Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 교과서 | gyogwaseo | [ˈkjo(ː)ɡwa̠sʰʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈkjo(ː)k͈wa̠sʰʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 텍스트북 | tekseuteubuk | [tʰe̞ks͈ɯtʰɯbuk̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term is used to refer to a formal manual of instruction. For example, you can specify subjects by placing them before the word, such as 영어 교과서 (English textbook), 과학 교과서 (Science textbook) or 국어 교과서 (Korean language textbook). Additionally, the term 교재 can be used to refer to instructional materials, such as 영어 교재 (English textbook) or 과학 교재 (Science textbook).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 교과서 is composed of three parts: 교 meaning teaching or instruction, 과 meaning subject or course and 서 meaning book.
Which one should you use?
교과서 is the standard term used for official school textbooks. In contrast, 텍스트북 is a phonetic transliteration of the English word 'textbook' and is often used in more casual settings or in academic contexts specifically involving English-language materials.
How do you pronounce it?
gyogwaseo
Did you know?
- In Korea, the 'textbook' is so central to authority that the phrase 교과서적 is used to describe something that is a perfect, classic example of its kind.
- The word 교과서 is an orthographic borrowing from Japanese, using the same Hanja characters that form the Japanese word kyōkasho.
- The character 교 in 교과서 is shared with words for 'education' and 'religion' because both were historically seen as forms of instruction.
Examples in context
- 저는 수학 교과서를 읽으며 공부했어요.I studied while reading my math textbook.
- 신입생을 위한 교재 추천해 줄게.I will recommend a textbook for incoming students.
- 교과서를 펼치세요.gyogwaseoreul pyeolchiseyo.Please open your textbook.
- 이 교과서는 너무 어려워요.i gyogwaseoneun neomu eoryeowoyo.This textbook is too difficult.
- 새 교과서를 샀어요.sae gyogwaseoreul sasseoyo.I bought a new textbook.
Example conversation
Two students are preparing for class in a classroom.
- 도현 Do-hyeon민지 씨, 교과서 가져왔어요?Minji ssi, gyogwaseo gajyeowass-eoyo?Minji, did you bring the textbook?
- 민지 Min-ji아니요, 집에 두고 왔어요.aniyo, jibe dugo wass-eoyo.No, I left it at home.
- 도현 Do-hyeon제 교과서를 같이 봐요.je gyogwaseoreul gachi bwayo.Let's look at my textbook together.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨, 정말 고마워요.Dohyeon ssi, jeongmal gomawoyo.Dohyeon, thank you so much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “textbook” translations and entries 교과서, 텍스트북, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 교과서, 텍스트북, CC BY-SA 4.0.
