Korean word

인스턴트

Pronunciation

Romanizationinseuteonteu

Meaning

  • nouninstant food

Example

여행 갈 때 인스턴트 식품을 많이 챙긴다.yeo haeng kal ttae in seu teon teu sik pu meul ma ni chaeng gin da

When I travel, I pack a lot of instant food.

Illustration for 인스턴트 (instant food)

More examples

요즘 건강 때문에 인스턴트 식품을 피하려고 한다.yo jeum keon gang ttae mu ne in seu teon teu sik pu meul pi ha ryeo go han da

These days, I am trying to avoid instant food for my health.

Core concept

Factory-made food that is already processed or cooked and needs little extra preparation at home.

Common phrases

  • 인스턴트 식품in seu teon teu sik pum

    instant food

  • 인스턴트 라면in seu teon teu ra myeon

    instant noodles

  • 인스턴트 커피in seu teon teu keo pi

    instant coffee

Similar words

간편식kanpyeonsik: A meal product with cooking or preparation already done for convenient eating.
가공식품kagongsikpum: Food made by processing raw ingredients into a different form or making them last longer.

Definition in Korean

공장에서 가공·조리되어 포장된, 집에서 별도 조리가 거의 필요 없는 식품을 가리키는 말이다.kong jang e seo ka gong cho ri doe eo po jang doen chi be seo pyeol do cho ri ga keo ui pi ryo eom neun sik pu meul ka ri ki neun ma ri da

Word origin

This noun is borrowed from the English word instant, shifting from the idea of immediate action to food prepared in advance for quick use.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may hear instant as only an adjective, but Korean uses this loanword as a food noun that can name the product itself.

Opposites

  • 신선식품sinseonsikpumfresh foodnoun

Related words

  • 인스턴트식품inseuteonteusikpuminstant foodnoun
  • 인스턴트커피inseuteonteukeopiinstant coffeenoun

Word lists with this word