Korean word

개미

Pronunciation

Romanizationkaemi

Meaning

  • nounant

Example

부엌에 개미들이 있어요.pu eo ke kae mi deu ri i sseo yo

There are ants in the kitchen.

Illustration for 개미 (ant)

More examples

우유를 흘리면 개미가 몰려와요.u yu reul heul li myeon kae mi ga mol lyeo wa yo

When you spill milk, ants come swarming.

Core concept

A tiny insect whose strength comes from living and working together in an organized group.

Common phrases

  • 개미집kae mi jip

    ant nest

  • 개미떼kae mi tte

    swarm of ants

  • 개미줄kae mi jul

    line of ants

Similar words

벌레peolle: An everyday word for a small creature, especially one found indoors and viewed as unpleasant.
곤충konchung: A small animal with three body sections and six legs, classed as an insect.

Definition in Korean

작고 무리를 지어 사회적으로 역할을 나누며 사는 곤충chak kko mu ri reul chi eo sa hoe jeo geu ro yeo ka reul na nu myeo sa neun kon chung

Word origin

The Korean noun is a native Korean word rather than a Sino-Korean term, and its deeper historical origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • Korean can leave the number of these insects unstated, so context can show whether the meaning is one ant or several ants.

Related words

  • 개미핥기kaemihalkkianteaternoun
  • 개미굴kaemigulant burrownoun

Word lists with this word