통금
tonggeum[tʰo̞ŋɡɯm]
In Korean, the English phrase curfew is translated as 통금 (tonggeum). Wiktionary also lists 통행금지령 (tonghaenggeumjiryeong) and 외출금지령 (oechulgeumjiryeong).
Meaning: regulation requiring people to be off the streets and in their homes by a certain time (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 통금 | tonggeum | [tʰo̞ŋɡɯm] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 통행금지령 | tonghaenggeumjiryeong | |
| 외출금지령 | oechulgeumjiryeong |
The term refers to a regulation requiring people to be off the streets and in their homes by a certain time. To express the act of following or obeying a curfew, you can use the phrase 통금 시간을 지키다, which means to keep or obey the curfew time.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term 통행금지령 is composed of 통행 (passage/traffic), 금지 (prohibition) and 령 (order/decree). The term 외출금지령 is composed of 외출 (going out), 금지 (prohibition) and 령 (order/decree).
Which one should you use?
통행금지령 is the full, formal term used in official news reports or legal contexts. In contrast, 통금 is a shortened, colloquial version of 통행금지령 used in everyday conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
tonggeum
Did you know?
- In modern Korea, 통금 is frequently used to refer to a strict bedtime set by parents rather than a government law.
- The character 금 in 통금 means 'prohibition', but it is the same character used in the word for 'gold', 금, creating a homograph that sounds identical in speech.
- Historically, during periods of martial law in South Korea, the term 통행금지 was not just a suggestion but a strict reality that shaped the rhythm of daily urban life.
Examples in context
- 저희 학교의 귀가 제한 시간은 11시입니다.The curfew time at our school is 11 o'clock.
- 오늘은 통금 시간이 없어서 좀 늦게까지 놀 수 있어!There is no curfew time today, so we can play until late!
- 통금 시간이 언제예요?tonggeum sigani eonjeyeyo?When is the curfew?
- 통금을 꼭 지켜야 해요.tonggeumeul kkok jikyeoya haeyo.You must strictly follow the curfew.
- 어제 통금 때문에 못 나갔어요.eoje tonggeum ttaemune mot nagasseoyo.I couldn't go out yesterday because of the curfew.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about historical rules in Korea.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo옛날에는 통금이 있었다면서요?yennareneun tonggeumi isseotdamyeonseoyo?I heard there used to be a curfew in the past?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 밤늦게는 밖에 다닐 수 없었어요.ne, bamneugeneun bakke danil su eopseosseoyo.Yes, you couldn't go out late at night.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo통금 시간이 되면 정말 무서웠겠어요.tonggeum sigani doemyeon jeongmal museowotgesseoyo.It must have been scary when the curfew time came.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 불편하고 힘들었을 것 같아요.jeongmal bulpyeonhago himdeureosseul geot gatayo.I think it would have been very inconvenient and difficult.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “curfew” translations and entries 통금, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
