무
mu[mu(ː)]
The Korean word for radish is 무 (mu).
무 refers to the edible root vegetable known as a radish.
Meaning: edible root (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is mu.
Did you know?
- The Korean radish 무 is physically much larger and denser than the red radishes common in Western supermarkets, often resembling a long white daikon.
- While 무 means 'radish', it is also the exact same sound used for the words 'nothing' and 'dance' in Korean, depending on the Chinese character used.
- Korean cuisine uses 무 not just as a vegetable, but as a natural digestive aid and tenderizer for meat in stews.
Examples in context
- 무는 한국 요리에서 아주 중요한 재료입니다.Radish is a crucial ingredient in Korean cuisine.
- 오늘 산채비빔밥에 무가 들어갈 거예요.Today, radish will be added to the mountain vegetable bibimbap.
- 무는 다이어트에 도움이 되는 음식 중 하나입니다.Radish is one of the foods that help with dieting.
- 저녁 메뉴로 무무침을 만들어야겠어.I should make radish salad for dinner.
- 무피클은 간단하게 해먹기 좋아.Radish pickles are easy to make and tasty.
- 무가 아주 커요.muga aju keoyo.The radish is very big.
- 무를 썰어서 넣으세요.mureul sseoreoseo neouseyo.Please slice the radish and put it in.
- 이 무는 정말 달아요.i muneun jeongmal darayo.This radish is really sweet.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Jihoon are cooking together in the kitchen.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 무가 더 필요해요?Jihoon-ssi, muga deo piryohaeyo?Jihoon, do we need more radish?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니요, 무는 충분해요.Aniyo, muneun chungbunhaeyo.No, there is enough radish.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그럼 이 무를 썰게요.Geureom i mureul sseolgeyo.Then I will slice this radish.
- 지훈 Ji-hun고마워요, 서연 씨.Gomawoyo, Seoyeon-ssi.Thank you, Seoyeon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “radish” translations and entries 무, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
