저녁
jeonyeok[t͡ɕʌ̹ɲʌ̹k̚]
The English word 'dinner' is translated into Korean as 저녁 (jeonyeok).
저녁 is used to refer to the evening meal. To say 'to have dinner', the most common expression is 저녁을 먹다, which uses the verb 먹다 (to eat) combined with the object marker.
Meaning: evening meal (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 저녁 literally means 'evening' and is used to refer to the evening meal.
Which one should you use?
While 저녁 can mean the meal, it is also the standard word for the time of day (evening). This is a distinction to note because the words for 'breakfast' (아침) and 'lunch' (점심) are more commonly used to refer specifically to the meals themselves.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can use 저녁 식사 for a more formal or polite way to refer to a dinner. Conversely, 저녁밥 is an informal term for dinner.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In South Korea, dinner is widely known as 저녁.
How does it change in a sentence?
To be more explicit about the 'meal' rather than the 'time of day', you can add 식사 (meal) to form 저녁 식사.
How do you pronounce it?
jeonyeok
Did you know?
- In Korea, asking if someone has eaten 저녁 is often used as a general greeting to show care rather than a literal inquiry about their hunger.
- Historically, the word was recorded in the 1511 text 'Samgang haengsildo' as 'cyenyek' in Middle Korean, showing how much the pronunciation has shifted.
- The suffix 녘 in 저녁 is the same component used in many Korean words to indicate a direction, such as 'east' or 'west'.
Examples in context
- 오늘 저녁으로 뭘 먹지?What should we have for dinner tonight?This sentence is useful for asking what to eat for 저녁.Tatoeba #11104761 by intertime, translation #11489768 by camouat
- 아직 저녁을 안 드셨나요?Have you eaten dinner yet?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has eaten 저녁 yet.Tatoeba #6845340 by dalgarak, translation #31142 by CK
- 톰은 지난밤에 저녁을 걸렀다.Tom didn't have dinner last night.This sentence is useful for describing someone who skipped 저녁.Tatoeba #11105639 by intertime, translation #37130 by CK
- 오늘 저녁 식사를 같이 하실래요?Would you like to have dinner together tonight?
- 다 같이 저녁 밥 먹으러 갑시다Let's all go have dinner together
- 저녁 뭐 먹을까?What should we eat for dinner?
- 한 번 같이 저녁밥 먹자Let's grab dinner together sometime
- 저녁먹기 전에 슈퍼에 들러야겠어I need to stop by the supermarket before having dinner
- 저녁 맛있게 드세요!Enjoy your dinner!
- 같이 저녁밥 먹자!Let's have dinner together!
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to eat together.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은 씨, 오늘 저녁 같이 먹을래요?Jieun ssi, oneul jeonyeok gachi meogeullaeyo?Jieun, do you want to have dinner together today?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 좋아요. 저녁 메뉴는 뭐가 좋을까요?Ne, joayo. jeonyeok menyuneun moga joeulkkayo?Yes, I'd love to. What would be good for the dinner menu?
- 도현 Do-hyeon따뜻한 국물 요리가 먹고 싶어요.Tatteuthan gukmul yoriga meokgo sipeoyo.I want to eat something with a warm broth.
- 지은 Ji-eun그럼 근처에 있는 찌개집으로 가요.Geureom geuncheoe inneun jjigaejibeuro gayo.Then let's go to the stew restaurant nearby.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dinner” translations and entries 저녁, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 저녁, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
