Did you know that some Korean words can mean different things depending on how they’re used?

These special words are called homonym words.

Let’s dive into the world of homonym words and learn about a few of them!

4 Homonym Words

Korean word, 밤 (bahm)

Korean Pronunciation: “bahm”

Meanings:

1. Night: This is the time when the sky is dark, and the stars and moon are out.
2. Chestnut: A tasty fruit that comes from a tree, often enjoyed as a snack.

Examples:

• 밤에 (ba-me): At night.
  • “밤에 별이 반짝반짝 빛나요.” (ba-me byeor-i ban-jjak-ban-jjak bit-na-yo) – The stars sparkle at night.
• 밤을 먹다 (ba-meul meok-da): To eat chestnuts.
  • “할머니가 구운 밤을 먹었어요.” (hal-meo-ni-ga gu-un ba-meul meo-geot-eo-yo) – I ate roasted chestnuts my grandma made.

Fun Fact: In autumn, Koreans love to eat roasted chestnuts. They’re delicious and warm, perfect for cooler weather!

Korean word, 눈 (noon)

Korean Pronunciation: “noon”

Meanings:

1. Eye: The part of your body that you see with.
   
2. Snow: The white, fluffy stuff that falls from the sky in winter.

Examples:

• 눈을 감다 (nu-neul gam-da): To close one’s eyes.
  • “꿈꾸기 전에 눈을 감아요.” (kkum-kku-gi jeon-e nu-neul ga-ma-yo) – Close your eyes before dreaming.
• 눈이 내리다 (nu-ni nae-ri-da): The snow falls.
  • “첫눈이 내릴 때 너무 아름다워요.” (cheot-nun-i nae-ril ttae neo-mu a-reum-da-wo-yo) – The first snowfall is so beautiful.

Fun Fact: Koreans make “눈사람” (nun-sa-ram), or snowmen, when it snows. How many snowmen can you make this winter?

Korean word, 말 (mal)

Korean Pronunciation: “mal”

Meanings:

1. Horse: The animal you can ride, known for running fast.
2. Speech or Words: What you use to talk or communicate.

Examples:

• 말을 하다 (ma-reul ha-da): To speak or to talk.
  • “친구와 재미있게 말을 했어요.” (chin-gu-wa jae-mi-it-ge mal-eul hae-seo-yo) – I had a fun chat with my friend.
• 말을 타다 (ma-reul ta-da): To ride a horse.
  • “저는 농장에서 말을 탔어요.” (jeo-neun nong-jang-e-seo mal-eul ta-sseo-yo) – I rode a horse at the farm.

Fun Fact: Horses have been friends with humans for thousands of years. They’re strong and can run really fast!

Korean word, 배 (bae)

Korean Pronunciation: “bae”

Meanings:

1. Pear: A sweet fruit you can eat.
2. Stomach: The part of your body where food goes.
3. Boat: A vehicle you can use to travel on water.
4. Double or Times: Used in math to show multiplication.

Examples:

• 배를 먹다 (bae-reul meok-da): To eat a pear.
  
  • “싱싱한 배를 먹었어요.” (sing-sing-han bae-reul meo-geot-eo-yo) – I ate a fresh pear.
• 배가 아프다 (bae-ga a-peu-da): My stomach hurts.
  
  • “너무 많이 먹어서 배가 아파요.” (neo-mu ma-ni meo-geo-seo bae-ga a-pa-yo) – My stomach hurts because I ate too much.
• 배를 타다 (bae-reul ta-da): To ride a boat.
  • “우리는 호수에서 배를 탔어요.” (u-ri-neun ho-su-e-seo bae-reul ta-sseo-yo) – We rode a boat on the lake.
• 2배 (doo-bae): Two times.
  • “이 과자는 원래보다 2배 커요.” (i gwa-ja-neun won-lae-bo-da i-bae keo-yo) – This cookie is twice as big as the original.

Fun Fact: Pears are juicy and delicious. Koreans often eat them in the fall!

Pronunciation Guide

• 밤: Sounds like “bahm.”
  • ㅂ: “b” sound, like in “boy.”
  • ㅏ: “a” sound, like in “father.”
  • ㅁ: “m” sound, like in “man.”
• 눈: Sounds like “noon.”
  • ㄴ: “n” sound, like in “nose.”
  • ㅜ: “oo” sound, like in “moon.”
  • ㄴ: “n” sound, like in “nose.”
• 말: Sounds like “mal.”
  • ㅁ: “m” sound, like in “mother.”
  • ㅏ: “a” sound, like in “car.”
  • ㄹ: “l” sound, like in “lamp.”
• 배: Sounds like “bae.”
  • ㅂ: “b” sound, like in “bat.”
  • ㅐ: “ae” sound, like in “day.”
    
    
    if you want to know more please visit link below
• https://www.topikguide.com/ultimate-list-of-korean-homonyms/

Next time you hear these words, listen carefully and think about what they might mean.

Have fun exploring the magical world of homonym words, and enjoy using them in your conversations!

Thanks for stopping by:)