차원
chawon[t͡ɕʰa̠wʌ̹n]
The English word "dimension" is translated into Korean as 차원 (chawon).
차원 refers to a measure of spatial extent. It is used in mathematical and physical contexts, such as describing three dimensions, as well as metaphorically to describe different levels of thought, complexity or quality of an idea.
Meaning: measure of spatial extent (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
chawon
Did you know?
- Korean uses 차원 to describe the administrative or organizational level of an action, such as doing something at a 'company level' 회사 차원.
- The word 차원 is a direct orthographic borrowing from the Japanese word 次元 (jigen).
- While 차원 is used for mathematical dimensions, if you want to describe the physical dimensions of an object like a box, Koreans often use the word 치수 instead.
Examples in context
- 우주의 차원을 연구하다.Study the dimensions of the universe.
- 사회적인 차원에서 의미가 있다.It has meaning in a social dimension.
- 이 그림의 가로와 세로 치수가 같아.The width and height dimensions of this picture are the same.
- 삼차원Three-dimensional
- 이 문제는 다른 차원에서 생각해야 해요.i mun-je-neun da-reun cha-won-e-seo saeng-gak-hae-ya hae-yo.This problem needs to be thought about from a different dimension.
- 그 영화는 차원이 다른 영상미를 보여줘요.geu yeong-hwa-neun cha-won-i da-reun yeong-sang-mi-reul bo-yeo-jwo-yo.That movie shows a visual beauty of a different dimension.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are discussing a science fiction movie.
- 민준 Min-jun그 영화의 그래픽은 정말 차원이 달라요.geu yeong-hwa-ui geu-rae-pik-eun jeong-mal cha-won-i dal-la-yo.The graphics in that movie are on a completely different dimension.
- 민지 Min-ji맞아요, 정말 입체적이었어요.ma-ja-yo, jeong-mal ip-che-jeok-i-eoss-eo-yo.Right, it was truly three-dimensional.
- 민준 Min-jun민지 씨도 그렇게 느꼈나요?Min-ji ssi-do geu-reoke neu-kkyeot-na-yo?Did you feel that way too, Minji?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 정말 놀라웠어요.ne, jeong-mal nol-la-wot-eo-yo.Yes, it was truly amazing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 차원, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 차원, CC BY-SA 4.0.
