생리
saengni[sʰɛŋni]
The English phrase menstruation is translated into Korean as 생리 (saengni). Wiktionary also lists 월경 (wolgyeong) and 그날 (geunal).
Meaning: periodic discharging of the menses (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 생리 | saengni | [sʰɛŋni] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [sʰe̞ŋni] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 월경 | wolgyeong | [wʌ̹ɭɡjʌ̹ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 그날 | geunal | [kɯna̠ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The terms in this pack are used to describe the periodic discharging of the menses.
Which one should you use?
생리 is the most common, everyday word for menstruation used in conversation and general contexts. In contrast, 월경 is a more formal or medical term for menstruation, often used in clinical or academic settings. Finally, 그날 is a common euphemism used to refer to a woman's menstrual period, similar to saying 'that time of the month' in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
월경 is the most common and widely understood formal term for menstruation. 그날 is a common euphemism used to refer to a woman's menstrual period.
How do you pronounce it?
saengni
Did you know?
- The word 월경 shares the same characters as the word for 'crossing a border'. In written contexts without context clues, the characters for 'menstruation' and 'crossing a boundary' look identical.
- While 그날 means 'that day', it is used as a discrete code among women in public spaces. This allows them to discuss their period in front of others without using a biological term.
- The formal term 월경 is composed of the Hanja characters for 'moon' and 'passage' or 'path', reflecting the cyclical nature of the cycle.
Examples in context
- 아만다는 생리에 대해서라면 뭐든지 알아.Amanda knows everything about menstruation.This sentence shows how the word 생리 is used when discussing knowledge about menstruation.Tatoeba #13168061 by Uwe, translation #11483727 by Amastan
- 생리 중에는 호르몬의 변화로 여러 징후가 나타날 수 있다.During menstruation, hormonal changes can cause various symptoms.This sentence illustrates the use of 생리 when discussing symptoms during menstruation.
- 요즘에 월경이 불규칙하게 옵니다.These days, my menstruation is irregularly occurring.
- 생리통이 심해서 병원에 갔어요.I went to the hospital because I had severe menstrual cramps.
- 언니가 레드데이라니? 더 아프지 않아?Your sister has her period? Isn't she in more pain?
- 생리가 시작되었어요.saeng-ri-ga si-jak-doe-eoss-eo-yo.My menstruation has started.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A coworker notices a colleague is feeling unwell.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo수빈 씨, 몸이 안 좋아 보여요.Subin ssi, mom-i an jo-a bo-yeo-yo.Subin, you don't look well.
- 수빈 Su-bin생리 때문에 배가 좀 아파요.saeng-ri tte-mun-e bae-ga jom a-pa-yo.My stomach hurts because of my menstruation.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo많이 힘들겠네요. 좀 쉴까요?man-i him-deul-get-ne-yo. jom swil-kka-yo?That must be hard. Should you rest a bit?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 잠시만 쉬고 싶어요.ne, jam-si-man swi-go sip-eo-yo.Yes, I want to rest for a moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “menstruation” translations and entries 생리, 월경, 그날, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 그날, 생리, 월경, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
