텔레비전
tellebijeon[tʰe̞ɭɭe̞bid͡ʑʌ̹n]
The English word television is 텔레비전 (tellebijeon) in Korean. Wiktionary also lists 티비 (tibi) and 티뷔 (tibwi).
Meaning: device for receiving television signals (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 텔레비전 | tellebijeon | [tʰe̞ɭɭe̞bid͡ʑʌ̹n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 티비 | tibi | [tʰibi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 티뷔 | tibwi | [tʰibɥi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [tʰiby] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 텔레비 | tellebi | [tʰe̞ɭɭe̞bi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 수상기 | susanggi | ||
| 텔레비죤 | tellebijon | [tʰe̞ɭɭe̞bid͡ʑo̞n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | North Korea |
The term refers to a device for receiving television signals. For the specific action of watching television, you can use the phrase 텔레비전을 보다.
Which one should you use?
While 텔레비전 is the standard term, the colloquial 티비 is a phonetic adaptation of the English abbreviation 'TV'. The term 수상기 is used in technical or more formal contexts to refer specifically to the receiving apparatus or television set.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
텔레비전 is the formal way to say television. In casual, everyday conversation, the shortened form 티비 is the most common way to say 'TV'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In North Korea, the standard spelling is 텔레비죤.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
tellebijeon
Did you know?
- While 텔레비전 is used for the device, Koreans often use the word 방송 ('broadcast') when referring to the content or the act of watching a show.
- The variation 티뷔 is a rarer phonetic spelling that attempts to more closely mimic the English 'v' sound, which does not exist in Korean.
- The technical term 수상기 literally means 'water-receiving machine' if read by a beginner, but the 'su' character actually refers to 'receiving' a signal.
Examples in context
- 난 그냥 티비 보고 있어.I'm just watching television.This sentence is useful for practicing the colloquial form 티비.Tatoeba #8367687 by Eunhee, translation #1879725 by Spamster
- 내 방에 텔레비전이 있다.There is a television in my room.This sentence shows the use of the standard form 텔레비전.Tatoeba #11105767 by intertime, translation #251759 by CK
- 방 안에 텔레비전이 있다.There is a television in the room.This sentence also demonstrates the use of the standard form 텔레비전.Tatoeba #11106756 by intertime, translation #44247 by CK
- 영화가 텔레비전에서 방영되었습니다.A movie was aired on television.
- 티비를 봐요.I'm watching TV.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two roommates are in the living room deciding what to do.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo거실에 텔레비전 켰어?geosil-e tellebijon kyeosseo?Did you turn on the television in the living room?
- 수빈 Su-bin아니, 아직 안 켰어.ani, ajik an kyeosseo.No, I haven't turned it on yet.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo수빈아, 그럼 같이 보자.Subin-a, geureom gatchi boja.Subin, let's watch it together then.
- 수빈 Su-bin그래, 좋아.geurae, joa.Okay, sounds good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “television” translations and entries 텔레비전, 티비, 티뷔, 텔레비, 텔레비죤, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
