Korean word

통화

Pronunciation

Romanizationtonghwa

Meaning

  • nounphone call

Example

지금 통화를 하고 있어요.chi geum tong hwa reul ha go i sseo yo

I'm on the phone now.

Illustration for 통화 (phone call)

More examples

어제 친구와 통화를 오래 했어요.eo je chin gu wa tong hwa reul o rae hae sseo yo

I was on the phone with my friend for a long time yesterday.

Core concept

Voice conversation carried between people through a phone or the internet.

Common phrases

  • 통화 중tong hwa chung

    on a phone call

  • 통화 요금tong hwa yo geum

    call charges

  • 통화 연결tong hwa yeon gyeol

    phone connection

Similar words

전화cheonhwa: A telephone conversation using a phone or mobile device.
영상 통화yeongsang tonghwa: A call that includes live video as well as sound.

Definition in Korean

전화나 인터넷을 통해 음성으로 상대와 대화하는 행위나 그 상태.cheon hwa na in teo ne seul tong hae eum seong eu ro sang dae wa tae hwa ha neun haeng wi na keu sang tae

Word origin

The phone-call sense combines 통 (tong, "passing through") and 화 (hwa, "speech"), so it names speech sent through a connection.

Usage tips

  • 통화 (tonghwa, "phone call") can describe an ongoing call, so it may explain why someone cannot talk at that moment.

Other meanings

  • currencynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 통화하다tonghwahadamake a phone callverb
  • 통화요금tonghwayogeumcall chargesnoun
  • 통화량tonghwaryangcall volumenoun

Word lists with this word