Korean word

삼겹살

Pronunciation

Romanizationsamgyeopssal

Meaning

  • nounpork belly

Example

오늘 저녁은 삼겹살 먹자.o neul cheo nyeo geun sam gyeop ssal meok jja

Let's have pork belly for dinner tonight.

Illustration for 삼겹살 (pork belly)

More examples

묵은지 삼겹살이 잘 어울려요.mu geun ji sam gyeop ssa ri chal eo ul lyeo yo

Aged kimchi goes well with pork belly.

Core concept

A rich pork cut whose meat and fat form clear layers across each slice.

Common phrases

  • 묵은지 삼겹살mu geun ji sam gyeop ssal

    pork belly with aged kimchi

  • 삼겹살 한 점sam gyeop ssal han cheom

    a piece of pork belly

Similar words

돼지고기twaejigogi: Meat from a pig, including many different cuts.
목살mokssal: A pork cut from the neck and shoulder with some fat and a firm bite.
갈비kalbi: The ribs and nearby meat of an animal, often grilled or cooked in a stew.

Definition in Korean

돼지의 배쪽에 있는 부위로, 지방과 살코기가 층층이 섞여 있어 주로 구워서 먹는 고기twae ji ui pae jjo ge in neun pu wi ro chi bang gwa sal ko gi ga cheung cheung i seo kkyeo i sseo chu ro ku wo seo meong neun ko gi

Word origin

The name 삼겹살 (samgyeopssal, "pork belly") literally means meat with three layers, based on the visible bands in the cut.

Usage tips

  • Korean barbecue often makes this a social food, with diners cooking pieces together and eating them with shared side dishes.

Opposites

Related words

  • 삼겹살구이samgyeopssalguigrilled pork bellynoun
  • 삼겹살집samgyeopssaljippork belly restaurantnoun

Word lists with this word