Key Facts
- Hangul: 화학; Revised Romanization: hwahak
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 化學 (化 change + 學 study)
- Register: Neutral, everyday word used in both spoken and written Korean.
Chemistry in Korean: What Does 화학 Mean?
화학 is chemistry, the school and university subject as well as the science. It is neutral and appears in classrooms, textbooks and conversation about study. It is narrower than 과학 (science), which covers every branch.
How Do You Pronounce 화학?
화학 has two syllables: hwa-hak. Revised Romanization keeps the h in nouns, so it is hwahak, with ㅎ at the start of both syllables. The final ㄱ is not released, which closes the word on a sharp k sound.
Example Sentences with 화학
저는 화학을 공부해요.
Jeoneun hwahageul gongbuhaeyo.
I study chemistry.
공부해요 means "study", and 화학을 marks the subject being studied.
화학 시험이 어려웠어요.
Hwahak siheomi eoryeowosseoyo.
The chemistry exam was difficult.
시험이 means "the exam" as the subject, and 어려웠어요 is the past tense of "was difficult".
화학 선생님은 아주 친절하세요.
Hwahak seonsaengnimeun aju chinjeolhaseyo.
The chemistry teacher is very kind.
선생님은 is "the teacher" as topic, and 친절하세요 is the respectful form of "is kind".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 화학 실험 | chemistry experiment |
| 화학 물질 | chemical substance |
| 화학 공식 | chemical formula |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 화학 for science in general
Correct: ✓ 과학
Why: 화학 is chemistry only. For science as a whole, say 과학.
화학 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 화학 | chemistry | The word on this page. |
| 물리 | physics | Another science subject, separate from chemistry. |
| 과학 | science | The whole field, which includes 화학 and 물리. |
Study 과학 broadly, and then choose 화학 or 물리 as a specialty.
Where Does the Word Come From?
화학 is Sino-Korean, written 化學 in hanja: 化 (change) plus 學 (study), the study of how matter changes.
Before Chemistry Class
Two classmates check what they need for an afternoon lesson.
Jisu
오늘 화학 수업 있어요?
Oneul hwahak sueop isseoyo?
Do we have chemistry class today?
Alex
네. 오후에 실험을 해요.
Ne. Ohue silheomeul haeyo.
Yes. We are doing an experiment in the afternoon.
Jisu
화학 책도 필요해요?
Hwahak chaekdo piryohaeyo?
Do we need the chemistry book too?
Alex
네. 책도 가져오세요.
Ne. Chaekdo gajyeooseyo.
Yes. Bring the book too, please.
수업 names a class or lesson, so 화학 수업 identifies what is being taught. 실험 names the activity inside that class. In the third line, 도 adds “too”: the speaker checks whether the book is needed as well. 화학 stays unchanged whether it modifies 수업 or 책.
Phrases for Studying Chemistry
화학을 공부하다 means to study chemistry. It can describe homework, independent study or learning the subject at school. 화학을 전공하다 is more specific: it means to major in chemistry. 전공 concerns a main field of study, so use it when you want to identify a university major rather than tonight's homework.
화학 수업 is a chemistry class, while 화학 시험 is a chemistry exam. The subject name comes before the event or activity. You can recognize this structure without translating 화학 as an English adjective: in Korean, the noun itself helps identify the kind of class, exam or book.
화학 실험 means a chemistry experiment. 실험을 하다 literally uses “do” with “experiment,” giving the ordinary expression for conducting one. 화학 반응 means a chemical reaction, the process being observed or studied. An experiment is an activity someone carries out; a reaction is what happens to the substances.
For a chemical formula such as H₂O, 화학식 is the specific term. 공식 is the broader word for a formula, including formulas used in chemistry calculations.
화학 물질 means a chemical substance. It is a broad scientific expression. Whether a particular substance is dangerous depends on the substance and the context; the phrase itself does not mean “poison.” When reading a label, keep the substance name and any separate caution wording attached to it.
Where Will You Hear or See 화학?
On a timetable, 화학 may stand alone as a subject label. In a conversation about an exam, the same word can identify which subject was difficult. At university, 화학과 names a chemistry department, while 화학 전공 identifies chemistry as a major. These expressions help you distinguish an institution from a person's field of study.
In news or product information, 화학 often appears before another noun. 화학 물질 concerns substances and 화학 반응 concerns reactions. Read the complete phrase before translating it: 화학 does not always refer to a school lesson just because that is where you first learned the word.
The word is neutral, so it fits a student conversation and an academic description. The polite ending in 공부해요 belongs to the verb; there is no special polite version of the subject name. A short timetable label naturally has no sentence ending at all.
Does 화학 Mean Chemistry between People?
For a connection between people, casual Korean often uses 케미, a shortened borrowing from English “chemistry.” It can describe how well actors, presenters or friends work together. 화학 is the science word, so a literal substitution for English romantic “chemistry” would sound like a discussion of the subject.
케미 is casual entertainment and conversation vocabulary. It does not name an academic discipline. If someone is choosing a university major, 화학 is the relevant word; if they are praising two drama actors' rapport, 케미 fits that different setting.
A Korean government language explainer gives 호흡 and 궁합, “rapport” and “compatibility,” as Korean alternatives for 케미.
Words for the Classroom and Lab
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 실험 | experiment | An activity used to investigate something. |
| 반응 | reaction | In 화학 반응, a chemical reaction. |
| 전공 | major / specialization | Identifies a main field of study. |
| 생물 | biology / living organism | In a subject list, another branch of science. |
The school subjects lesson helps you place 화학 beside other timetable entries.
Quick Self-Test
- Which is broader: 과학 or 화학?
- Which expression specifies a university major: 화학을 공부하다 or 화학을 전공하다?
- Is 화학 the usual casual word for two actors' rapport?
Show answers
- 과학 means science overall.
- 화학을 전공하다.
- No. 케미 is used for that kind of chemistry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "chemistry" in Korean?
Chemistry in Korean is 화학 (hwahak), a neutral noun.
How do I say "chemistry experiment"?
Say 화학 실험. A chemical substance is a 화학 물질, and a chemical formula is a 화학 공식.
How do I say "I study chemistry"?
Say 저는 화학을 공부해요.
Is 화학 the same as 과학?
No. 화학 is chemistry only, while 과학 is science overall.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: School Subjects groups 화학 with its neighbours.
- Index: find chemistry beside every other single-word entry in Korean words A to Z.
- See also geography.
- See also physics.