바닷가재
badatgajae[pa̠da̠t̚k͈a̠d͡ʑɛ]
The English word lobster is translated into Korean as 바닷가재 (badatgajae). Wiktionary also lists 가재 (gajae).
Meaning: crustacean (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 바닷가재 | badatgajae | [pa̠da̠t̚k͈a̠d͡ʑɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [pa̠da̠k͈a̠d͡ʑɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 가재 | gajae | [ˈka̠(ː)d͡ʑɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈka̠(ː)d͡ʑe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term is used to refer to the crustacean known as a lobster.
What does it mean word for word?
바닷가재 is a compound of 바다, meaning sea and 가재, meaning lobster.
Which one should you use?
While 가재 can be used for lobster, it is more commonly used to refer to freshwater crayfish. In contrast, 바닷가재 specifically denotes the saltwater lobster. You may also encounter the English loanword 랍스터, which is frequently used in Korea, especially in restaurant menus and culinary contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
badatgajae
Did you know?
- In Korean restaurants, the loanword 랍스터 is often used for luxury dining, while 바닷가재 is more common in biological or traditional contexts.
- The phrase 바닷가재 contains a hidden grammatical marker -ㅅ- which historically indicated possession or a relationship between the 'sea' and the 'crayfish'.
- When using 랍스터 on menus, Korea often distinguishes between the 'Maine lobster' and 'Canadian lobster' using English adjectives transcribed into Korean characters.
Examples in context
- 오늘 점심에 랍스터를 먹을래?Do you want to eat lobster for lunch today?
- 바닷가재가 아주 비싸요.badatgajega aju bissayo.Lobsters are very expensive.
- 오늘 저녁은 바닷가재를 먹어요.oneul jeonyeogeun badatgajereul meogeoyo.We are eating lobster for dinner tonight.
- 이 식당은 바닷가재가 유명해요.i sikdang-eun badatgajega yumyeonghaeyo.This restaurant is famous for its lobster.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Minjun are looking at a menu at a seafood restaurant.
- 서연 Seo-yeon민준 씨, 바닷가재 먹고 싶어요?Minjun ssi, badatgajae meokgo sipeoyo?Minjun, do you want to eat lobster?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 바닷가재 정말 좋아해요.ne, badatgajae jeongmal joahaeyo.Yes, I really love lobster.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그럼 하나 시킬까요?geureom hana sikilkkayo?Then shall we order one?
- 민준 Min-jun좋아요. 같이 나눠 먹어요.joayo. gachi nanwo meogeoyo.Sounds good. Let's share it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lobster” translations and entries 바닷가재, 가재, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 바닷가재, CC BY-SA 4.0.
