Key Facts
- Hangul: 충전기; Revised Romanization: chungjeongi
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 充電器 (充 fill + 電 electricity + 器 device)
- Register: Neutral, everyday noun.
Charger in Korean: What Does 충전기 Mean?
충전기 is a charger, the device that charges a phone, laptop or earbuds. It is a neutral, everyday noun. The name is built from 충전 (charging) plus 기, an ending for a device, which is why you can read it as "the charging machine".
How Do You Pronounce 충전기?
충전기 has three syllables: chung-jeon-gi. The middle ㅈ is written j, and the last ㄱ is a soft g between vowels. Nothing in the word tenses or changes shape, so you can read it as spelled.
Example Sentences with 충전기
충전기 있어요?
Chungjeongi isseoyo?
Do you have a charger?
충전기 있어요? is the quickest way to ask to borrow one; 있어요 literally asks "is there one?".
이 충전기는 제 휴대폰에 안 맞아요.
I chungjeongineun je hyudaepone an majayo.
This charger does not fit my phone.
안 맞아요 means "does not fit", and 제 휴대폰 is my phone.
충전기를 책상 위에 놓았어요.
Chungjeongireul chaeksang wie noasseoyo.
I put the charger on the desk.
책상 위에 means "on the desk", and 놓았어요 is the past tense of putting something down.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 휴대폰 충전기 | phone charger |
| 충전기를 꽂다 | to plug in a charger |
| 충전기를 빌리다 | to borrow a charger |
| 무선 충전기 | wireless charger |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 충전 for the device itself
Correct: ✓ 충전기
Why: 충전 is the action, and 충전하다 means "to charge". The thing you plug in is 충전기, with the device ending 기.
충전기 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 충전기 | charger | The word on this page. |
| 충전 | charging | The action of charging, not the machine that does it. |
| 배터리 | battery | The cell inside the device. |
| 보조 배터리 | power bank | A portable battery you carry to top up other devices. |
A 충전기 plugs into the wall, but a 보조 배터리 carries power with you.
Where Does the Word Come From?
충전기 is Sino-Korean, written 充電器 in hanja: 充 (fill), 電 (electricity) and 器 (device).
Borrowing a Charger at Work
Alex has a low phone battery and asks a coworker for help at their desk.
Alex
혹시 충전기 있어요?
Hoksi chungjeongi isseoyo?
Do you happen to have a charger?
Jisu
네. 여기 있어요.
Ne. Yeogi isseoyo.
Yes. Here it is.
Alex
잠깐 빌려도 돼요?
Jamkkan billyeodo dwaeyo?
May I borrow it for a moment?
Jisu
네. 다 쓰면 돌려주세요.
Ne. Da sseumyeon dollyeojuseyo.
Sure. Please return it when you are done.
혹시 softens the opening: the speaker is checking whether a charger is available. 잠깐 means “for a moment” and makes the borrowing request more specific. Asking whether someone has one starts the exchange; the next question actually asks permission to use it. The final line makes clear that the charger is being lent.
Which Charger Part Do You Need?
충전기 can refer to a charger as a whole, but a listener may need to know whether you want the wall adapter, the cable or both. A phone charging setup often has separate pieces. If someone hands you only the adapter, asking for 케이블, “cable,” identifies the missing part without changing the main word.
휴대폰 충전기 names a phone charger and 노트북 충전기 names a laptop charger. The device name goes before 충전기. 무선 충전기 means a wireless charger: 무선 describes charging without a cable connection to the phone. It does not mean that every part of the charging setup works without a power cable.
고속 충전기 is a fast charger. In a shop, that phrase describes a charging feature, while the connector name identifies the physical connection. Simply knowing the word 충전기 does not tell you whether a particular charger matches your device. Showing the phone and its connector helps the shop assistant understand what you need.
Phrases for Plugging in and Charging
충전기를 꽂다 means to plug in a charger. 꽂다 focuses on inserting the plug. 충전하다 means to charge, so it focuses on supplying power to the device. A charger can be plugged in while the phone is still disconnected; the two expressions describe different parts of the process.
충전 중 means “charging” or “charging in progress.” You may see it on a screen while the battery gains power. 충전 완료 means “charging complete.” Neither label names the charger itself. The final 기 is what turns 충전 into the name of the device in 충전기.
충전이 안 돼요 means “It won't charge.” This is useful when a phone is connected but the battery is not charging. It describes the problem without deciding whether the cable, adapter or phone caused it. By contrast, the existing example 안 맞아요 says that the charger does not fit or suit the phone.
Where Will You See 충전기?
Look for 충전기 on product packaging and in online listings for phone accessories. A shared charging area may instead use 충전, because the sign offers the service of charging. 충전기 대여 means charger rental or lending; 대여 tells you that the item is provided for temporary use.
The noun is neutral enough for both a shop and a conversation with a friend. With an unfamiliar person, the dialogue's 있어요? and 빌려도 돼요? keep the request polite. There is no separate respectful word for the charger itself.
Words to Use beside 충전기
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 케이블 | cable | Ask for this if you have the adapter but need the lead. |
| 어댑터 | adapter | Names the adapter rather than the whole charging setup. |
| 콘센트 | electrical outlet | The place where you plug in the charger. |
| 충전 중 | charging in progress | A status message, not an accessory. |
The technology vocabulary lesson connects these accessory words with the devices they serve.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word names the action: 충전 or 충전기?
- What does 무선 충전기 mean?
- What can you say if the phone is connected but will not charge?
Show answers
- 충전. 충전기 names the device.
- A wireless charger.
- 충전이 안 돼요.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "charger" in Korean?
Charger in Korean is 충전기 (chungjeongi), a neutral noun.
How do I say "phone charger"?
Say 휴대폰 충전기. A wireless charger is a 무선 충전기.
How do I ask to borrow a charger?
Use 충전기를 빌리다 for "to borrow a charger", or simply ask 충전기 있어요?
What is the difference between 충전 and 충전기?
충전 is the act of charging, and 충전기 is the device that charges.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Technology and Internet groups 충전기 with its neighbours.
- Index: find charger beside every other single-word entry in Korean words A to Z.
- See also computer.