product labels. 코튼 is a loanword often found in marketing and the fashion industry to provide a contemporary feel.
How do you pronounce it?
myeon
Did you know?
- The word 면 is a homonym that can also mean 'noodles', 'flour', or 'face' depending on the Hanja used. In a restaurant, context is the only way to distinguish 'cotton' from 'noodles'.
- In traditional Korean contexts, 면포 refers specifically to hand-woven cotton cloth, which was once used as a form of currency or tax payment.
- Historically, the introduction of 목화 to Korea in the 14th century revolutionized clothing by providing warmth for the poor who previously relied on hemp.
Examples in context
- 오늘은 면으로 만든 옷을 입었어요.Today, I wore clothes made of cotton.
- 이 옷은 면 소재예요.i os-eun myeon so-jae-ye-yo.This clothing is made of cotton.
- 면 티셔츠를 사고 싶어요.myeon ti-syeo-cheu-reul sa-go si-peo-yo.I want to buy a cotton T-shirt.
- 면은 피부에 아주 좋아요.myeon-eun pi-bu-e a-ju jo-a-yo.Cotton is very good for the skin.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Dohyeon are looking at clothes in a boutique.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 이 셔츠 면인가요?Do-hyeon ssi, i syeo-cheu myeon-in-ga-yo?Dohyeon, is this shirt cotton?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 면 100퍼센트예요.Ne, myeon baek-peo-sen-teu-ye-yo.Yes, it is 100 percent cotton.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 부드럽네요.jeong-mal bu-deu-reop-ne-yo.It is really soft.
- 도현 Do-hyeon서연 씨에게 잘 어울릴 거예요.Seo-yeon ssi-e-ge jal eo-ul-ril geo-ye-yo.It will look good on you, Seoyeon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cotton” translations and entries 면, 목화, 코튼, 면포, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
