Korean word

자동차

Pronunciation

Romanizationchadongcha

Meaning

  • nouncar

Example

주말에 자동차를 운전했어요.chu ma re cha dong cha reul un jeon hae sseo yo

I drove a car over the weekend.

Illustration for 자동차 (car)

More examples

어제 자동차 사고가 났어요.eo je cha dong cha sa go ga na sseo yo

There was a car accident yesterday.

Core concept

A powered road vehicle with wheels, used to carry people or loads from place to place.

Common phrases

  • 자동차를 운전하다cha dong cha reul un jeon ha da

    drive a car

  • 자동차 보험cha dong cha po heom

    car insurance

  • 자동차 사고cha dong cha sa go

    car accident

Similar words

차cha: A casual everyday term for a road vehicle that carries people or goods.
승용차seungyongcha: A car made mainly to carry passengers for personal or family travel.
버스peoseu: A large public vehicle that carries many passengers along a regular route.
화물차hwamulcha: A large road vehicle made to carry goods or other loads.

Definition in Korean

사람이나 짐을 싣고 도로 위를 이동하는, 엔진으로 구동되는 바퀴 달린 수송 수단.sa ra mi na chi meul sit kko to ro wi reul i dong ha neun en ji neu ro ku dong doe neun pa kwi tal lin su song su dan

Word origin

자동차 (jadongcha, "car") joins Sino-Korean elements for self movement and vehicle to describe a vehicle that moves under its own power.

Usage tips

  • English learners may picture only a family vehicle, but Korean uses this broad term for road vehicles such as passenger vehicles, buses, and trucks.

Related words

  • 자동차보험chadongchaboheomcar insurancenoun
  • 자동차회사chadongchahoesacar companynoun

Word lists with this word