Korean word

북

Pronunciation

Romanizationpuk

Meaning

  • nounnorth

Example

내일 북으로 출발해요.nae il pu geu ro chul bal hae yo

We are leaving for the north tomorrow.

Illustration for 북 (north)

More examples

창문은 북을 향해 있어요.chang mu neun pu geul hyang hae i sseo yo

The window faces north.

Core concept

One of the four main compass directions, used as a reference for places and movement.

Common phrases

  • 북쪽puk jjok

    north side

  • 북으로 가다pu geu ro ka da

    go north

Similar words

북쪽pukjjok: The northern side or area of a particular place.

Definition in Korean

지리적 기준에서 북쪽을 뜻하는 명사로, 지역이나 지도의 방향을 설명할 때 기준점으로 쓰인다.chi ri jeok ki ju ne seo puk jjo geul tteu ta neun myeong sa ro chi yeo gi na chi do ui pang hyang eul seol myeong hal ttae ki jun jeo meu ro sseu in da

Word origin

Its form is a Sino-Korean reading of the character traditionally associated with the north.

Usage tips

  • English speakers can remember that this direction word commonly works with Korean location and movement markers instead of standing only as a label on a compass.

Other meanings

  • drumnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 북향pukyangnorth-facing directionnoun
  • 북서puksseonorthwestnoun

Word lists with this word