Korean word

전세

Pronunciation

Romanizationcheonse

Meaning

  • nounkey-money lease

Example

다음 달에 전세로 이사할 거예요.ta eum ta re cheon se ro i sa hal kkeo ye yo

I'll move into a rental that requires a large deposit next month.

Illustration for 전세 (key-money lease)

More examples

집주인이 전세 보증금을 제때 돌려주지 않았어요.chip jju i ni cheon se po jeung geu meul che ttae tol lyeo ju ji a na sseo yo

The landlord did not return the key-money deposit on time.

Core concept

A deposit-based way to rent a home for a set period without making ordinary monthly rent payments.

Common phrases

  • 전세 계약cheon se kye yak

    key-money lease contract

  • 전세 보증금cheon se po jeung geum

    key-money deposit

  • 전세로 살다cheon se ro sal da

    live under a key-money lease

Similar words

월세wolse: The monthly housing payment made to a landlord.
보증금pojeunggeum: A refundable sum held to cover damage or other contract-related costs.

Definition in Korean

집을 빌릴 때 집주인에게 큰 액수의 보증금(전세금)을 한꺼번에 맡기고, 그 보증금으로 일정 기간 거주하는 임대 방식chi beul pil lil ttae chip jju i ne ge keun aek ssu ui po jeung geum cheon se geum eul han kkeo beo ne mat kki go keu po jeung geu meu ro il jeong ki gan keo ju ha neun im dae pang sik

Word origin

The term names a distinctive Korean leasing practice whose defining feature is the large deposit held by the landlord during the tenancy.

Usage tips

  • For English-speaking learners, the main point is that this is a rental system, not simply the ordinary security deposit attached to a lease.

Opposites

Related words

  • 전세금cheonsegeumkey-money depositnoun
  • 전세자금cheonsejageumkey-money lease fundsnoun

Word lists with this word