북한
Bukhan[pukʰa̠n]South Korea
North Korea in Korean is 북한 (Bukhan). Wiktionary also lists 북조선 (Bukjoseon) and 조선 (Joseon).
Meaning: a country in East Asia whose territory consists of the northern part of Korea (name)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 북한 | Bukhan | [pukʰa̠n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | South Korea |
| 북조선 | Bukjoseon | [puk̚t͡ɕ͈o̞sʰʌ̹n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | North Korea |
| 조선 | Joseon | [t͡ɕo̞sʰʌ̹n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | China, Japan, North Korea |
The phrase refers to a country in East Asia whose territory consists of the northern part of Korea (name).
Which one should you use?
북한 is the standard term used in South Korea. 북조선 is an older or more specific term for North Korea, often used in historical contexts or by certain media, but is less common in everyday South Korean speech than 북한. 조선 refers to the Joseon dynasty or is used as a shorthand for North Korea in specific political or historical contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
북한 is the standard term used in South Korea to refer to North Korea.
How do you pronounce it?
Bukhan
Did you know?
- While 북한 is the common name in the South, North Korea officially refers to itself as 조선 or 조선민주주의인민공화국. This means if you use the South Korean term in a formal North Korean context, you are using the 'other' side's name for them.
- In the South, referring to North Korea as 북조선 instead of 북한 can sometimes signal a specific political leaning or a sympathetic view toward the North.
- Because 조선 is used for both the country and the act of 'shipbuilding', a sentence without context could confuse a listener as to whether someone is visiting North Korea or building a boat.
Examples in context
- 나는 북한에 가고 싶다.I want to go to North Korea.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to visit 북한.Tatoeba #6305091 by Queserasera, translation #6058765 by RobinvanderVliet
- 남한은 북한보다 훨씬 더 아름답다.South Korea is much more beautiful than North Korea.This sentence is useful for comparing the beauty of South Korea to 북한.Tatoeba #6305109 by Queserasera, translation #3707688 by ddnktr
- 1950년에, 북한은 남한을 침공했다.In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea.This sentence is useful for describing the 1950 invasion involving 북한.Tatoeba #6305083 by Queserasera, translation #807411 by Source_VOA
- 북한은 한반도의 북쪽에 위치해 있습니다.North Korea is located in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
- 대한민국과 북한은 접경해 있습니다.South Korea and North Korea share a border.
- 북한의 정치 상황에 대해 얘기해 봅시다.Let's talk about the political situation in North Korea.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about current international news.
- 민지 Min-ji최근에 북한 관련 뉴스를 봤어?choegeune bukhan gwallyeon nyuseureul bwasseo?Did you see the news about North Korea recently?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니, 뉴스 볼 시간이 없었어.ani, nyuseu bol sigani eopseosseo.No, I didn't have time to watch the news.
- 민지 Min-ji북한 상황이 좀 심각하더라고.bukhan sanghwangi jom simgak hadeorago.The situation in North Korea seems a bit serious.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그래? 나중에 꼭 확인해 볼게.geurae? najunge kkok hwaginhae bolge.Really? I will definitely check it later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “north korea” translations and entries 북한, 북조선, 조선, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 북조선, 북한, 조선, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
