마을
ma'eul[ma̠ɯɭ]
In Korean, 'town' can be expressed in several ways depending on the size and administrative status of the settlement. The default form is 마을 (ma'eul). Wiktionary also lists 읍 (eup) and 시 (si).
Meaning: settlement (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 마을 | ma'eul | [ma̠ɯɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 읍 | eup | [ɯp̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 시 | si | [ɕʰi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ɕʰi(ː)] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The most common and natural way to refer to a community or a small settlement in a non-technical way is 마을.
Which one should you use?
마을 is used for small, rural or cozy settlements like a village or a small town. In the Korean local government system, 읍 refers specifically to a small administrative town within a county (gun). For larger urban settlements that have reached the administrative status of a city, use 시.
How do you pronounce it?
ma'eul
Did you know?
- The word 시 used for 'city' is a Sino-Korean word derived from the Chinese character 市, which originally referred to a marketplace.
- When referring to a 'hometown', Koreans use the word 고향 instead of 마을 or 시, regardless of whether the place is a tiny village or a huge city.
- In traditional Korean culture, the concept of 마을 often implies a strong communal bond where residents share resources and labor, rather than just a geographical location.
Examples in context
- 그들은 이 마을에 산다.They live in this town.This sentence shows how to state that people reside in a specific 마을.Tatoeba #11106714 by intertime, translation #305628 by CK
- 그가 왜 마을을 떠났는지 아무도 몰랐다.Nobody knows why he left the town.This sentence illustrates the use of 마을 when describing someone leaving a settlement.Tatoeba #11106449 by intertime, translation #40343 by CK
- 철탑이 무너진 뒤, 이 읍에는 한동안 전기가 공급되지 않았습니다.After the pylons collapsed, this town was without power for a few days.This sentence demonstrates the use of 읍 when referring to a specific administrative town.
- 저는 서울 도시에 살고 있습니다.I live in the city of Seoul.
- 우리 동네에서 뭐 할까요?What should we do in our town?
- 이곳은 아름다운 마을입니다.This place is a beautiful town.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Hyunwoo are walking through a small rural settlement.
- 서연 Seo-yeon이 마을은 정말 조용하네요.i maeul-eun jeongmal joyonghaneyo.This town is really quiet.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 아주 평화로운 마을이에요.ne, aju pyeonghwaroun maeul-ieyo.Yes, it is a very peaceful town.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨는 이 마을을 좋아해요?Hyunwoo ssi-neun i maeul-eul joahae-yo?Do you like this town, Hyunwoo?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 저는 이런 마을이 좋아요.ne, jeoneun ireon maeul-i joayo.Yes, I like towns like this.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “town” translations and entries 마을, 읍, 시, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 마을, 시, 읍, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
