Key Facts
- Hangul: 장례식 (jangnyesik)
- Meaning: funeral
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Register: neutral and formal; used for funeral ceremonies
- Hanja: 葬禮式 (葬 bury + 禮 rite + 式 ceremony)
- Spoken form: [장녜식]
- Level: B1
Funeral in Korean: What Does 장례식 Mean?
장례식 is the ceremony, built from bury, rite and ceremony. The place where it is held is the 장례식장, the funeral hall, and holding the rites is 장례를 치르다. Attending is 장례식에 가다. Visitors make a 조문, a condolence visit, and bring 부의금, condolence money. By custom, mourners wear black, give money in a white envelope and greet the family.
How Do You Pronounce 장례식?
Say jang-nye-sik, not jang-re-sik. After the final ㅇ of 장, the ㄹ of 례 becomes ㄴ, and ㅖ sounds like nye. The spelling stays 장례식. The Revised Romanization shows the change as jangnyesik. Before a vowel the ㄱ links on, so 장례식에 is jangnyesige, as in the first example.
How Do You Use 장례식 in a Sentence?
친구의 할머니 장례식에 갔어요.
I went to my friend's grandmother's funeral.
chinguui halmeoni jangnyesige gasseoyo. 친구의 할머니 장례식에 갔어요 says I went to my friend's grandmother's funeral. 의 links the owners, 친구의 and 할머니, and 에 marks the place or event you attended.
장례식은 삼 일 동안 해요.
A funeral is held for three days.
jangnyesigeun sam il dongan haeyo. 장례식은 삼 일 동안 해요 says a funeral is held for three days, the usual length in Korea, though shorter funerals also happen. 삼 일 uses the Sino-Korean numbers, 동안 means for a period, and 해요 is the verb do.
장례식장에 조문하러 갔어요.
I went to the funeral hall to pay my respects.
jangnyesikjange jomunhareo gasseoyo. 장례식장에 조문하러 갔어요 says I went to the funeral hall to pay my respects. 조문하러 gives the purpose of the trip, and 장례식장 is the hall.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 장례식에 가다 | attend a funeral |
| 장례식장 | funeral hall |
| 장례를 치르다 | hold a funeral |
장례식에 가다 is to attend a funeral, and 장례식장 is the funeral hall. 장례를 치르다 is to hold a funeral, with the verb 치르다 for carrying out a rite. The first two are the attendee's phrases, and the third is the family's.
Common Mistake
Wrong: Pronouncing 례 as re (jang-re-sik).
Correct: After ㅇ the ㄹ becomes ㄴ, so the word is said jang-nye-sik.
The same change affects other Sino-Korean words with 례 after ㅇ. The spelling never changes; only the speech does.
How Does 장례식 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How it differs from 장례식 |
|---|---|---|
| 조문 | condolence visit | Visiting the family to offer condolences, not the ceremony. |
| 부의금 | condolence money | The money given in a white envelope at the funeral. |
Arranging a Condolence Visit
Two coworkers discuss visiting a bereaved family. They first identify the funeral hall, then talk about when to pay their respects.
Jisu
장례식장이 어디예요?
Jangnyesikjangi eodiyeyo?
Where is the funeral hall?
Minho
병원 옆에 있어요.
Byeongwon yeope isseoyo.
It is next to the hospital.
Jisu
오늘 조문하러 가요?
Oneul jomunhareo gayo?
Are you going to pay your respects today?
Minho
네, 퇴근하고 갈 거예요.
Ne, toegeunhago gal geoyeyo.
Yes, I will go after work.
장례식장 names the venue. Adding 장 to 장례식 turns the ceremony word into a place word. In the next question, 조문하러 gives the purpose of going: to offer condolences. This is more specific than simply saying you will go to the funeral hall.
The answer 퇴근하고 갈 거예요 means the speaker plans to go after finishing work. It arranges a visit with a coworker; it is not a condolence formula addressed to the family. That difference matters because practical talk before a visit and words spoken to the bereaved serve different purposes.
Words on a Funeral Notice
부고 is a death notice. It may give the deceased person's name, the funeral hall and details of the arrangements. 빈소 names the mourning room where the deceased is commemorated and visitors pay their respects. If a funeral hall contains several rooms, the room information helps identify which family you are visiting.
상주 names the chief mourner, a person with a leading role in the funeral arrangements. 유가족 means the bereaved family. These are people, while 장례식 and 장례식장 name the ceremony and venue. Keeping the categories apart makes a short notice easier to follow.
발인 refers to the departure of the funeral procession from the funeral hall. A notice may list a separate time for it. A time associated with 발인 is therefore not simply another label for the start of a condolence visit. Read the label beside each time rather than assuming all times refer to the same event.
Phrases for Holding and Attending a Funeral
장례를 치르다 means to hold or carry out a funeral. 치르다 is used for carrying out an event or rite; it does not mean cooking or “doing” in every ordinary situation. The phrase describes the family's arrangements, while 조문하다 describes the visitor's act of offering condolences.
부의금을 내다 means to give condolence money. The verb 내다 is literally to put out or pay, but “give” is natural English here. 조의금 is another common term for condolence money. A translation such as “funeral fee” would miss the purpose: this is money given in condolence, rather than an admission charge for attending.
삼가 고인의 명복을 빕니다 is a formal condolence expression: “I respectfully pray for the repose of the deceased.” 고인 is a respectful word for the person who has died. You may see the full expression in written condolences. Keep its solemn tone; it is not an ordinary greeting to use when someone merely mentions feeling sad.
Funeral practices vary by family and religion. The language here helps distinguish a notice, a venue and a condolence visit. A phrase such as 장례식에 가다 does not tell you which religious rites will take place or what every visitor will be expected to do.
Related Words for Notices and Visits
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 부고 | death notice | Announces the death and may give visiting details. |
| 빈소 | mourning room | Identifies the room within the funeral venue. |
| 고인 | the deceased | A respectful word used in condolences. |
| 유가족 | bereaved family | Names the family members left behind. |
The funeral vocabulary lesson teaches the wider set. These words help you read information about a visit without confusing the family, the room and the ceremony.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word names the venue: 장례식 or 장례식장?
- Does 조문하다 describe offering condolences or arranging the funeral?
- Is 부의금 an admission fee?
Show answers
- 장례식장.
- Offering condolences.
- No. It is condolence money given to the bereaved family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does 장례식 Mean?
It means a funeral ceremony.
What Is a 장례식장?
It is a funeral hall, the place where the funeral is held.
How Do I Say I Went to a Funeral?
Say 장례식에 갔어요.
How Do I Say I Went to Pay My Respects?
Say 장례식장에 조문하러 갔어요, which names the funeral hall and the purpose of the visit.
Where to Go Next
For related culture words, open the funeral vocabulary list or browse Korean words A to Z. Review the set in the vocabulary flashcard decks.