Korean word

사람

Pronunciation

Romanizationsaram

Meaning

  • nounperson

Example

거기에 사람이 많아요.keo gi e sa ra mi ma na yo

There are many people there.

Illustration for 사람 (person)

More examples

길에서 사람을 도와줬어요.ki re seo sa ra meul to wa jwo sseo yo

I helped a person on the street.

Core concept

A human being viewed as an individual rather than as an object or thing.

Common phrases

  • 사람을 만나다sa ra meul man na da

    meet a person

  • 사람이 많다sa ra mi man ta

    many people

  • 모르는 사람mo reu neun sa ram

    a stranger

Similar words

사람들saramdeul: A group made up of two or more people.
분pun: A polite term for referring to someone.
명myeong: A unit used with numbers when counting people one by one.

Definition in Korean

사람은 개별 인간을 가리키는 말로, 여러 명을 나타낼 때는 보통 사람들을 쓴다.sa ra meun kae byeol in ga neul ka ri ki neun mal lo yeo reo myeong eul na ta nael ttae neun po tong sa ram deu reul sseun da

Word origin

사람 (saram, "person") is an old native Korean noun, and the original meaning of its form is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • English human can sound formal or scientific, but this everyday Korean word comfortably refers to ordinary people as well as humans in general.

Other meanings

  • humannoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 사람답다saramdapttahumaneadjective
  • 사람살이saramsarihuman lifenoun

Word lists with this word