Key Facts
- Hangul: 머리; Revised Romanization: meori
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral everyday word; 'head' and 'hair' share this word.
Head in Korean: What Does 머리 Mean?
머리 has two senses, head and hair on the head. It is a neutral everyday word. The third example also shows a figurative use, where 머리가 좋아요 describes someone as smart.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Two syllables, meo-ri. In the romanization meo, the letters eo stand for a single vowel, ㅓ, close to the u in "but".
Example Sentences with 머리
머리가 아파요.
meoriga apayo.
I have a headache.
The pattern for a headache is the body part plus 아파요, which also works for the back or the arm.
머리를 감았어요.
meorireul gamasseoyo.
I washed my hair.
감았어요 is the past tense of 감다 (gamda), used here for washing hair, so 머리 means hair in this sentence.
머리가 좋아요.
meoriga joayo.
He is smart.
Here 머리가 좋아요 is a figurative statement that someone is smart.
Collocations
The three phrases show three different meanings: pain, hair and intelligence.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 머리가 아프다 | to have a headache |
| 머리를 자르다 | to get a haircut |
| 머리가 좋다 | to be smart |
The Mistake to Avoid
Mistake: reading 머리 only as head.
Correction: it also means the hair, so 머리를 자르다 is get a haircut, not cut your head.
머리 Compared with Similar Words
머리카락 refers specifically to hair or strands of hair, whereas 머리 can mean either the head or its hair. 얼굴 is the face only, not the whole head.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 머리 | head | This page's word |
| 머리카락 | hair / strands of hair | Specifically hair; 머리 also names the head itself. |
| 얼굴 | face | 얼굴 is the face only, not the whole head. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
머리 is a native Korean word with no hanja.
At the Hair Salon: How Much Should We Cut?
A customer wants a small trim. The stylist asks about length, so 머리 clearly means hair in this scene.
Stylist
머리를 얼마나 자를까요?
Meorireul eolmana jareulkkayo?
How much should I cut your hair?
Customer
조금만 잘라 주세요.
Jogeumman jalla juseyo.
Please cut just a little.
Stylist
앞머리도 자를까요?
Ammeorido jareulkkayo?
Shall I cut your bangs too?
Customer
네, 눈썹 위까지 잘라 주세요.
Ne, nunsseop wikkaji jalla juseyo.
Yes, please cut them to above my eyebrows.
얼마나 asks “how much”, while 조금만 limits the amount to “just a little”. The customer can answer without repeating 머리 because the stylist has already named it. 앞머리 means bangs or a fringe. In its romanization, ammeori reflects the way the final ㅍ sounds before ㅁ.
Which Verb Tells You Whether 머리 Means Head or Hair?
The verb often settles the meaning before you translate the whole sentence. 머리를 감다 means to wash your hair. 머리를 빗다 means to comb it, and 머리를 말리다 means to dry it. These are hair-care actions, so translating 머리 as “head” would hide what the person is doing.
With body movements, 머리 means the head itself. 머리를 숙이다 means to lower or bow your head. 머리를 들다 means to lift your head. Notice that these actions take 머리를, just as the haircut phrase does; the object marker alone cannot tell you which meaning applies.
For hair length, 머리가 길다 means to have long hair and 머리가 짧다 means to have short hair. Korean describes the hair as long or short rather than using a separate verb meaning “have”. A salon photograph or a conversation about hairstyles makes the intended sense clear.
What Do Common 머리 Expressions Really Mean?
머리를 쓰다 literally means to “use your head”. In everyday use it means to think, reason, or use your ingenuity. It suits a puzzle or a problem that needs a clever solution. It does not describe moving your head or using your hair.
머리를 식히다 literally means to “cool your head”. It often means taking a break to clear your mind, perhaps by stepping outside after studying. The cooling image is figurative; the speaker is talking about mental relief.
머리가 아프다 can also be figurative. Someone facing a complicated decision may say it because the problem is giving them a headache. At a clinic it usually reports physical pain. In a conversation about bills or work, listen for whether the speaker is describing pain or frustration.
Where Will You Hear 머리?
At home, hair-washing and hair-drying talk often uses 머리 without “my” or “your”. In a salon, the same noun appears in requests about cutting, length, and styling. 미용실 means hair salon, so that word provides a useful setting clue.
In dramas or casual conversation, 머리가 좋다 praises someone's intelligence. It does not praise the appearance of their hair. For a hairstyle, speakers use words about appearance or style, such as 머리 모양, “hairstyle” or “the shape of the hair”.
머리 is neutral vocabulary. The polite request in the dialogue comes from 주세요, not from changing the body-part noun. This lets you keep the same word while making a salon request politely.
Nearby Body and Hair Words
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 앞머리 | bangs / fringe | The hair over the forehead. |
| 이마 | forehead | The area above the eyebrows. |
| 두피 | scalp | The skin under the hair. |
| 목 | neck | The part connecting the head to the body. |
Use the body vocabulary lesson to place 머리 beside the face, neck, and other body parts. 머리카락 can refer to hair collectively as well as individual strands; add a counting expression when you specifically mean one strand.
Quick Self-Test
- At a salon, what does 머리를 자르다 mean?
- Does 머리를 쓰다 usually describe a hairstyle?
- Which word means bangs or a fringe?
Show answers
- To get a haircut or cut the hair.
- No. It means to think or use your ingenuity.
- 앞머리.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say head in Korean?
Say 머리 (meori).
Does 머리 also mean hair?
Yes. 머리를 감았어요 means I washed my hair.
How do I say I have a headache?
Say 머리가 아파요.
What is 머리카락?
It means hair or strands of hair, and can refer to hair collectively.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: People body vocabulary groups 머리 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.