김치
gimchi[kimt͡ɕʰi]
Kimchi is the English phrase for the Korean dish 김치 (gimchi). Wiktionary also lists 짠지 (jjanji) and 짐치 (jimchi).
Meaning: Korean dish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 김치 | gimchi | [kimt͡ɕʰi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 짠지 | jjanji | [t͡ɕ͈a̠ɲd͡ʑi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | dialectal |
| 짐치 | jimchi | [t͡ɕimt͡ɕʰi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | dialectal |
김치 refers to a Korean dish.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 짐치 is a dialectal variation of 김치. Similarly, 짠지 is also a dialectal variation. In Hamgyeong Province, kimchi is known as dimchi.
How do you pronounce it?
gimchi
Did you know?
- The standard term 김치 is actually a result of 'hypercorrection'. Speakers in Seoul once thought the dialectal 짐치 sounded too southern, so they changed the sound to avoid it, accidentally creating the modern standard form.
- In Korean culture, 'kimjang' is the annual communal process of preparing large quantities of 김치 to last through the winter.
- While often associated with cabbage, any vegetable can be used to make 김치, including radish, cucumber and green onion.
Examples in context
- 한국 사람이라면 김치를 먹어야지.A Korean person ought to eat kimchi.Tatoeba #11104757 by intertime, translation #11489738 by camouat
- 한민족은 수천년 간 김치 힘으로 살아 왔다.For thousands of years, the Korean nation has taken its strength from eating kimchi.
- 식당에 김치가 있어요.sikdang-e gimchi-ga isseoyo.There is kimchi in the restaurant.
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Hyun-woo are having lunch together.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨, 김치 더 드릴까요?Hyeon-u ssi, kimchi deo deurilkkayo?Hyun-woo, would you like some more kimchi?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 김치 정말 맛있어요.Ne, kimchi jeongmal masisseoyo.Yes, the kimchi is really delicious.
- 지은 Ji-eun집에서 직접 만든 김치예요.Jib-eseo jikjeop mandeun kimchi-yeyo.It is kimchi made at home.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말 정성이 느껴지네요.Jeongmal jeongseong-i neukkyeojineyo.I can really feel the effort put into it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kimchi” translations and entries 김치, 짠지, 짐치, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 김치, 짐치, 짠지, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
