비행기
bihaenggi[piɦɛŋɡi]
In Korean, 'plane' is said as 비행기 (bihaenggi). Wiktionary also lists 항공기 (hanggonggi).
Meaning: airplane (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 비행기 | bihaenggi | [piɦɛŋɡi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [piɦe̞ŋɡi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 항공기 | hanggonggi | [ˈha̠(ː)ŋɡo̞ŋɡi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term is used to refer to an airplane.
Which one should you use?
비행기 is the common word for 'airplane', whereas 항공기 is a more formal, technical term meaning 'aircraft' often used in aviation, news reports or official documents.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express traveling 'by plane', the particle 로 is added to 비행기 to form 비행기로, which indicates the means or method of transport.
How do you pronounce it?
bihaenggi
Did you know?
- While 비행기 is used for airplanes, the word 비행 on its own can mean both 'flight' and 'misconduct' or 'wrongdoing' depending on the Chinese characters used.
- Although it sounds like a native Korean word, 비행기 is actually an orthographic borrowing from the Japanese word hikōki.
- The formal term 항공기 uses the character 항, which is also found in words for 'port' or 'harbor', reflecting the concept of air-ports.
Examples in context
- 우리는 비행기로 한국에 갔다.We went to Korea by plane.This sentence shows how to use the particle 로 to indicate the means of transport with 비행기.Tatoeba #6305080 by Queserasera, translation #2737517 by eastasiastudent
- 비행기에서 식사를 해도 됩니까?Can I eat on the plane?This sentence uses 비행기 to refer to the plane where one might eat.Tatoeba #13151247 by SN_H, translation #13238028 by atitarev
- 비행기는 오후 2시 30분에 보스턴을 떠났다.The plane took off from Boston at 2:30.This sentence uses 비행기 as the subject of the sentence.Tatoeba #11107572 by intertime, translation #11104863 by CK
- 비행기를 타고 여행하다To travel by plane
- 비행기 타러 가자!Let's go take the plane!
- 비행기를 타러 가다To go take a plane
- 내년에 어느 나라로 비행기로 여행을 갈 거야?Which country are you planning to travel to by plane next year?
- 서울로 가는 비행기A plane going to Seoul
- 비행기에 타 본 적 있어?Have you ever been on a plane?
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minji and Jihun are looking out the window at an airport.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨, 저 비행기 좀 보세요!Jihun ssi, jeo bihaenggi jom boseyo!Jihun, look at that airplane!
- 지훈 Ji-hun와, 정말 멋진 비행기네요.Wa, jeongmal meotjin bihaenggineyo.Wow, it is a really cool airplane.
- 민지 Min-ji저 비행기를 타고 여행 가고 싶어요.Jeo bihaenggireul tago yeohaeng gago sipeoyo.I want to go on a trip riding that airplane.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 나중에 같이 가요.Minji ssi, najunge gachi gayo.Minji, let's go together sometime later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plane” translations and entries 비행기, 항공기, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 비행기, 항공기, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
