Korean

IPA/kɔɹˈiːən/
KK[kˌɔrˈiən]IPA/kˌɔːrˈiːən/

Korean — adjective

1. Describing something that comes from, or is connected with, North Korea or South

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

Describing something that comes from, or is connected with, North Korea or South Korea — for example, their food, music, language, traditions, or the people themselves.

Example

The Korean embassy in Seoul hosted a cultural festival for foreign visitors.

collocation: Korean embassy / Korean culture / Korean food

Mayumi went to a Korean restaurant and ordered spicy rice cakes for the first time.

collocation: Korean restaurant / Korean dish

Common collocations
  • Korean culture
  • Korean food
  • Korean language
  • Korean drama
  • Korean music
  • Korean war
  • Korean peninsula
  • Korean company
Synonyms
  • South Korean

    specifically refers to things from South Korea only, while 'Korean' covers both North and South

  • North Korean

    specifically refers to things from North Korea only, while 'Korean' covers both

Grammar Patterns

Korean + noun

Usage Note

Always capitalise 'Korean' when it refers to the country, people, or culture — it is a proper adjective derived from the place name Korea. The compound forms 'South Korean' and 'North Korean' follow the same rule.

Common Mistakes

I love korean food.
I love Korean food.
'Korean' must be capitalised because it comes from the name of a country.
She is a Korea student.
She is a Korean student.
Use 'Korean' as the adjective form, not the country name 'Korea'.

Korean — noun

Word family

  • Korea
    proper nounA1
  • Koreans
    plural nounA2
  • South Korean
    adjectiveB1
  • North Korean
    adjectiveB1
  • South Korean
    nounB1
  • North Korean
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words are proper adjectives, but they differ in geographical scope. 'Korean' is the broadest term, covering anything related to the entire Korean Peninsula or both countries together, such as 'Korean culture' or 'the Korean language'. 'South Korean' and 'North Korean' are narrower — they specify which government or society is being referred to. For example, 'South Korean pop music' distinguishes K-pop from music produced in North Korea, while 'Korean pop music' might be understood as the same thing but could also imply music from both sides. Use 'South Korean' or 'North Korean' when the political or national distinction matters, such as in news about diplomacy or military matters. Use plain 'Korean' for cultural, historical, or linguistic references that span both countries.

Korean ↗South KoreanNorth Korean

Etymology

Koguryŏ (Korean kingdom)KoryŏPortuguese/DutchEnglish

The English word 'Korean' comes from 'Korea', which traces back to 'Koryŏ' (고려), the name of a kingdom that ruled the Korean Peninsula from 918 to 1392 CE. 'Koryŏ' itself is a shortened form of 'Koguryŏ', one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The word entered European languages in the 16th and 17th centuries through Portuguese and Dutch traders and missionaries who transcribed the name in various forms. The modern English spelling 'Korean' became standard in the 19th century.