바다
bada[pa̠da̠]
The English word "ocean" can be translated into Korean as 바다 (bada) or 대양.
Meaning: one of the large bodies of water (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 바다 | bada | [pa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 대양 | daeyang | [ˈtɛ(ː)ja̠ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈte̞(ː)ja̠ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The word 바다 is the standard, everyday term used to refer to both the sea and the ocean. In Korean, 바다 is often used without an article, much like how an English speaker might say "I love the ocean".
Which one should you use?
While 바다 is the common word for both "sea" and "ocean", 대양 is used specifically to refer to the massive, large-scale oceans of the world, such as the Pacific Ocean.
How do you pronounce it?
bada
Did you know?
- The Korean word 바다 is believed to be the origin of the ancient Japanese word わた ('wata'), which also means 'sea'.
- In Korean culture, the 바다 is often personified in poetry and song as a place of both deep longing and inevitable separation.
- The word 바다 may share an ancient root with the Korean word 바닥, which means 'floor' or 'flat surface'.
Examples in context
- 바다가 보이는 자리 있나요?Do you have a table with a view of the ocean?This sentence is useful for inquiring about a table with a view of the 바다.Tatoeba #11106076 by intertime, translation #22240 by CK
- 오늘은 할아버지와 함께 바다에 갈 예정입니다.Today, I plan to go to the ocean with my grandfather.
- 내일은 친구들과 함께 바닷가에서 수영할 거야.Tomorrow, I'll swim at the beach with my friends.
- 바다에 가고 싶어요.bada-e gago sipeoyo.I want to go to the ocean.
- 푸른 바다가 정말 예뻐요.pureun bada-ga jeongmal yeppeoyo.The blue ocean is really beautiful.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin and Jihun are looking at photos of a vacation.
- 수빈 Su-bin이 바다 정말 아름다워요.i bada jeongmal areumdawoyo.This ocean is truly beautiful.
- 지훈 Ji-hun맞아요. 물이 아주 맑아요.majayo. muri aju malgayo.That's true. The water is very clear.
- 수빈 Su-bin우리 나중에 같이 가요.uri najunge gachi gayo.Let's go there together later.
- 지훈 Ji-hun좋아요. 꼭 같이 가요.joayo. kkok gachi gayo.Sounds good. Let's definitely go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ocean” translations and entries 바다, 대양, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 대양, 바다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
