Key Facts
- Hangul: 어린이날; Revised Romanization: eorininal
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral; a national holiday on May 5.
Children's Day in Korean: What Does 어린이날 Mean?
어린이날 is a native compound of 어린이 (child) and 날 (day). It is a neutral word and the name of a national public holiday on May 5.
How Do You Pronounce 어린이날?
Read it as one word: eo-ri-ni-nal. In 어린이, the final ㄴ of 린 links into the following 이, giving the sequence ri-ni. The romanization eorininal follows that pronunciation. The ㄹ at the start of 린 is a light tap.
Example Sentences with 어린이날
어린이날은 5월 5일이에요.
eorininareun o wol o irieyo.
Children's Day is May 5.
The date is spelled with Sino-Korean numbers: 5월 5일. 이에요 closes the sentence.
어린이날에 아이들에게 선물을 줘요.
eorininare aideurege seonmureul jwoyo.
On Children's Day we give presents to children.
에게 marks the receiver (the children), and 줘요 is the verb for giving, so gifts are central to the day.
어린이날에 놀이공원에 갔어요.
eorininare norigongwone gasseoyo.
On Children's Day I went to an amusement park.
갔어요 is the past of going. 놀이공원 is an amusement park, a typical outing.
Phrases Built on 어린이날
The holiday words form a small family around 어린이날.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 어린이날 선물 | Children's Day present |
| 어린이날 행사 | Children's Day event |
| 어린이날 연휴 | Children's Day holiday |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners split the compound because English writes "Children's Day" as two words.
Wrong: 어린이 날
Correct: 어린이날, written as a single word
어린이날 Compared with Similar Words
어린이 is a polite, slightly formal word for a child, used on public signs and in names such as this holiday, while 아이 is the everyday word. Neither names the holiday on its own.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 어린이 | child | child (respectful) |
| 아이 | child | child |
Where Does 어린이날 Come From?
어린이날 is built from native Korean parts, so it has no hanja.
Cultural Note
Children's Day on May 5 is a public holiday when families take children on outings.
Planning a Children’s Day Outing
Two parents are deciding where to take their child for the holiday. One suggests a destination and the other agrees.
Parent A
어린이날에 어디 갈까요?
Eorininare eodi galkkayo?
Where shall we go on Children’s Day?
Parent B
동물원에 가요.
Dongmurwone gayo.
Let’s go to the zoo.
Parent A
좋아요. 선물도 준비할까요?
Joayo. Seonmuldo junbihalkkayo?
Sounds good. Shall we prepare a present too?
Parent B
네, 같이 고르러 가요.
Ne, gachi goreureo gayo.
Yes, let’s go choose one together.
어린이날에 places the outing on Children’s Day. The question ending 갈까요 invites a shared decision. In the answer, 가요 is a suggestion because the speakers are making a plan. 선물도 adds “a present too”, and 같이 means together. The scene concerns one family’s plans, rather than a fixed celebration everyone must follow.
What Do Holiday Notices Mean?
어린이날 행사 means a Children’s Day event. 행사 could be a performance, activity, or organized celebration; the phrase alone does not tell you the program. 행사 안내 means event information. On a poster, look for the date, location, and participation details beside that heading.
어린이날 선물 means a present for Children’s Day. The holiday modifies 선물, and there is a space between the two complete words. 어린이날 itself remains one word. This contrast is useful in search results and shop signs: join the holiday name, then separate the thing associated with it.
어린이날 연휴 describes a holiday period around Children’s Day. 연휴 means consecutive days off, so it does not mean that May 5 is always a long weekend. A heading using 연휴 concerns the surrounding calendar as well as the holiday itself. Read the dates shown rather than inferring the length of a break from the word.
How Do You Talk about the Day in a Sentence?
어린이날에 means “on Children’s Day”, making the holiday a time expression. 어린이날은 makes the holiday the topic, as in the existing example that gives its date. The difference is practical: one tells you when an outing happens, and the other introduces information about the holiday.
어린이날 선물 has no particle after 어린이날 because the holiday name directly describes the present. In 어린이날에 선물을 줘요, 에 instead marks when someone gives a present. The two patterns mention the same occasion but organize the sentence differently.
The holiday name is neutral. Parents can say it in everyday conversation, and an institution can use it in an event title. Politeness comes from the surrounding sentence, such as the dialogue’s suggestions ending in 요, rather than from changing the name of the holiday.
Where Will You See 어린이날 and 어린이?
Shops use 어린이날 in gift displays, and museums or parks may put it in event titles. 어린이 on a ticket or facility sign identifies children as a visitor category. 어린이날 names the occasion; 어린이 names the people. A children’s ticket is not automatically a ticket for Children’s Day.
A poster may say 어린이날 행사 even if its event takes place on a nearby date. The title links the activity to the celebration, while the printed schedule gives the actual day and time. This distinction helps when comparing an event poster with a family’s plan for May 5.
Words for a Holiday Outing
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 선물 | present | The thing given in the second example. |
| 행사 | event | Look for its own schedule and location. |
| 놀이공원 | amusement park | A destination in the third example. |
| 동물원 | zoo | The destination suggested in the dialogue. |
| 휴일 | day off / holiday | Describes a day without usual work or duties. |
The holidays vocabulary lesson introduces other occasions. Learn each occasion’s name separately from the practical words for gifts, events, and destinations; those words help you read what is actually planned.
Quick Self-Test
- Should the holiday name be written 어린이날 or 어린이 날?
- Which particle means “on” in 어린이날에?
- Does 어린이날 연휴 mean May 5 always gives a long weekend?
Show answers
- 어린이날, as one word.
- 에 marks the time of the activity.
- No. 연휴 refers to consecutive days off around the occasion; check the dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Children's Day in Korea?
It falls on May 5, as the first example says: 어린이날은 5월 5일이에요.
How do you say Children's Day in Korean?
Say 어린이날 (eorininal), written as one word.
What do people do on 어린이날?
They give presents and go on outings, for example to an amusement park.
How is 어린이날 pronounced?
Say eo-ri-ni-nal. The ㄴ in 린 links into the following 이 in 어린이; the ㄹ is a light tap.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Culture and holidays words places 어린이날 among its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare with 아이 on its own page.