Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 도 | do | [to̞(ː)] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 성 | seong | [sʰɘ(ː)ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 주 | ju | [t͡ɕu] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to a subdivision of government, typically one step below the national level.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on whether you are discussing domestic or foreign administrative units. 주 is the standard term used when referring to foreign provinces or states, such as the provinces of Canada or the states of the US. In contrast, 도 is typically used for traditional or major administrative provinces within South Korea. The word 성 is a much rarer term for a province in modern Korean. It is more commonly associated with the word for 'castle' or historical Chinese administrative divisions.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to a specific Korean province, the word 도 acts as a suffix and is attached directly to the name, such as 경기도 (Gyeonggi-do).
How do you pronounce it?
do
Did you know?
- While 도 describes a province, it is also the same word used for a 'way' or 'path' in a philosophical or spiritual sense, such as in 태권도 (Taekwondo).
- The word 성 can be used as a suffix to denote the abstract quality of something, such as '-ness' or '-ity' in English.
- When referring to the US, Koreans use 주 but refer to the overall entity as 미국 (USA), which literally means 'beautiful country'.
Examples in context
- 앨버타주.Province of Alberta.This sentence is useful for showing how to refer to the 주 of Alberta.
- 경기도Gyeonggi Province
- 강원도Gangwon Province
- 경상북도Gyeongsangbuk Province
- 경상도Gyeongsang Province
- 전라도Jeolla Province
Example conversation
Jieun and Dohyun are talking about where they grew up.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현 씨는 고향이 어디예요?dohyeon ssineun gohyangi eodiyeyo?Dohyun, where is your hometown?
- 도현 Do-hyeon저는 강원도에서 왔어요.jeoneun gangwondo-eseo wasseoyo.I came from Gangwon Province.
- 지은 Ji-eun그 도는 풍경이 정말 예쁘죠.geu doneun punggyeongi jeongmal yeppeujyo.The scenery in that province is really beautiful.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 정말 공기가 좋아요.ne, jeongmal gonggiga joayo.Yes, the air is really fresh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “province” translations and entries 도, 성, 주, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 성, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
