Korean word

서구

Pronunciation

Romanizationseogu

Meaning

  • nounthe West

Example

서구는 문화가 달라요.seo gu neun mun hwa ga tal la yo

The West has a different culture.

Illustration for 서구 (the West)

More examples

서구 가치는 개인주의적이에요.seo gu ka chi neun kae in ju ui jeo gi e yo

Western values are individualistic.

Core concept

A Western sphere centered on Europe and North America, along with the cultures, ideas, and institutions developed there.

Common phrases

  • 서구 문화seo gu mun hwa

    Western culture

  • 서구 가치seo gu ka chi

    Western values

  • 서구 사회seo gu sa hoe

    Western society

Similar words

서양seoyang: A regional and cultural area associated with Europe, North America, and their social customs.
서구권seogugwon: A network of western countries and the range of their cultural influence.
유럽yureop: A large landmass connected by shared history, culture, and cooperation among its countries.

Definition in Korean

유럽과 북미를 중심으로 하는 서양 국가들이나 그곳에서 발전한 문화·사상이나 제도를 이르는 말.yu reop kkwa pung mi reul chung si meu ro ha neun seo yang kuk kka deu ri na keu go se seo pal jjeon han mun hwa sa sang i na che do reul i reu neun mal

Word origin

The term is built from Sino-Korean words for west and Europe and now covers the wider Western sphere rather than Europe alone.

Usage tips

  • The boundary of the West depends on context, so the word may focus on geography in one sentence and on culture or social systems in another.

Opposites

Related words

  • 서구화seoguhwawesternizationnoun
  • 서구적seogujeokWesternadjective
  • 서구주의seogujuuiWesternismnoun

Word lists with this word