Key Facts
- Word: 정부 (jeongbu), noun, Sino-Korean origin
- Register: Neutral to formal; news.
- Hanja: 政府 (政 govern + 府 office)
- Senses: government
Government in Korean: What Does 정부 Mean?
정부 means the governing body that runs the state and carries out its policies. In Korean news the government typically "announces" things, as in the first example. It does not mean the whole country (that is 국가), and it does not mean politics as an activity (정치).
How Do You Pronounce 정부?
The word is [정부], two syllables with no sound change. The ㅓ vowel is unrounded, so keep your lips relaxed and open. The ㅂ in 부 is soft, close to a b between vowels. With the particle 의 the word becomes 정부의.
Example Sentences with 정부
정부가 새 정책을 발표했어요.
jeongbuga sae jeongchaegeul balpyohaesseoyo
The government announced a new policy.
새 정책 is "new policy", and 발표했어요 is the past of "announced". The particle 가 marks 정부 as the one that did the announcing.
한국 정부는 서울에 있어요.
hanguk jeongbuneun seoure isseoyo
The Korean government is in Seoul.
에 marks the location, and 있어요 says the thing is there. 한국 정부는 uses the topic marker 는 to introduce the Korean government and then comment on it.
정부의 지원을 받았어요.
jeongbuui jiwoneul badasseoyo
I received government support.
의 turns 정부 into a possessor, so 정부의 지원 is "support of the government". 받았어요 is the past of "received".
Common Phrases and Collocations
These phrases are typical of news reports and official notices.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 정부 정책 | government policy |
| 정부 지원 | government support |
| 정부가 발표하다 | the government announces |
The Mistake to Avoid: Government Versus Politics
Wrong: ✗ 정부 meaning "politics" as a field of talk
Correct: ✓ 정치 for politics as an activity
정부 is the governing body itself, so it is a noun for who holds authority. Politics as a subject or activity is 정치.
정부 Compared with Similar Words
Words near 정부 differ in scale and in what they name.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 국가 | nation / state | The country as an entity. |
| 정치 | politics | Political activity. |
| 시청 | city hall | Local government office. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
정부 is Sino-Korean, written 政府 in hanja: 政 means "govern" and 府 means "office". It is literally the governing office.
Reading a Notice about Public Support
Two classmates are looking at a notice for a support program. The conversation identifies the source of the support before looking for practical details.
Mina
이건 정부 지원이에요?
igeon jeongbu jiwonieyo?
Is this government support?
Jisu
네, 정부가 발표했어요.
ne, jeongbuga balpyohaesseoyo.
Yes, the government announced it.
Mina
어디에서 신청해요?
eodieseo sincheonghaeyo?
Where do we apply?
Jisu
안내문을 같이 봐요.
annaemuneul gachi bwayo.
Let us look at the notice together.
정부 지원 identifies who provides the support; 신청하다 means to apply. The source and the application location are separate pieces of information. A notice can describe government support while directing applicants to another office or an online application page.
Where Will You See 정부?
정부 appears in news headlines, public information pages and notices about support programs. A headline may put 정부 first and then name a policy or announcement. This makes the government the actor in the story. Look for the following verb to learn whether it announced, changed or supported something.
In ordinary conversation, 정부 is also natural when people discuss public decisions. The noun itself does not make a sentence stiff. A learner can combine it with the same polite endings used elsewhere, as in the existing example about receiving support. Formal news language and everyday speech differ mainly in the sentence around it.
The label 한국 정부 identifies the Korean government. It does not mean every Korean person agrees with a policy. Similarly, 국가 names the state or nation more broadly, while 정부 focuses on the governing body. Keeping that distinction helps when reading an article that mentions both institutions and citizens.
Reading Common Government Phrases
정부 정책 means a policy of the government. In a compact noun phrase, Korean can place the two nouns together without 의. 정부의 정책 spells out the relationship more explicitly. Both point to policy, while 정부 지원 points to assistance. The second noun tells you what the government is associated with.
정부가 발표하다 includes the subject marker 가, so it is already the beginning of a sentence: “the government announces”. 정부 발표, without 가 and the verb ending, can function as a compact label meaning a government announcement. This difference is useful in headlines, where space is limited and noun phrases are frequent.
Two further combinations identify scale: 중앙 정부 means the central government, and 지방 정부 means local government. The local office called 시청 is a place you may visit, while a government is an institution. A direction to city hall is therefore more specific than a reference to government in general.
Related Words for Reading Civic News
| Korean | Meaning | What it names |
|---|---|---|
| 정책 | policy | A course of action, rather than the body carrying it out. |
| 지원 | support; assistance | Help provided by an institution or person. |
| 국민 | citizens; the people | People of a nation rather than its government. |
| 대통령 | president | A public office or its holder, rather than the whole government. |
The politics and government lesson introduces the wider civic set. When reading a headline, identify the actor first, then the action, then the affected group; this prevents 정부 and 국민 from blending into a vague idea of “the country”.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word names politics as a field: 정부 or 정치?
- In 정부 지원, what does 지원 tell you?
- Does 국민 mean the governing body?
Show answers
- 정치. 정부 names the government.
- It tells you the phrase concerns support or assistance.
- No. It refers to the citizens or people of a nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is government in Korean?
It is 정부 (jeongbu), a neutral-to-formal noun.
Is 정부 the same as 정치?
No. 정부 is the governing body, and 정치 is politics.
How do I say "government policy"?
Say 정부 정책.
What is the difference between 정부 and 국가?
정부 is the government, while 국가 is the nation or state as a whole.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: It is listed under politics and government vocabulary with the other civic words.
- Index: the Korean words A to Z page lists every word entry, including government.
- Practice: put 정부 on your cards with the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next word: president in Korean is the next word in this list.