전화하다
jeonhwahada[t͡ɕʌ̹nβwa̠ɦa̠da̠]
In Korean, 'to call' is expressed as 전화하다 (jeonhwahada).
전화하다 is a common and neutral term used specifically to communicate with someone by using a telephone. If you want to convey the broader idea of reaching out or contacting someone in general, rather than specifically by phone, 연락하다 is a better choice and can often be used interchangeably with 전화하다.
Which one should you use?
Use 전화하다 when you are specifically referring to a telephone call. Do not use it if you mean calling someone's name or shouting to them, as those situations would use the verb 부르다. While 전화하다 focuses on the phone, 연락하다 is used for general contact.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
전화하다 is a neutral term. For a casual way to say 'call me', you can use the informal 전화해. When speaking to a superior or a customer, you should use the humble form 전화드렸습니다 (I called) instead of the standard 전화했습니다. To politely ask someone to call you, use 전화해 주세요.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the past tense in the polite informal style, use 전화했어요. The future tense is formed by adding -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to the verb stem, resulting in 전화할 거예요.
How do you pronounce it?
jeonhwahada
Did you know?
- The word 전화 consists of the characters for 'electricity' and 'talk'. This literally describes the phone as a way of talking through electricity.
- In Korea, it is common to use the phrase 전화 끊어 ('cut the phone') to say 'hang up'. This describes the action of disconnecting the line rather than ending a conversation.
- When someone calls, Koreans often say 전화 왔어요 ('a phone call has come'). This treats the call as an arriving object rather than an action performed by the caller.
Examples in context
- 숙소 예약하려면 전화해야 해요.You need to call to make a reservation.
- 아빠한테 전화해봤는데 안 받으셨어요.I tried calling Dad, but he didn't answer.
- 친구한테 연락해봤는데 아직 안 받았어.I tried calling my friend, but they haven't picked up yet.
- 내일 놀러 올 때 전화해.Call me when you come to hang out tomorrow.
- 제이슨 씨, 전화 해주실래요?Jason, can you call me?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 전화하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 전화하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
