밤
bam[pa̠m]
The Korean word for "night" is 밤 (bam).
밤 is a noun used to describe the period between sunset and sunrise. It can also be used to describe a moonlit night when combined with the word for moon, forming 달밤.
Meaning: period between sunset and sunrise (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the phrase "at night" or "during the night", you add the particle 에 to the noun to get 밤에. Additionally, the standard way to say one has stayed awake through the night is to use the phrase 밤을 새우다.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is bam.
Did you know?
- The Korean word 밤 shares its exact same spelling and sound with the word for 'chestnut'.
- The word 밤 was recorded in the 'Jīlín lèishì' as early as 1103, long before the invention of the Hangul alphabet in the 15th century.
- While 밤 means 'night', the word for 'evening' is 저녁, and the two are often used interchangeably in casual conversation to refer to dinner time.
Examples in context
- 그는 온종일 밤을 샜다.He sat up all night.The first sentence shows how to use 밤 in the phrase for staying up all night.Tatoeba #11104659 by intertime, translation #299815 by CH
- 내일 밤에 할 거 있어?Do you have plans tomorrow night?The second sentence demonstrates using 밤 to talk about plans for tomorrow night.Tatoeba #11133296 by Eunhee, translation #11165276 by Layla
- 수성은 밤에 엄청 추워.Mercury's night side is very cold.The third sentence illustrates using 밤 to describe the night side of a planet.Tatoeba #13755012 by qlTmalffk, translation #8800798 by Amastan
- 만나서 반가웠어요. 오늘 밤 같이 놀까요?Nice to meet you. Do you want to hang out tonight?
- 올빼미는 밤에 활동하는 새입니다.Owls are birds that are active at night.
- 오늘 밤에 영화를 보러 갈래요?Do you want to go watch a movie tonight?
- 밤이 너무 어두워요. 조심하세요!It's very dark at night. Be careful!
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their plans for later.
- 지훈 Ji-hun오늘 밤에 영화 볼래?oneul bam-e yeonghwa bollae?Do you want to watch a movie tonight?
- 민지 Min-ji좋아, 밤에 보는 건 언제나 즐거워.joa, bam-e boneun geon eonjena jeulgeowo.Sounds good, watching things at night is always fun.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그럼 밤 열 시에 만나자.geureom bam yeol si-e mannaja.Then let's meet at ten at night.
- 민지 Min-ji알겠어, 그때 봐!algesseo, geuttae bwa!Okay, see you then!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “night” translations and entries 밤, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 밤, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
