Korean word

동물

Pronunciation

Romanizationtongmul

Meaning

  • nounanimal

Example

저는 동물을 좋아해요.cheo neun tong mu reul cho a hae yo

I like animals.

Illustration for 동물 (animal)

More examples

우리는 동물 보호를 위해 기부했어요.u ri neun tong mul po ho reul wi hae ki bu hae sseo yo

We donated to protect animals.

Core concept

A self-moving living creature that senses and reacts to its surroundings.

Common phrases

  • 유기동물yu gi dong mul

    abandoned animal

  • 동물 보호tong mul po ho

    animal protection

  • 동물병원tong mul byeong won

    animal hospital

Similar words

반려동물pallyeodongmul: A companion animal that shares a person's home life and receives careful attention.
애완동물aewandongmul: A household animal cared for because people enjoy its presence and appearance.
생물saengmul: A distinct living thing that grows, breathes, or reproduces, whatever its size.

Definition in Korean

식물과 달리 스스로 움직이거나 자극에 반응하는 생물의 총칭.sing mul gwa tal li seu seu ro um ji gi geo na cha geu ge pa neung ha neun saeng mu rui chong ching

Word origin

As a Sino-Korean compound, the word joins the ideas of movement and a thing to name a living creature unlike a plant.

Usage tips

  • 동물 (dongmul, "animal") is useful for talking about pets, farm animals, wild creatures, and animals studied in science, not just animals kept at home.

Opposites

Related words

  • 유기동물yugidongmulabandoned animalnoun
  • 동물보호소tongmulbohosoanimal shelternoun

Word lists with this word