Key Facts
- Hangul: 문; Revised Romanization: mun
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 門 (門 door/gate)
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
Door in Korean: What Does 문 Mean?
문 is a noun meaning "door" and "gate". The register is neutral and everyday. It is a short word that covers doors of any kind, from a room to a building, so there is no need for a separate word in most conversations.
How Do You Pronounce 문?
One syllable, mun. It starts with a clear m and ends with an n, so close your lips for the first sound and touch your tongue to the ridge for the last.
Example Sentences with 문
문을 열어 주세요.
muneul yeoreo juseyo.
Please open the door.
A polite request. 문을 is the object, and 열어 주세요 asks someone to open it for you.
문이 닫혀 있어요.
muni dachyeo isseoyo.
The door is closed.
A state description. 닫혀 있어요 says the door is in a closed state, not that someone is closing it now.
문 앞에서 기다려요.
mun apeseo gidaryeoyo.
I wait in front of the door.
A place for waiting. 문 앞에서 means in front of the door, and the verb says what you do there.
Common Phrases and Collocations
The verbs come as a set. 문을 열다 is to open, 문을 닫다 is to close and 문을 잠그다 is to lock. 현관문 is the front door, built by putting the entrance word in front of 문.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 문을 열다 | to open the door |
| 문을 닫다 | to close the door |
| 문을 잠그다 | to lock the door |
| 현관문 | front door |
The Mistake to Avoid
Mistake: using 켜다 or 끄다 (switch on, switch off) with 문. Correct: doors take 열다 (open), 닫다 (close) and 잠그다 (lock); 켜다 and 끄다 are only for devices. Also remember that 문 is not only a room door: it covers gates and entrances of any kind.
문 Compared with Related Words
Two nearby words differ in what they name. One is a window and the other is the main gate.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 문 | door | This page's word |
| 창문 | window | A window, not a door. |
| 대문 | front gate | The main gate of a house or yard. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
문 is Sino-Korean, from the hanja 門, which means door or gate. The single character explains why the Korean word covers both.
At an Apartment Entrance
Jisu has arrived at an apartment building, but the entrance door is locked. She calls her friend upstairs. Both speakers use polite endings, which also work when speaking to a neighbor you do not know well.
Jisu
저 지금 문 앞에 있어요.
Jeo jigeum mun ape isseoyo.
I’m in front of the door now.
Minho
문이 잠겨 있어요?
Muni jamgyeo isseoyo?
Is the door locked?
Jisu
네. 문 좀 열어 주세요.
Ne. Mun jom yeoreo juseyo.
Yes. Please open the door for me.
Minho
네, 잠깐만 기다려 주세요.
Ne, jamkkanman gidaryeo juseyo.
Sure, please wait a moment.
문 앞에 gives Jisu’s location; the earlier example uses 문 앞에서 because waiting is an action done there. 좀 literally means “a little,” but in this request it softens the wording. Jisu is asking for the door to be opened, rather than opened only a little.
닫혀 있어요 and 잠겨 있어요 describe different problems. A closed door may still open when you turn the handle; a locked door needs a key, code or someone to release it. This distinction helps when you are explaining why you cannot get inside.
What Do Door Signs Tell You?
On a shop door, 밀다 means “push” and 당기다 means “pull.” Signs may use the short forms 미세요 and 당기세요, polite instructions to push or pull. These words tell you how to move the door. 자동문 means “automatic door,” so the mechanism opens it for you.
출입문 means an entrance or access door. 비상문 is an emergency door, while 출구 names an exit. The last word points to a way out, which may involve a corridor or stairs as well as a door. Look for the exit information when choosing your route through a building.
When Does Opening a Door Mean Opening a Business?
문을 열다 can describe starting the day’s business. A question about when a cafe opens its door is usually about opening hours. 문을 닫다 can similarly mean finishing business for the day. In a report about a failing shop, it can mean closing the business permanently; the surrounding time words tell you which.
For a physical door, 문을 두드리다 means “to knock on the door.” The same phrase can describe approaching an organization for an opportunity or help. A job seeker figuratively knocking on a company’s door is seeking a chance to enter, rather than necessarily standing outside its building.
Words for the Entrance Area
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 현관 | entrance area of a home | The space where you enter and usually remove your shoes. |
| 손잡이 | handle | Name the part you turn or pull to open the door. |
| 열쇠 | key | The object used to unlock a keyed door. |
| 초인종 | doorbell | What a visitor rings to announce their arrival. |
The house and home vocabulary lesson places these entrance words alongside rooms and household objects. 현관 is the space, while the existing word 현관문 names its door. A request to wait at the entrance can therefore refer to a small area rather than one exact panel.
Quick Self-Test
- Which phrase describes a locked door rather than just a closed one?
- A shop says it will 문을 열다 at nine. What does that usually mean?
- What do you do when a door sign says 당기세요?
Show answers
- 문이 잠겨 있어요 describes a locked door.
- It will open for business at nine.
- Pull the door.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "door" in Korean?
Say 문 (mun).
How do you say "open the door"?
Say 문을 열다. The polite request is 문을 열어 주세요.
Does 문 mean gate too?
Yes. 문 means both door and gate; the main gate of a house is 대문.
What is the front door called?
It is 현관문, the door at the entrance of a home.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: House and Home places 문 with the other words of its topic.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Flashcards: put 문 into the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next entry: The home list continues with the window, so go next to window.