의대생
uidaesaeng[ɰidɛsʰɛŋ]
To say medical student in Korean, use 의대생 (uidaesaeng).
의대생 means a student at a medical school. It is the everyday word used in news and conversation.
Meaning: student at a medical school (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
It is a short form built from the words for medical school and student.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized uidaesaeng, with three syllables.
Did you know?
- In South Korea, the status of an 의대생 is so prestigious that a phenomenon called 'medical school obsession' exists, where students in other majors frequently drop out to retake entrance exams just to become one.
- The 'student' part of 의대생, the character 生, is etymologically linked to the concept of 'life' or 'birth', mirroring the medical theme of the word itself.
- In Korea, the word 생 in 의대생 is used for many professional students, but for those in the final stage of medical training, the term 전공의 is used to distinguish interns and residents from students.
Examples in context
- 제 동생은 의대생이에요.je dongsaeng-eun uedaesaeng-ieyo.My younger sibling is a medical student.
- 그분은 아주 똑똑한 의대생입니다.geubun-eun aju ttokttokhan uedaesaeng-imnida.That person is a very smart medical student.
- 의대생은 공부할 양이 정말 많아요.uedaesaeng-eun gongbuhal yang-i jeongmal manhayo.Medical students have a lot of studying to do.
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun are talking about a friend at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 지훈 씨는 요즘 뭐 해요?Minjun ssi, Jihun ssi-neun yojeum mwo haeyo?Minjun, what is Jihun doing these days?
- 민준 Min-jun지훈 씨는 의대생이라서 아주 바빠요.Jihun ssi-neun uedaesaeng-ira-seo aju bappayo.Jihun is a medical student, so he is very busy.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말 힘들겠네요.jeongmal himdeulgetneyo.That must be really tough.
- 민준 Min-jun맞아요, 매일 밤을 새워요.majayo, maeil bam-eul saewoyo.That's right, he stays up every night.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “medical student” translations and entries 의대생, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 의대생, CC BY-SA 4.0.
