Korean word

소리

Pronunciation

Romanizationsori

Meaning

  • nounsound

Example

텔레비전에서 소리가 나요.tel le bi jeo ne seo so ri ga na yo

The TV is making a sound.

Illustration for 소리 (sound)

More examples

소리가 크면 이웃에게 불편해요.so ri ga keu myeon i u se ge pul pyeon hae yo

If the sound is loud, it bothers the neighbors.

Core concept

Anything heard by the ear, whether it comes from someone speaking, a machine, or the environment.

Common phrases

  • 소리가 크다so ri ga keu da

    be loud

  • 소리가 작다so ri ga chak tta

    be quiet

  • 소리를 줄이다so ri reul chu ri da

    turn down the sound

Similar words

목소리mokssori: The sound from a person's throat when speaking, singing, or calling out.
소음soeum: Unwanted sound that disturbs nearby people's rest or concentration.
발소리palsori: The sound made by feet as a person walks.

Definition in Korean

사람이나 사물이 만들어 귀에 닿는 소리나 울림을 뜻하는 명사로, 목소리에서 환경음까지 넓은 범위를 포함한다.sa ra mi na sa mu ri man deu reo kwi e tan neun so ri na ul li meul tteu ta neun myeong sa ro mok sso ri e seo hwan gyeong eum kka ji neol beun peo mwi reul po ham han da

Word origin

소리 (sori, "sound") is a native Korean word rather than a direct English loan, but its earlier history is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • Korean can pair this noun with a sound-effect word to show exactly what kind of sound is meant, much like English uses words such as bang or buzz.

Other meanings

  • voicenoun
  • noisenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word