Key Facts
- Hangul: 천사; Revised Romanization: cheonsa
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Register: Neutral. Also a compliment for a kind person.
Angel in Korean: What Does 천사 Mean?
천사 names the winged being of religious and fairy-tale stories, in a neutral register. It is also a compliment. Calling a baby or a gentle friend a 천사 says they are sweet and good-hearted, much as English uses 'angel'. Learners who know only the religious meaning miss how often the word turns up in everyday praise.
How Do You Pronounce 천사?
Two syllables: cheon-sa. The first begins with the aspirated ch sound, said with a small puff of air, and ends in n. The second is 'sa'. The word is read as spelled.
Example Sentences with 천사
아기가 천사 같아요.
Agiga cheonsa gatayo.
The baby looks like an angel.
아기가 천사 같아요 uses 같아요 ('looks like') to compare a baby to an angel. It is a typical way to praise a baby.
천사의 날개를 그렸어요.
Cheonsaui nalgaereul geuryeosseoyo.
I drew angel wings.
천사의 날개를 그렸어요 describes a drawing. 의 links 천사 and 날개 (wings), and 그렸어요 is the past of 'draw'.
그는 마음이 착한 천사예요.
Geuneun maeumi chakan cheonsayeyo.
He is an angel with a kind heart.
그는 마음이 착한 천사예요 combines the two senses: 마음이 착한 (kind-hearted) describes the person, and 천사예요 calls him an angel.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Three short phrases cover the main uses, from comparing something to an angel to naming parts of the image.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 천사 같다 | to be like an angel |
| 천사의 날개 | angel wings |
| 천사 얼굴 | angel face |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ Using 천사 only for a religious angel
Correct: ✓ 천사 also names a kind person, as in 마음이 착한 천사.
Why: In Korean the word is a common compliment. Saying someone is a 천사 praises their good heart, and it is not limited to religious talk.
천사 Compared with 악마, 요정 and 신
Korean pairs 천사 with other figures from stories and belief. Each is a different kind of being.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 천사 | angel | A winged messenger; also a kind person. |
| 악마 | devil | The opposite of 천사, as in angel and devil. |
| 요정 | fairy | A fairy-tale creature, not a messenger from heaven. |
| 신 | god | The deity itself, not a messenger. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
천사 is Sino-Korean: 天使, from 天 (heaven) and 使 (messenger). The meaning 'heavenly messenger' is easy to see in the characters.
A Friend Helps with a Heavy Bag
Jisu
가방이 너무 무거워요.
Gabangi neomu mugeowoyo.
My bag is so heavy.
Alex
제가 들어 줄게요.
Jega deureo julgeyo.
I’ll carry it for you.
Jisu
정말 천사예요. 고마워요.
Jeongmal cheonsayeyo. Gomawoyo.
You’re really an angel. Thank you.
Jisu calls Alex an angel because of a kind action. Nothing in the scene is religious or supernatural. 정말 makes the compliment warmer, and 고마워요 makes the reason clear: Jisu is grateful for the help. The adjective “kind” is not stated, but the offer to carry the bag supplies that meaning.
Praise a Person or Describe an Image
천사 같다 literally means “to be like an angel”. With a sleeping baby, the comparison may concern a peaceful face or sweet appearance. With someone who helps you, it may concern their kindness. The surrounding scene tells you which quality the speaker is praising.
천사 같은 사람 means “a person like an angel”. 같은 links the comparison to the following noun 사람, “person”. This phrase describes someone rather than directly calling for their attention. 천사예요, in contrast, finishes a polite sentence: “you are an angel” or “they are an angel”, depending on context.
천사의 날개 literally means “an angel's wings”. The particle 의 links the being and the wings. On a costume listing or in a drawing activity, the shorter 천사 날개 can name the same familiar image. Neither phrase praises someone's behavior by itself; it names the wings associated with the character.
천사 얼굴 means “angel face”. It often points to an innocent or lovely appearance. That differs from praising a helpful act: someone can be described as having an angelic face without the speaker making a claim about everything they do.
Where Will You Hear or See 천사?
Stories, religious artwork and fantasy dramas use 천사 for an actual angel. Conversations about children, grateful messages and affectionate comments use it figuratively. If a character has wings and comes from heaven, the literal reading fits. If a friend has just done someone a favor, the compliment is the likely reading.
천사 is a warm description, and the word itself does not encode a speech level. 천사예요 is polite; 천사야 is casual. Both forms attach the ending directly because 천사 ends in a vowel. In a grateful conversation, the polite form lets you keep the compliment friendly without switching to casual speech.
Calling someone an angel can sound playful or emotionally warm. For a straightforward description without that imagery, 착하다 means “to be kind” or “to be good-natured”. This is why the existing example 마음이 착한 천사 combines a direct description of character with the figurative noun.
Story Words and Words for Kindness
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 날개 | wing / wings | The physical feature in 천사의 날개. |
| 마음 | heart / mind | Refers to character in 마음이 착하다. |
| 착하다 | to be kind / good | Describes a person's nature directly. |
| 요정 | fairy | A different story creature, even when drawn with wings. |
The culture and religion vocabulary lesson places 천사 beside words for belief and spiritual beings. For compliments about a person's character, the personality vocabulary lesson supplies descriptions that work without a story image.
Quick Self-Test
- A friend carries your heavy bag and you call them 천사. Is that necessarily religious?
- What does 날개 name in 천사의 날개?
- Does 천사 얼굴 mainly describe appearance or a particular helpful action?
Show answers
- No. It is a compliment for their kindness.
- Wings.
- Appearance; the phrase alone does not describe an act of help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say 'angel' in Korean?
Say 천사 (cheonsa).
Can 천사 describe a person?
Yes. 그는 마음이 착한 천사예요 means he is an angel with a kind heart.
What is the opposite of 천사?
악마, meaning devil.
How do I say 'angel wings'?
Say 천사의 날개.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: culture and religion vocabulary groups 천사 with its neighbours.
- Compare with 신, the deity.
- Next word: soul in Korean.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 천사 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.