Korean word

멸균

Pronunciation

Romanizationmyeolgyun

Meaning

  • nounsterilization

Example

아기 젖병은 사용 전 멸균을 해야 해요.a gi cheot ppyeong eun sa yong cheon myeol gyu neul hae ya hae yo

A baby's bottle must be sterilized before use.

Illustration for 멸균 (sterilization)

More examples

젖병은 사용 후에도 멸균을 해 주세요.cheot ppyeong eun sa yong hu e do myeol gyu neul hae chu se yo

Please sterilize the baby bottle after use as well.

Core concept

A process that removes every microorganism from an object and leaves it completely free of microbial life.

Common phrases

  • 멸균을 하다myeol gyu neul ha da

    perform sterilization

  • 멸균된 젖병myeol gyun doen cheot ppyeong

    sterilized baby bottle

Similar words

소독sodok: A health-safety treatment that reduces harmful germs on a surface or wound.
살균salgyun: A germ-killing process that lowers the number of bacteria and other microorganisms.
무균mugyun: A condition in which an object contains no microorganisms.

Definition in Korean

모든 미생물이 남지 않는 무균 상태를 만들거나 그런 처치를 가리키는 말.mo deun mi saeng mu ri nam ji an neun mu gyun sang tae reul man deul geo na keu reon cheo chi reul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

This Sino-Korean compound joins elements meaning extinguish and microorganism to describe the destruction of all microorganisms.

Usage tips

  • English learners can contrast sterilization with disinfection because sterilization aims to remove every microorganism rather than simply reduce germs.

Opposites

Related words

  • 멸균하다myeolgyunhadasterilizeverb

Word lists with this word