Korean word

시골

Pronunciation

Romanizationsigol

Meaning

  • nouncountryside

Example

어릴 때 시골에서 자랐어요.eo ril ttae si go re seo cha ra sseo yo

I grew up in the countryside when I was little.

Illustration for 시골 (countryside)

More examples

시골은 공기가 좋아요.si go reun kong gi ga cho a yo

The air is good in the countryside.

Core concept

The broad, quieter world of farms and villages outside the city.

Common phrases

  • 시골 생활si gol saeng hwal

    rural life

  • 시골 사람si gol sa ram

    rural resident

  • 시골 풍경si gol pung gyeong

    rural scenery

Similar words

마을maeul: A small settled community where nearby families live together.
농촌nongchon: A rural area where farming shapes work and daily life.

Definition in Korean

도시가 아닌, 논밭과 들판이 넓게 펼쳐진 마을이나 지역to si ga a nin non bat kkwa teul pa ni neol kke pyeol cheo jin ma eu ri na chi yeok

Word origin

This native Korean term has no securely established simple decomposition, so its history is best treated as uncertain.

Usage tips

  • English-speaking learners can remember that the word points to a whole rural setting, not just one field or one farm.

Other meanings

  • rural villagenoun
  • farm countrynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 시골스럽다sigolseureopttarusticadjective
  • 시골살이sigolsarirural livingnoun

Word lists with this word