Korean word

모래

Pronunciation

Romanizationmorae

Meaning

  • nounsand

Example

놀이터에 모래가 많다.no ri teo e mo rae ga man ta

There is a lot of sand in the playground.

Illustration for 모래 (sand)

More examples

해변에 모래사장이 넓게 펼쳐져 있다.hae byeo ne mo rae sa jang i neol kke pyeol cheo jeo it tta

A wide sandy beach stretches along the shore.

Core concept

A loose mass of tiny grains of rock or soil that gathers on land or beside water.

Common phrases

  • 모래사장mo rae sa jang

    sandy beach

  • 모래성mo rae seong

    sandcastle

  • 모래놀이mo rae no ri

    sand play

Similar words

모래알moraeal: A single tiny grain of sand.
흙heuk: Soft, loose material on the land surface where plant roots can grow.
자갈chagal: Small, hard stone pieces that feel rough underfoot.

Definition in Korean

땅이나 물가에 얇게 쌓여 있는 매우 가는 돌·흙의 입자ttang i na mul ga e yal kke ssa yeo in neun mae u ka neun tol heul gui ip jja

Word origin

This is a native Korean noun rather than a Sino-Korean borrowing, but its deeper historical origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • English and Korean commonly treat this material as a mass substance, so quantity is usually expressed by an amount or measure rather than by counting individual grains.

Related words

  • 모래알moraealgrain of sandnoun
  • 모래밭moraebatsandy groundnoun
  • 모래시계moraesigyehourglassnoun

Word lists with this word