Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 한국 | Han'guk | [ˈha̠(ː)nɡuk̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | South Korea |
| 우리나라 | urinara | [uɾina̠ɾa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 조선 | Joseon | [t͡ɕo̞sʰʌ̹n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | North Korea, dated |
While 한국 is the standard name for South Korea, speakers often use 우리나라 (our country) to refer to Korea when speaking to others in a polite manner.
Which one should you use?
한국 is the standard term used for South Korea. In contrast, 조선 refers specifically to North Korea or can be used to refer to the historical Joseon dynasty. 우리나라 is a common way for Korean speakers to refer to their own nation.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 한국 in a sentence, you will often see particles attached to it: add the particle 에 to indicate direction or destination (e.g., 한국에 for "to Korea"), add the object marker 을 when the country is the direct object of a verb (e.g., 한국을 for "Korea (as an object), or add the possessive particle 의 to indicate something belonging to the country (e.g., 한국의 for "Korea's")."
How do you pronounce it?
Han'guk
When do people say it?
When speaking to others, Koreans frequently use the phrase 우리나라, which means "our country", instead of stating the specific name of the country. This is a common way to express national identity politely.
Did you know?
- While 우리나라 means 'our country', Korean speakers use this collective 'our' for many things, such as 우리 집 for 'my house' or 우리 엄마 for 'my mother'.
- The word 조선 is a homonym in Korean, meaning it can refer to the nation but also translates to 'shipbuilding'.
Examples in context
- 나는 한국에 들르고 싶다.I want to visit Korea.This sentence shows how to use 한국 to indicate a desire to visit the country.Tatoeba #6305047 by Queserasera, translation #556616 by Pun_intended
- 우리는 비행기로 한국에 갔다.We went to Korea by plane.This sentence demonstrates the use of 한국 when traveling by plane.Tatoeba #6305080 by Queserasera, translation #2737517 by eastasiastudent
- 저는 한국을 방문하고 싶어요.I would like to visit South Korea.This sentence shows the use of 한국 as a direct object with the particle 을.Tatoeba #6305084 by Queserasera, translation #1532549 by LittleBoy
- 41 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun and Jieun are talking about their favorite travel destinations.
- 민준 Min-jun지은 씨는 어느 나라를 제일 좋아해요?Jieun ssi-neun eoneu nara-reul jeil joahae-yo?Jieun, which country do you like the most?
- 지은 Ji-eun저는 역시 한국이 제일 좋아요.Jeoneun yeoksi Hanguk-i jeil joa-yo.I like Korea the most, after all.
- 민준 Min-jun맞아요, 한국은 정말 아름다운 곳이에요.Majayo, Hanguk-eun jeongmal areumdaun gos-ie-yo.That's true, Korea is a really beautiful place.
- 지은 Ji-eun그래서 저는 여기 살아서 행복해요.Geuraeseo jeoneun yeogi saraseo haengbok-hae-yo.That's why I'm happy to live here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “korea” translations and entries 한국, 우리나라, 조선, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 우리나라, 조선, 한국, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
