부엌
bueok[puʌ̹k̚]
The English word "kitchen" can be translated into Korean as 부엌 (bueok) or 주방.
Meaning: room (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 부엌 | bueok | [puʌ̹k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 주방 | jubang | [t͡ɕuba̠ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
Both terms refer to a kitchen, but they are used in different contexts.
Which one should you use?
While 부엌 refers to the physical room in a house, 주방 is often used in more formal, professional or modern contexts, such as a restaurant kitchen or a high-end kitchen design.
How do you pronounce it?
bueok
Did you know?
- In old Korean homes, the 부엌 served a double purpose by housing the cauldron that heated the 'ondol' underfloor heating system for the entire house.
- Historically, the 부엌 was considered a female-dominated space, and in some traditional contexts, men were culturally discouraged from entering it.
- The word 부엌 shares a historical root with the word for 'furnace' or 'hearth', such as the Jeju dialect term 부섭, reflecting the ancient connection between cooking and fire.
Examples in context
- 톰은 자택 부엌에서 죽었어.Tom died in his kitchen.Tatoeba #8361507 by Eunhee, translation #8340868 by CK
- 봐봐! 고양이가 부엌에 있어.Look! There's a cat in the kitchen.Tatoeba #8364954 by Eunhee, translation #33146 by CM
- 부엌가위를 써서 닭고기에서 껍질을 제거합시다.Use kitchen scissors to remove the skin from the chicken.Tatoeba #11107010 by intertime, translation #830710 by papabear
- 저녁 식사는 주방에서 준비됩니다.Dinner is prepared in the kitchen.
- 부엌에 들어가면 신발을 벗어주세요.Please take off your shoes when entering the kitchen.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At home, Jihoon is looking for his phone.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 휴대폰 어디 있어요?Jihoon ssi, hyudaepon eodi isseoyo?Jihoon, where is your phone?
- 지훈 Ji-hun부엌 테이블 위에 있는 것 같아요.bueok teibeul wie itneun geot gatayo.I think it's on the kitchen table.
- 서연 Seo-yeon찾았어요! 여기 부엌에 있네요.chajasseoyo! yeogi bueok-e itneyo.I found it! It's here in the kitchen.
- 지훈 Ji-hun고마워요, 서연 씨.gomawoyo, Seoyeon ssi.Thank you, Seoyeon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kitchen” translations and entries 부엌, 주방, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 부엌, 주방, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
