Key Facts
- Hangul: 건강; Revised Romanization: geongang
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Register: Neutral; used in everyday and formal speech.
- Hanja: 健康 (健 healthy + 康 well)
Health in Korean: What Does 건강 Mean?
건강 has the single sense health: the overall state of someone's body and mind. It is neutral, so it suits a chat with a friend and a doctor's report alike. Add 하다 and you get 건강하다, a descriptive verb (Korean's adjective-like verb) that describes a person as healthy.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Two syllables, geon-gang. The first vowel is ㅓ (eo), close to the "u" in "fun"; the second is ㅏ (a). The first syllable ends in n and the second in ng, and the ㄱ after ㄴ stays a soft, voiced g.
Example Sentences with 건강
건강이 제일 중요해요.
Geongangi jeil jungyohaeyo
Health is the most important thing.
제일 means "the most", and 중요해요 means "is important", so the sentence ranks health first.
할머니는 건강이 좋아요.
Halmeonineun geongangi joayo
My grandmother is in good health.
The pattern 건강이 좋아요 describes a person who is in good health, here the speaker's grandmother.
건강을 위해 매일 걸어요.
Geongangeul wihae maeil georeoyo
I walk every day for my health.
위해 means for the sake of, so this line gives a reason for the daily walk.
Collocations
The preposition-like particle matters: 건강에 좋다 is good for health, and 건강이 좋다 is to be in good health.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 건강이 좋다 | to be in good health |
| 건강을 지키다 | to protect one's health |
| 건강에 좋다 | to be good for one's health |
| 건강 검진 | health checkup |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners translate "this food is healthy" word for word.
Wrong (sounds odd): 이 음식은 건강해요.
Correct: 이 음식은 건강에 좋아요 ("this food is good for your health"). 건강하다 mainly describes a person or a body.
건강 Compared with Similar Words
몸 is the body and 체력 is physical stamina. 건강 is the overall state, so it is the broader of the three.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 건강 | health | This page's word |
| 건강하다 | to be healthy | to be healthy (descriptive verb) |
| 몸 | body | body |
| 체력 | physical stamina | physical stamina |
Where Does the Word Come From?
건강 is Sino-Korean, written 健康 (健 healthy + 康 well).
Cultural Note
A common greeting for elders and in farewells is 건강하세요 (stay healthy). You will also see it on cards and New Year messages.
After a Walk: Talking about Health
Two neighbors meet after an evening walk. One explains the habit; the other responds with a friendly wish.
Neighbor
매일 걸으세요?
Maeil georeuseyo?
Do you walk every day?
Walker
네, 건강을 위해 걸어요.
Ne, geongangeul wihae georeoyo.
Yes, I walk for my health.
Neighbor
건강에 좋겠어요.
Geongange jokesseoyo.
That must be good for your health.
Walker
네. 늘 건강하세요.
Ne. Neul geonganghaseyo.
Yes. Stay healthy.
건강을 위해 gives the purpose of the walk: “for my health”. 건강에 좋겠어요 responds to that purpose with “that must be good for your health”. The ending expresses the neighbor's expectation here. It is a comment about the habit, rather than a report of the walker's medical condition.
Choose the Particle: 건강이, 건강에, or 건강을
건강이 좋다 describes someone's state of health. 건강에 좋다 describes something that benefits health. The tiny change from 이 to 에 changes the relationship: health is either what is good or what receives the benefit. Compare the grandmother example with the food correction above.
건강을 지키다 means to protect or maintain your health. Here health takes 을 because it is what you protect. 건강을 위해 means “for the sake of health”, as in the walking example. These two phrases let you discuss reasons and habits without turning 건강 into an adjective.
To describe a person directly, use 건강하다. The polite form 건강해요 means “is healthy”. The noun 건강 alone cannot finish that description in the same way. Keep the noun for expressions about health, and use 건강해요 when saying that someone is healthy.
Wishes and Phrases with 건강
건강하세요 is a wish: “stay healthy” or “be well”. You can use it when saying goodbye to an older relative or writing a personal message. It does not ask the listener to confirm that they are healthy, and it is warmer than a factual statement about their condition.
건강을 챙기다 means to look after your health. The verb suggests paying attention to your own needs, such as rest or meals. 건강을 지키다 emphasizes maintaining or protecting health. Both are practical everyday combinations, with slightly different emphasis.
건강 관리 means health management or taking care of one's health. You might meet it in a conversation about routines or a heading about daily habits. The phrase names an ongoing activity; 건강 검진 names a checkup. A person can discuss 건강 관리 without talking about an appointment.
Where Will You See 건강 in Writing?
On a clinic website or appointment notice, 건강 검진 identifies a health checkup. Nearby words such as 예약, “reservation” or “appointment”, and 결과, “results”, help you work out whether the notice concerns booking a visit or receiving information afterward.
건강 상태 means health condition or health status. It can appear on forms or in questions about someone's general condition. 건강 보험 means health insurance. Recognizing the second noun matters: a text about insurance is discussing coverage or administration, rather than describing how someone feels.
건강 appears in both conversation and formal writing. The noun itself is neutral. A family farewell with 건강하세요 feels personal because it addresses someone directly; a heading such as 건강 상태 simply labels information.
Words to Learn beside 건강
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 운동 | exercise | An activity often discussed with health habits. |
| 수면 | sleep | Common in writing about rest and routines. |
| 체력 | physical stamina | Focuses on capacity for physical effort. |
| 검진 | checkup / screening | Names an examination rather than overall health. |
The health vocabulary lesson groups words for the body, symptoms, and care. 체력 is especially useful beside 건강: someone can talk about improving stamina without saying that they have an illness.
Quick Self-Test
- Which means “good for health”: 건강이 좋다 or 건강에 좋다?
- Is 건강하세요 a health report or a wish?
- Which phrase names a health checkup?
Show answers
- 건강에 좋다. 건강이 좋다 describes being in good health.
- A wish meaning “stay healthy” or “be well”.
- 건강 검진.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say health in Korean?
Say 건강 (geongang).
How do I say good for your health?
Say 건강에 좋다.
Can I say 건강해요 about food?
Not naturally. 건강하다 describes people, so for food say 건강에 좋아요.
What does 건강 검진 mean?
It means health checkup.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Daily life health vocabulary groups 건강 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.