전화를 끊다
jeonhwareul kkeunta
To hang up in Korean is 전화를 끊다 (jeonhwareul kkeunta).
This verb is used specifically to describe the action of terminating a phone call.
Meaning: terminate a phone call (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 끊다 changes depending on the level of politeness and tense. In standard polite conversation, it becomes 끊어요. To tell someone to hang up politely, use the imperative form 전화를 끊으세요. To express that someone hung up in an informal setting, use the past tense 전화를 끊었어. Additionally, if someone abruptly hangs up on you, you might say 끊었어 to indicate that they hung up.
How do you pronounce it?
jeonhwareul kkeunta
When do people say it?
When ending a phone call, Koreans might say 감사합니다 (thank you) before hanging up.
Did you know?
- The word 전화 (telephone) is composed of the characters for 'electricity' and 'talk'. It describes the technology as 'electric speech' rather than a 'phone'.
- In professional settings, Koreans often avoid saying 전화를 끊다 directly. Instead, they use the phrase 먼저 끊겠습니다, which translates to 'I will cut first', to politely signal the end of the call.
- The verb 끊다 (kkeunta) is also the word used for 'breaking' a relationship or 'cutting' a connection, such as a string or a bond.
Examples in context
- 그래. 그럼 전화 끊을게.Sure. Then I'll hang up.
- 네, 알겠습니다. 그럼, 전화를 끊겠습니다.Yes, understood. Then, I'll hang up.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hang up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
