손목
sonmok[sʰo̞nmo̞k̚]
The English word "wrist" is translated into Korean as 손목 (sonmok). Wiktionary also lists 팔목 (palmok).
Meaning: joint where the hand is attached to the arm (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 손목 | sonmok | [sʰo̞nmo̞k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 팔목 | palmok | [pʰa̠ɭmo̞k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to the joint where the hand attaches to the arm.
What does it mean word for word?
손목 is a compound of 손, meaning "hand" and 목, meaning "neck", literally translating to "hand-neck". 팔목 is a compound of 팔, meaning "arm" and 목, meaning "neck", literally translating to "arm-neck".
Which one should you use?
손목 is the standard anatomical term for the wrist. 팔목 is used colloquially to refer to the wrist area or the forearm near the wrist.
How do you pronounce it?
sonmok
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, the phrase 손목을 잡다, which means 'to grab the wrist', is often used in literature and dramas to signify a sudden emotional plea or an attempt to stop someone from leaving.
- The concept of a 'neck' as a connection point is a common structural metaphor in Korean, extending from the body to physical tools and even geography, such as a narrow strait.
- While 손목 refers to the wrist, the word 목 also means 'throat'. Because of this, Koreans use the same word to describe the physical neck and the internal airway.
Examples in context
- 오늘은 손목이 좀 아파.Today, my wrist hurts a bit.
- 손목이 너무 아파요.sonmogi neomu apayo.My wrist hurts a lot.
- 손목 보호대를 차고 있어요.sonmok bojeodaereul chago isseoyo.I am wearing a wrist brace.
- 손목을 살짝 돌려 보세요.sonmogeul saljjak dollyeo boseyo.Try rotating your wrist slightly.
Example conversation
Subin notices Minjun is rubbing his wrist.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 손목이 어디 아파요?Minjun ssi, sonmogi eodi apayo?Minjun, does your wrist hurt somewhere?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 운동하다가 손목을 삐끗했어요.ne, undonghadaga sonmogeul ppikkeuthaesseoyo.Yes, I sprained my wrist while exercising.
- 수빈 Su-bin빨리 병원에 가보세요.ppalli byeongwone gaboseyo.Please go to the hospital quickly.
- 민준 Min-jun알겠어요, 지금 가려고요.algesseoyo, jigeum garyeogoyo.I understand, I'm going now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wrist” translations and entries 손목, 팔목, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
