Key Facts
- Hangul: 선물; Revised Romanization: seonmul
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 膳物 (膳 meal, food offering + 物 thing)
- Register: Neutral everyday word; the verb form 선물하다 is the usual way to say 'to give a gift'.
Gift in Korean: What Does 선물 Mean?
선물 is a neutral everyday word. To say "to give a gift" you can use the verb 선물하다, or pair the noun with 주다 (give); to receive one, use 받다. English "gift" and "present" mean the same thing, and Korean uses 선물 for both.
How Do You Pronounce 선물?
Say seon-mul with a short, open first vowel (the eo sound, close to the "u" in "sun", with the lips unrounded). The ㄴ at the end of the first syllable sits right next to ㅁ, so the tongue stays on the ridge behind the teeth for ㄴ and the lips then close for ㅁ.
Example Sentences with 선물
친구에게 선물을 줬어요.
Chinguege seonmureul jwosseoyo.
I gave my friend a gift.
The plainest "gave a gift" sentence. 에게 marks the friend as the receiver, and 줬어요 is the past of 주다, so the whole line is neutral and friendly.
생일 선물을 샀어요.
Saengil seonmureul sasseoyo.
I bought a birthday present.
Shows 선물 with a purpose word in front: the birthday sets what kind of present it is. 샀어요 is the past tense of the verb "to buy".
선물 고마워요.
Seonmul gomawoyo.
Thank you for the gift.
Short and warm, the line you say when you open a gift. The object marker drops out, which is normal in speech: 선물 고마워요 is simply "thanks for the gift".
Common Phrases and Collocations
Giving and receiving use different verbs, and the two noun phrases show 선물 with a word in front (생일) and behind (포장).
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 선물을 주다 | to give a gift |
| 선물을 받다 | to receive a gift |
| 생일 선물 | birthday present |
| 선물 포장 | gift wrapping |
The Mistake to Avoid
When the receiver is older or deserves respect, learners still use 주다.
- Wrong: 선물을 줬어요 (to a teacher, a grandparent or a boss)
- Right: 선물을 드렸어요 (I gave a gift, respectful)
드리다 is the respectful verb for giving to someone above you. The noun stays the same; only the verb shows the respect.
선물 Compared with Similar Words
Two neighbours are easy to mix up. 기념품 is a keepsake from a trip or event, while 선물 is a gift meant for a particular person. 선물세트 is the boxed version you see in shops.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 선물 | gift | This page's word |
| 기념품 | souvenir | A keepsake from a trip or event; 선물 is a gift for someone. |
| 선물세트 | gift set | A boxed set of gifts, common at holidays. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
선물 is Sino-Korean, written 膳物 (膳 meal, food offering + 物 thing). Knowing 物 as "thing" helps with other Sino-Korean nouns.
Cultural Note
Gift sets (선물세트) are traditionally given around holidays such as Chuseok and Seollal, which is why shops fill their shelves with them before those dates.
Asking for Wrapping in a Shop
A customer is buying a birthday present and wants the shop assistant to wrap it.
Customer
이거 선물 포장해 주세요.
Igeo seonmul pojanghae juseyo.
Please gift-wrap this.
Assistant
생일 선물이에요?
Saengil seonmurieyo?
Is it a birthday present?
Customer
네, 친구에게 줄 거예요.
Ne, chinguege jul geoyeyo.
Yes, I’m going to give it to a friend.
Assistant
리본도 달아 드릴까요?
Ribondo dara deurilkkayo?
Shall I add a ribbon too?
선물 포장 names gift wrapping; 포장해 주세요 requests the action. The assistant’s 드릴까요 offers a service respectfully to the customer. The customer uses 줄 거예요 about giving to a friend. Both speakers can be polite while choosing different giving verbs.
Describing the Occasion and the Giver
생일 선물 is a birthday present, 결혼 선물 is a wedding gift, and 집들이 선물 is a housewarming gift. The occasion comes before 선물, so you can recognise the purpose without needing a different word for each kind of present. These phrases describe why the gift is given, rather than what is inside.
선물로 means “as a gift”. In 선물로 받은 책, “a book received as a gift”, the book is the object and 선물로 explains how it came to the owner. Compare 생일 선물: that phrase classifies the gift by occasion. The two patterns give different information about the same item.
선물을 고르다 means to choose a gift. It covers deciding what to give, while 선물을 사다 concerns buying it. A handmade present can still be a 선물 even when nobody buys it. The word describes the act of giving to someone, not a requirement to spend money.
마음에 들다 means to like something or find it pleasing, literally “enter the heart”. Around gifts, it concerns whether the recipient likes the choice. It is useful when asking about taste; it does not mean that a gift has physically entered someone’s heart.
Where Will You See 선물?
Shopping pages use 선물 추천 for gift suggestions. 추천 means recommendation, so the heading introduces possible presents rather than something automatically included with a purchase. 선물 포장 identifies a wrapping option; check the shop’s details to see how that service works.
선물용 means “for use as a gift” or “suitable for gifting”. The ending 용 marks intended use. A product labelled this way might be packaged for giving, but the label alone does not tell you its price, contents or quality.
In conversation, 선물 is neutral whether you are giving to a child, a friend or a teacher. The respect appears in the verb. A thank-you such as 선물 고마워요 suits a friendly polite exchange; 감사합니다 is a more formal expression of thanks when the situation calls for it.
Words around a Wrapped Present
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 포장 | wrapping / packaging | 선물 포장 specifies gift wrapping. |
| 리본 | ribbon | A decoration the shop may offer. |
| 카드 | card | In this context, a message card accompanying the gift. |
| 집들이 | housewarming visit or gathering | Explains the occasion in 집들이 선물. |
The everyday objects lesson connects gifts with the things people buy, use and give for a new home.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 선물로 mean “as a gift” or “gift shop”?
- Which verb suits giving a present to a teacher: 주다 or 드리다?
- What service are you requesting with 선물 포장해 주세요?
Show answers
- “As a gift”. 로 marks the role here.
- 드리다 shows respect to the recipient.
- Gift wrapping for the item you are buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "gift" in Korean?
Say 선물 (seonmul). It means both "gift" and "present".
What verb goes with 선물 when the receiver is older?
Use 드리다, as in 선물을 드렸어요, instead of 줬어요.
Is 선물 the same as 기념품?
No. 기념품 is a souvenir or keepsake from a trip or event, and 선물 is a gift for someone.
What is a 선물세트?
It is a boxed set of gifts, common at holidays such as Chuseok and Seollal.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: daily life home everyday objects vocabulary groups 선물 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add it to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the everyday-objects list: the page on keys.