Korean word

마약

Pronunciation

Romanizationmayak

Meaning

  • noundrug

Example

그는 마약을 사용했다.keu neun ma ya geul sa yong haet tta

He used drugs.

Illustration for 마약 (drug)

More examples

공항에서 마약 밀수가 적발되었다.kong hang e seo ma yak mil su ga cheok ppal doe eot tta

Narcotics smuggling was detected at the airport.

Core concept

An illegal drug with a strong pull toward dependence.

Common phrases

  • 마약 거래ma yak keo rae

    narcotics trafficking

  • 마약 밀수ma yak mil su

    narcotics smuggling

  • 마약 제조ma yak che jo

    narcotics manufacturing

Similar words

마약류mayangnyu: A legally defined group of controlled drugs.
불법 약물pulbeop yangmul: Drugs or medicinal substances banned by law.

Definition in Korean

중독성을 일으키는 불법적인 약물.chung dok sseong eul i reu ki neun pul beop jjeo gin yang mul

Word origin

마 (ma, "hemp") and 약 (yak, "medicine") form a Sino-Korean compound that originally referred to hemp-based medicine and later came to mean addictive illegal drugs more broadly.

Usage tips

  • The word points to the legal and addictive status of a substance, not simply to whether it changes a person's energy or mood.

Related words

  • 마약중독mayakjjungdokdrug addictionnoun
  • 마약범죄mayakppeomjoedrug crimenoun

Word lists with this word