안과
an'gwa[ˈa̠(ː)nk͈wa̠]
The English phrase 'ophthalmology' can be translated into Korean as 안과 (an'gwa) or 안과학.
Meaning: eye medicine (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 안과 | an'gwa | [ˈa̠(ː)nk͈wa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 안과학 | an'gwahak |
The term for ophthalmology is 안과.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 안과 (an'gwa) is composed of 안 (eye) and 과 (department/section).
Which one should you use?
안과 (an'gwa) refers to the medical department or the clinic itself, whereas 안과학 (an'gwahak) refers specifically to the academic field of study (ophthalmology).
How do you pronounce it?
an'gwa
Did you know?
- While 안과 is used for the clinic, the native Korean word for 'eye' is 눈 (nun), which is also the word for 'snow'.
- In many Korean hospitals, the sign for 안과 will use the Hanja characters 眼科 to ensure clarity for all age groups, even though it is written in Hangul.
- The character 科 in 안과 also appears in the Korean word for 'subject' or 'course' in school, such as in 과목 (gwamok).
Examples in context
- 오늘은 안과에 가야 해요.Today, I have to go to the ophthalmology department.
- 안과에 가야 해요.angwa-e gaya haeyo.I need to go to the ophthalmology clinic.
- 안과 약을 처방받았어요.angwa yag-eul cheobang-badasseoyo.I was prescribed eye medicine.
- 근처에 유명한 안과가 있나요?geun-cheo-e yu-myeong-han angwa-ga innayo?Is there a famous ophthalmology clinic nearby?
Example conversation
Subin tells Hyunwoo that her eyes are itchy.
- 수빈 Su-bin눈이 너무 가려워요.nuni neomu garyeowoyo.My eyes are so itchy.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo안과에 가 본 적 있어요?angwa-e ga bon jeok isseoyo?Have you ever been to the ophthalmology clinic?
- 수빈 Su-bin아니요, 아직 안 가봤어요.aniyo, ajik an gabwasseoyo.No, I haven't been yet.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo빨리 안과에 가 보세요.ppalli angwa-e ga boseyo.Please go to the ophthalmology clinic quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ophthalmology” translations and entries 안과, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
