Key Facts
- Word: 귀신 (gwisin), noun, Sino-Korean origin
- Register: Neutral; folklore and horror contexts. Lighthearted in daily talk.
- Hanja: 鬼神 (鬼 ghost + 神 spirit)
- Senses: ghost; spirit
Ghost in Korean: What Does 귀신 Mean?
귀신 is the spirit of a dead person, as told in village stories and scary movies. It stays neutral in tone: friends joke about it, and filmmakers build whole genres on it. A 유령 is closer to a Western phantom, and a 도깨비 is a different creature entirely, a goblin from folklore.
How Do You Pronounce 귀신?
The word is [귀신]. The first syllable 귀 is a single beat, the w glide plus i, not two. The second, 신, ends with a plain n. When a particle follows, the n links: 귀신이 is read gwi-si-ni and 귀신을 is read gwi-si-neul.
Example Sentences with 귀신
귀신이 무서워요.
gwisini museowoyo
I am scared of ghosts.
무서워요 means "is scary", and 귀신이 marks the ghost as what is frightening. It is the standard way to admit a fear.
이 집에는 귀신이 있대요.
i jibeneun gwisini itdaeyo
They say there is a ghost in this house.
있대요 is a reported form, "they say there is". The speaker passes on a rumor about a haunted house.
귀신 영화를 봤어요.
gwisin yeonghwareul bwasseoyo
I watched a ghost movie.
귀신 영화 is a compound, a ghost movie. 봤어요 is the past of "watched", so the speaker describes a recent evening.
Common Phrases and Collocations
귀신 pairs with stories, houses and verbs of seeing.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 귀신 이야기 | ghost story |
| 귀신의 집 | haunted house |
| 귀신을 보다 | to see a ghost |
The Mistake to Avoid: Ghost Versus Goblin
Wrong: ✗ 도깨비 for a ghost
Correct: ✓ 귀신 for a ghost
도깨비 is a goblin from folklore, with a different personality and set of stories. A dead person's spirit is a 귀신.
귀신 Compared with Similar Words
Three spirit words split ghosts, phantoms and folklore beings.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 유령 | ghost (phantom) | More like a Western-style ghost. |
| 도깨비 | goblin (dokkaebi) | Folklore creature, not a ghost. |
| 영혼 | soul | Spirit of a living or dead person. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
귀신 is Sino-Korean, written 鬼神 in hanja: 鬼 means "ghost" and 神 means "spirit". The two characters together cover spirits of all kinds.
Choosing a Film with a Friend
Two friends are choosing what to watch. One proposes a ghost film; the other explains why that choice does not appeal.
Mina
오늘 무슨 영화 볼까요?
Oneul museun yeonghwa bolkkayo?
What movie shall we watch today?
Jun
귀신 나오는 영화는 어때요?
Gwisin naoneun yeonghwaneun eottaeyo?
How about a movie with ghosts in it?
Mina
저는 귀신이 무서워요.
Jeoneun gwisini museowoyo.
I am scared of ghosts.
Jun
그럼 코미디 볼까요?
Geureom komidi bolkkayo?
Then shall we watch a comedy?
귀신 나오는 영화 means a film in which ghosts appear. Everyday speech leaves out the subject marker after 귀신 here. 나오는 describes the ghosts appearing in the film; it does not say that someone believes ghosts exist outside the story.
귀신이 무서워요 describes the speaker's fear. The ghost is marked with 이 as the frightening thing. English often makes the person the subject of “be scared”, so a word-for-word translation can obscure the Korean pattern. The topic 저는 tells you who feels that fear.
The suggestion ends in 볼까요, “shall we watch?” The friends keep polite 요 endings even though the subject is playful. 귀신 itself is a neutral noun; its presence does not make a sentence rude or informal.
Everyday Expressions That Are Not about an Actual Ghost
귀신같이 means “uncannily” or “with uncanny accuracy”. Its literal image is being like a ghost or spirit. If someone notices a hidden detail 귀신같이, the point is their surprising ability to detect it. The speaker need not be telling a supernatural story.
귀신같이 알아맞히다 means to guess or identify something with uncanny accuracy. 알아맞히다 supplies the successful guessing. The phrase is useful in an anecdote about someone identifying an answer or seeing through a surprise. Context tells you whether the tone is impressed, amused or suspicious.
귀신이 곡할 노릇 is an idiom for something baffling or inexplicable. Literally, it is a situation that would make even a ghost wail. A speaker might use it after an object disappears despite a careful search. The phrase describes bewilderment, rather than reporting a sound heard in the room.
귀신의 집 literally means “a ghost's house”. At an amusement park or festival, it can name a haunted-house attraction. In a story about an abandoned building, the same phrase may refer to a supposedly haunted place. The setting decides whether people are buying an attraction ticket or telling a ghost story.
Horror Words in Reviews and Conversation
귀신 이야기 is a ghost story, and 괴담 is a strange or frightening tale, often passed around as a rumor. A 괴담 need not feature a ghost. 공포 영화 is the broader expression for a horror film, while 귀신 영화 points to ghosts as part of the content.
유령 overlaps with 귀신 as a word for a ghost or phantom. The Western-style image in the comparison table is a helpful association, rather than a strict rule about nationality. A translation or film title can choose either word according to its tone and setting.
도깨비 belongs to another group of folklore beings. A story can feature a 도깨비 without describing a dead person's spirit. 영혼, by contrast, means soul and can occur in serious or religious discussion without any frightening image. Choosing the word changes the kind of being or idea you are discussing.
Related Words for Scary Stories
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 공포 | horror or fear | Names the genre or the feeling. |
| 괴담 | eerie tale | The story may concern a rumor rather than a ghost. |
| 악몽 | nightmare | A frightening dream, rather than an encounter while awake. |
| 영혼 | soul | Does not automatically imply something scary. |
The religions vocabulary lesson gives the wider spirit-related set. When moving between that topic and a film discussion, keep the setting in mind: a word about a soul is not automatically a word about a horror character.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 귀신같이 always describe a literal ghost?
- Is every 공포 영화 necessarily about ghosts?
- At an amusement park, what is 귀신의 집 likely to mean?
Show answers
- No. It can mean uncannily, as with a remarkably accurate guess.
- No. Horror is broader than ghost films.
- A haunted-house attraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ghost in Korean?
It is 귀신 (gwisin), a folklore noun.
How is 귀신이 pronounced?
It is read gwi-si-ni, with the n linked to the vowel.
Is 귀신 the same as 도깨비?
No. A 도깨비 is a goblin from folklore, not a ghost.
How do I say "ghost story"?
Say 귀신 이야기.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: It is listed in the religions vocabulary set along with the other spirit words.
- Index: the Korean words A to Z page lists every word entry, including ghost.
- Practice: put 귀신 on your cards with the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next word: fire in Korean is the next word in this list.