신문
sinmun[ɕʰinmun]
The English word 'newspaper' is 신문 (sinmun) in Korean.
신문 refers to a newspaper as a publication. While you can use the verb 읽다 (to read) to describe the act of reading, it is very common to use the verb 보다 (to see/watch) when saying you are reading a newspaper or a magazine, resulting in the phrase 신문을 보다.
Meaning: publication (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use 신문 when referring to the publication itself. If you are referring to the physical material of newspaper, such as when using it to wrap something, use 신문지 instead.
How do you pronounce it?
sinmun
Did you know?
- The word 신문 is a homonym with another word meaning 'interrogation' or 'questioning'. The meaning is distinguished entirely by the context of the sentence.
- The word 신문 literally translates to 'new hearing' or 'newly heard' information. This comes from the Chinese characters 新 meaning 'new' and 聞 meaning 'to hear'.
- In traditional Korean households, 신문지 was frequently used as an insulating layer or to absorb moisture under heavy furniture.
Examples in context
- 너는 무슨 신문 읽어?Which newspaper do you read?The first example shows how to ask which newspaper someone reads using 신문.Tatoeba #11105519 by intertime, translation #1495790 by CK
- 그는 매일 아침 신문을 본다.He reads the newspaper every morning.Tatoeba #11105977 by intertime, translation #387502 by Mouseneb
- 그 사람 밥 먹는 중에 신문 읽는 버릇이 있어.He has the habit of reading the newspaper while he eats.The third example shows the habit of reading the newspaper using 신문.Tatoeba #4748322 by kimhkng, translation #2394000 by kuma
- 제가 일부 신문 기사를 번역했습니다.I translated some newspaper articles.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a cafe, Seoyeon and Hyunwoo are sitting together.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 신문 있어요?Hyeonu ssi, sinmun isseoyo?Hyunwoo, do you have a newspaper?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니요, 여기는 신문이 없어요.Aniyo, yeogineun sinmuni eopseoyo.No, there are no newspapers here.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그럼 휴대폰으로 신문을 볼게요.Geureom hyudaepon-euro sinmuneul bolgeyo.Then I will read the newspaper on my phone.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그게 더 편할 거예요.Geuge deo pyeonhal geoyeyo.That will be more convenient.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “newspaper” translations and entries 신문, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 신문, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
