운전하다
unjeonhada[ˈu(ː)ɲd͡ʑʌ̹nɦa̠da̠]
To say drive in Korean, use 운전하다 (unjeonhada), the standard verb for driving a vehicle. Other verbs are 드라이브하다 and 몰다. If unsure, use 운전하다.
Meaning: to operate (a wheeled motorized vehicle) (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 운전하다 | unjeonhada | [ˈu(ː)ɲd͡ʑʌ̹nɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 드라이브하다 | deuraibeuhada | [tɯɾa̠ibɯɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 몰다 | molda | [ˈmo̞(ː)ɭda̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
운전하다 is the most common term and fits formal contexts such as driving tests, news reports and official instructions. A driver's license is 운전 면허증.
What does it mean word for word?
운전사 (unjeonsa), a professional driver, combines 운전, driving and 사, person.
Which one should you use?
운전하다 means the act of operating a vehicle. 드라이브하다 means going for a leisure drive. 몰다 also means to drive a car.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In the polite style of everyday conversation, 운전하다 becomes 운전해요, I drive or I am driving.
How do you pronounce it?
Say it as unjeonhada.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 드라이브하다 for everyday driving to work. It means a drive for pleasure.
Did you know?
- The verb 몰다 is one of the oldest recorded driving terms in Korean, appearing in the 1459 text Worin seokbo.
- The term 운전 is composed of two Hanja (Chinese characters) which literally mean 'to move/rotate' and 'to turn'.
Examples in context
- 내가 몰 자동차The car I will drive몰 is a form of the verb for drive in this phrase meaning the car I will drive.
- 저는 차를 운전할 수 있습니다.I can drive a car.
- 그는 오래된 모델의 차를 몰고 있습니다.He is driving an old model car.
- 저는 직접 운전하다가 힘들어서 휴게소에 들렀어요.jeoneun jikjeop unjeonhadaga himdeureoseo hyugesoe deulleosseoyo.I was driving myself and got tired, so I stopped at a rest area.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drive” translations and entries 운전하다, 드라이브하다, 몰다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 드라이브하다, 몰다, 운전하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
