산소
sanso[sʰa̠nsʰo̞]
The English phrase oxygen is 산소 (sanso) in Korean.
산소 is the noun used to denote the chemical element oxygen.
Meaning: chemical element (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sanso.
Did you know?
- If you describe a place as 산소가 부족하다, it can mean the air is thin (lack of oxygen) or that there is no room left in a family cemetery.
- The word 산소 has two completely different meanings depending on the Hanja used. While it can mean 'oxygen', it is also the common word for 'grave' or 'burial site'.
- The first character in 산소 (oxygen) is 산, which also means 'acid'. This reflects the early scientific belief that oxygen was the 'acid-forming' element.
Examples in context
- 대기는 대부분 질소와 산소로 구성되어 있어.The atmosphere mostly consists of nitrogen and oxygen.This sentence is useful for describing the composition of the atmosphere using 산소.Tatoeba #8365281 by Eunhee, translation #1578594 by CM
- 생명에는 산소가 필수입니다.Oxygen is essential for life.
- 화학 실험에서 산소 분자를 사용합니다.We use oxygen molecules in chemical experiments.
- 산소가 부족하면 숨쉬기가 힘들어요.sansoga bujokhamyeon sumswigiga himdeureoyo.It is hard to breathe if oxygen is lacking.
- 물속에는 산소가 아주 적어요.mulsog-e-neun sansoga aju jeogeoyo.There is very little oxygen in the water.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are discussing a science experiment in a classroom.
- 민준 Min-jun민지야, 이 실험에서 산소가 얼마나 필요해?Minji-ya, i sil-heom-eseo sansoga eolmana piryo-hae?Minji, how much oxygen is needed for this experiment?
- 민지 Min-ji민준아, 아주 조금만 있으면 돼.Minjun-a, aju jogeum-man isseumyeon dwae.Minjun, we only need a little bit.
- 민준 Min-jun그럼 산소통을 더 가져올까?Geureom sansotong-eul deo gajyeoolkka?Then should I bring more oxygen tanks?
- 민지 Min-ji아니, 지금 있는 걸로 충분해.Ani, jigeum inneun geollo chungbun-hae.No, what we have now is enough.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oxygen” translations and entries 산소, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
