Key Facts
- Hangul: 회; Revised Romanization: hoe
- Part of speech: counter
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 回 (round / time)
- Register: Neutral; counter for episodes, rounds and times, e.g., 1회, 2회.
Episode in Korean: What Does 회 Mean?
회 has two linked senses: an episode of a TV series, and more generally a round or a time, as in the 2nd round of a contest. It is neutral and is used after numbers, e.g., 1회, 2회.
How Do You Pronounce 회?
One syllable, hoe. The vowel starts with a rounded sound and glides to e, close to "hweh" said quickly.
Example Sentences with 회
이 드라마는 12회예요.
I deuramaneun sibi hoeyeyo.
This drama has 12 episodes.
A number plus 회 gives the total. 예요 closes the sentence, and 12 is read with the Sino-Korean number sibi, since 회 counts with Sino-Korean numbers.
어제 5회를 봤어요.
Eoje o hoereul bwasseoyo.
I watched episode 5 yesterday.
The object marker 를 attaches to 회 here, and 봤어요 is the past tense of watching.
다음 회가 기다려져요.
Daeum hoega gidaryeojyeoyo.
I look forward to the next episode.
The verb 기다려져요 conveys anticipation that builds on its own. This is how fans talk about a cliffhanger.
Common Phrases with 회
Dramas use a small, fixed set of episode phrases. These three are the ones you will see on listings.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1회 | episode 1 |
| 다음 회 | next episode |
| 마지막 회 | final episode |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: assuming 회 is the only episode counter, or reading 화 on a webtoon list as a typo.
Correct: both count episodes. 회 is usual for TV dramas, and 화 is more common for webtoons and animation.
Also note that a separate word 회 means raw fish. A drama title or an episode listing points to the episode sense; a restaurant menu points to the food. A number before 회 can also count rounds or occasions, so read the surrounding words.
회 Compared with Similar Words
Two neighbours show where 회 stops: 화 is another episode counter, and 번 counts times or numbers.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 회 | episode | This page's word |
| 화 | episode | Common for webtoon chapters and animation |
| 번 | time | How many times something happens, or a number in a sequence |
Where Does 회 Come From?
회 is Sino-Korean, written 回 in hanja with the sense of a round or a time.
Catching up with a Friend about a Drama
Mina
몇 회까지 봤어요?
Myeot hoekkaji bwasseoyo?
Up to which episode have you watched?
Jisu
오 회까지 봤어요.
O hoekkaji bwasseoyo.
I have watched up to episode five.
Mina
저는 아직 사 회예요.
Jeoneun ajik sa hoeyeyo.
I am still on episode four.
Jisu
그럼 다음 이야기는 안 할게요.
Geureom daeum iyagineun an halgeyo.
Then I will not talk about what happens next.
The first question asks how far a friend has progressed through a series. 까지 means “up to” or “as far as”, so 오 회까지 includes episode five. The answer does not mean the person watched the same episode five times.
아직 means “still” in the third line. The friends discover they are at different points in the story, and the final speaker agrees to avoid spoilers. These are ordinary polite sentences between friends or coworkers who use 요 with each other.
Episode Number or Number of Viewings?
5회를 봤어요 normally means “I watched episode five” when people are discussing a series. 다섯 번 봤어요 means “I watched it five times”. The first expression locates a part within the story; the second counts repeated viewings. Changing the counter changes the question being answered.
The episode reading uses Sino-Korean numbers: 일 회, 이 회 and 삼 회 for episodes one, two and three. Everyday repetition with 번 uses native Korean numbers, such as 한 번 and 두 번. A number written as a digit hides this spoken difference, so pay attention to which counter follows it.
To specify a series total clearly, 총 12회 means “twelve episodes in total”. An isolated 12회 beside a thumbnail normally identifies episode twelve. The existing sentence about a twelve-episode drama gives a total in context, but the same digits on a listing can identify a particular instalment.
What Labels Appear around 회?
첫 회 is the first episode, 다음 회 is the next episode, and 마지막 회 is the final episode. 마지막 describes the last instalment in the sequence. It does not simply mean the latest episode currently available. A show can have a newest episode while still having more episodes to come.
최종회 is another common label for the final episode. 예고 means a preview, so 다음 회 예고 introduces a preview of the next instalment. A clip carrying that label may reveal future events rather than replaying the episode you just watched.
재방송 means a rerun or repeat broadcast. A programme marked 재방송 can carry the same episode number as its earlier airing. The repeat label tells you about the broadcast, while 회 identifies the instalment. A later showing time does not create a new episode number.
Where Will You See 회 and 화?
Broadcasters' schedules, drama episode lists and entertainment headlines use numbered 회 labels. Streaming menus and fan conversations also use 화. The tendencies described above help with recognition, but the medium does not impose an absolute rule. Follow the numbering used by the series or platform you are discussing.
회 itself is neutral, so the counter works in both a formal listing and a friendly conversation. The full sentence supplies the tone. The food word 회 is a separate word with the same spelling and sound; a restaurant menu and a drama episode list provide very different clues.
Useful Words on an Episode Page
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 예고 | preview | Often introduces a clip for an upcoming episode. |
| 줄거리 | plot summary | Describes the story and may contain spoilers. |
| 재방송 | rerun | A repeat airing of an existing broadcast. |
| 최종회 | final episode | Identifies the end of the series or run. |
The K-drama vocabulary lesson teaches the wider viewing vocabulary. These labels help you choose the full episode, a summary or a preview instead of relying on the episode number alone.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 오 회까지 mean episode five is included?
- How does 다섯 번 봤어요 differ from 5회를 봤어요?
- Does 마지막 회 mean the newest available episode of an unfinished series?
Show answers
- Yes. 까지 includes that endpoint.
- 다섯 번 counts five viewings; 5회 normally identifies episode five in a series discussion.
- No. It means the final episode.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "episode" in Korean?
Say 회 (hoe) after a number, for example 1회.
How do you say "final episode"?
마지막 회.
What is the difference between 회 and 화?
Both count episodes. 회 is common for dramas, and 화 is common for webtoons and animation.
Does 회 have another meaning?
Yes, it can also mean raw fish.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: K-drama vocabulary groups 회 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 회 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Another drama staple: first love in Korean.