Korean word

자전거

Pronunciation

Romanizationchajeongeo

Meaning

  • nounbicycle

Example

어제 자전거를 샀어요.eo je cha jeon geo reul sa sseo yo

I bought a bicycle yesterday.

Illustration for 자전거 (bicycle)

More examples

주말에 친구와 자전거를 탔어요.chu ma re chin gu wa cha jeon geo reul ta sseo yo

I rode a bike with my friend on the weekend.

Core concept

A two-wheeled vehicle that moves when a person turns its pedals.

Common phrases

  • 자전거를 타다cha jeon geo reul ta da

    ride a bike

  • 자전거를 빌리다cha jeon geo reul pil li da

    borrow a bicycle

  • 자전거로 가다cha jeon geo ro ka da

    travel by bicycle

Similar words

자동차chadongcha: A powered road vehicle with four wheels for carrying people or things.
오토바이otobai: A motorized two-wheeler used to travel from place to place.
전동킥보드cheondongkikppodeu: A one-person stand-up scooter moved by electricity instead of kicking.

Definition in Korean

두 바퀴로 된 사람용 차량을 가리키며, 운동·통근·레저 등 다양한 목적으로 쓰이는 교통수단.tu pa kwi ro toen sa ra myong cha ryang eul ka ri ki myeo un dong tong geun re jeo teung ta yang han mok jjeo geu ro sseu i neun kyo tong su dan

Word origin

The term is a Sino-Korean compound meaning a self-turning vehicle, describing how pedaling makes its wheels move.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Korean, bicycles are counted with the vehicle counter rather than the counter used for small objects.

Related words

  • 자전거도로chajeongeodorobike pathnoun
  • 자전거가게chajeongeogagebike shopnoun

Word lists with this word