Korean word

동요

Pronunciation

Romanizationtongyo

Meaning

  • nounchildren's song

Example

유치원에서 동요를 불렀다.yu chi wo ne seo tong yo reul pul leot tta

They sang a children's song at kindergarten.

Illustration for 동요 (children's song)

More examples

아이가 엄마에게 동요를 들려달라고 했다.a i ga eom ma e ge tong yo reul teul lyeo dal la go haet tta

The child asked their mother to sing them a children's song.

Core concept

A familiar melody that young children can learn and sing together.

Common phrases

  • 동요를 부르다tong yo reul pu reu da

    sing a children's song

  • 동요를 들려주다tong yo reul teul lyeo ju da

    play a children's song

  • 동요 가사tong yo ka sa

    children's song lyrics

Similar words

어린이 노래eorini norae: A song made for children, with repeated parts that help them remember the words.
아동가요adonggayo: A song made for children that may be used in broadcasts.

Definition in Korean

유치원이나 어린이집에서 주로 부르는 단순한 가락의 노래yu chi wo ni na eo ri ni ji be seo chu ro pu reu neun tan sun han ka ra gui no rae

Word origin

This noun comes from the Sino-Korean name for a children's song, while another word with the same pronunciation refers to emotional unrest.

Usage tips

  • The setting helps identify the meaning, so a kindergarten activity strongly favors the children's-song sense over the unrelated meaning of the same sound.

Other meanings

  • agitationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 동요집tongyojipchildren's songbooknoun
  • 동요곡tongyogokchildren's songnoun

Word lists with this word