Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가장 | gajang | [ka̠d͡ʑa̠ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 제일 | jeil | [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)iɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 최(最)- | choe- | Sino Korean, prefix |
In Korean, when you want to express the superlative degree (e.g., 'the most beautiful'), you use 가장 or 제일. If you are referring to the largest quantity of something rather than a superlative degree, use 가장 많은. To express 'the majority of', you would use 가장 많은. In informal settings, the word 대부분 can also be used.
Which one should you use?
가장 is the standard way to express the superlative and is often used in written or formal contexts. In contrast, 제일 is more commonly used in spoken, everyday conversation than 가장. While 가장 and 제일 function as adverbs, 최- is a Sino-Korean prefix used to form specific words meaning 'the most' or 'the extreme'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The Sino-Korean prefix 최- is attached directly to Sino-Korean nouns to form words meaning 'the most' or 'the extreme', such as 최악 (the worst) or 최고 (the best).
How do you pronounce it?
gajang
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, 가장 can mean 'disguise' or 'make-up', derived from the Hanja for 'fake' and 'decoration'.
- The word 가장 can also mean 'head of the household' when written with different Hanja, meaning 'head of the family'.
Examples in context
- 신참이 가장 포부가 크다.Newcomers are the most ambitious.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 가장 with an adjective.Tatoeba #6305201 by Queserasera, translation #5650528 by Hybrid
- 너는 어떤 웹브라우저가 제일 좋아?What web browser do you like the most?This sentence demonstrates the use of 제일 in a conversational question.Tatoeba #4032553 by intratech, translation #4305925 by kimsora
- 프랑스어는 가장 아름다운 언어인 것 같아.I think that French is the most beautiful language.This sentence shows how 가장 is used to modify an adjective in a statement.Tatoeba #8410321 by Eunhee, translation #8410317 by CK
- 영화 중 대부분은 한국 영화예요.Most of the movies are Korean films.
- 가장 큰 도시에서 살고 싶어요.I want to live in the biggest city.
- 너희는 대부분 영어를 잘하잖아.Most of you are good at English.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin and Jihun are discussing their favorite foods.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 씨는 어떤 음식을 가장 좋아해요?Jihun ssineun eotteon eumsigeul gajang joahae-yo?Jihun, what food do you like the most?
- 지훈 Ji-hun저는 매운 음식을 가장 좋아해요.Jeoneun maeun eumsigeul gajang joahae-yo.I like spicy food the most.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말요? 저는 달콤한 디저트가 가장 좋아요.Jeongmallyo? Jeoneun dalkomhan dijeoteuga gajang joayo.Really? I like sweet desserts the most.
- 지훈 Ji-hun수빈 씨는 입맛이 저랑 정말 다르네요.Subin ssineun immasi jeorang jeongmal dareuneyo.Subin, your taste is really different from mine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “most” translations and entries 가장, 제일, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 가장, 제일, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
