Korean word

온돌

Pronunciation

Romanizationondol

Meaning

  • noununderfloor heating

Example

아파트에는 온돌이 있어요.a pa teu e neun on do ri i sseo yo

The apartment has underfloor heating.

Illustration for 온돌 (underfloor heating)

More examples

밤에 온돌을 켜면 잠이 더 잘 와요.pa me on do reul kyeo myeon cha mi teo chal wa yo

If you turn on the underfloor heating at night, you sleep better.

Core concept

Heat passes beneath a stone floor, turning the whole floor into a warm living surface.

Common phrases

  • 온돌을 켜다on do reul kyeo da

    turn on underfloor heating

  • 온돌을 끄다on do reul kkeu da

    turn off underfloor heating

  • 온돌이 따뜻하다on do ri tta tteu ta da

    warm underfloor heating

Similar words

바닥난방padangnanbang: A heating system warms the entire floor from below.
구들kudeul: A traditional heated floor stores and spreads warmth from a fire beneath it.
온수난방onsunanbang: A heating system warms the floor with hot water flowing through pipes.

Definition in Korean

돌바닥 아래로 불의 열기나 연기가 지나가게 하여 바닥을 데우는 전통적인 난방 방식.tol ba dak a rae ro pu rui yeol gi na yeon gi ga chi na ga ge ha yeo pa da geul te u neun cheon tong jeo gin nan bang pang sik

Word origin

The modern form is commonly understood as 온 (on, "warm") plus 돌 (dol, "stone"), although its exact historical formation is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English room labels that usually focus on beds, Korean lodging descriptions may use this term to indicate floor bedding.

Opposites

Related words

  • 온돌난방ondollanbangunderfloor heatingnoun
  • 온돌방ondolbangroom with underfloor heatingnoun

Word lists with this word