Korean word

전철

Pronunciation

Romanizationcheoncheol

Meaning

  • nounsubway

Example

학교에 전철로 갔어요.hak kkyo e cheon cheol lo ka sseo yo

I went to school by subway.

Illustration for 전철 (subway)

More examples

전철을 갈아타야 해서 시간이 더 걸렸어요.cheon cheo reul ka ra ta ya hae seo si ga ni teo keol lyeo sseo yo

I had to change subway trains, so it took longer.

Core concept

A city railway powered by electricity, usually pictured running underground as a subway.

Common phrases

  • 전철을 갈아타다cheon cheo reul ka ra ta da

    change subway trains

  • 전철역에서 나오다cheon cheo ryeo ge seo na o da

    leave the subway station

Similar words

지하철chihacheol: An urban railway built mainly in underground tunnels for public transport.
기차kicha: A railway vehicle with several connected cars that travels between cities.

Definition in Korean

전철은 도시에서 주로 지하를 달리며 전기로 운행되는 궤도 교통을 가리키며, 일상에서는 지하철과 같은 뜻으로 쓰인다.cheon cheo reun to si e seo chu ro chi ha reul tal li myeo cheon gi ro un haeng doe neun kwe do kyo tong eul ka ri ki myeo il sang e seo neun chi ha cheol gwa ka teun tteu seu ro sseu in da

Word origin

The Sino-Korean word combines meanings related to electricity and railway, pointing to both its subway sense and its broader electric-train sense.

Usage tips

  • The English phrase electric train can cover more kinds of trains, but 전철 (jeoncheol, "subway") commonly points to city rail service.

Other meanings

  • electric trainnoun

Related words

  • 전철역cheoncheoryeoksubway stationnoun
  • 전철노선cheoncheolloseonsubway linenoun

Word lists with this word