Korean word

국

Pronunciation

Romanizationkuk

Meaning

  • nounsoup

Example

오늘 국이 너무 맛있어요.o neul ku gi neo mu ma si sseo yo

The soup is very tasty today.

Illustration for 국 (soup)

More examples

춥다니 뜨끈한 국이 당기네요.chup tta ni tteu kkeun han ku gi tang gi ne yo

Since it's cold, I feel like having some hot soup.

Core concept

A warm bowl of broth with ingredients, served alongside rice as part of a meal.

Common phrases

  • 국을 말다ku geul mal da

    put rice in soup

  • 국거리kuk kkeo ri

    soup ingredients

Similar words

찌개jjigae: A thick Korean stew is made by cooking many ingredients in strongly seasoned broth.
탕tang: A hot broth dish is slowly cooked with fish or meat and many other ingredients.
국물kungmul: The liquid part of soup or stew carries the flavor released by its ingredients.

Definition in Korean

국은 밥과 함께 먹거나 반찬으로 내는 뜨겁고 맑거나 걸쭉한 국물 요리이다.ku geun pap kkwa ham kke meok kkeo na pan cha neu ro nae neun tteu geop kko mal kkeo na keol jju kan kung mul yo ri i da

Word origin

국 (guk, "soup") is a native Korean word whose Middle Korean form kuk already referred to hot broth with ingredients.

Usage tips

  • Although it is liquid, this dish is commonly treated as food eaten with rice, so English speakers should not think only of sipping it from a cup.

Related words

Word lists with this word