Key Facts
- Hangul: 칼; Revised Romanization: kal
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native
- Register: Neutral everyday word; for the table knife the loanword 나이프 is also used.
Knife in Korean: What Does 칼 Mean?
칼 means knife and blade, in a neutral everyday register. The loanword 나이프 is also used for the table knife. The native word covers kitchen and general knives.
How Do You Pronounce 칼?
Romanized kal. A single syllable that ends in l, with the tongue tip touching the ridge behind the upper teeth. Before a vowel particle the l moves across, giving [ka-ri] in the first example.
Example Sentences with 칼
칼이 날카로워요.
kari nalkarowoyo.
The knife is sharp.
날카로워요 means sharp. The sentence describes the tool, so it works as a warning or a compliment.
칼로 고기를 잘라요.
kallo gogireul jallayo.
I cut meat with a knife.
고기 is meat, and 잘라요 is cut. The particle 로 after the knife marks the tool, which matters in the mistake below.
칼 조심하세요.
kal josimhaseyo.
Be careful with the knife.
조심하세요 is the polite imperative, be careful. It is short enough to say quickly if someone picks up a blade.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Cutting, sharpening and two compounds, 식칼 and 칼날, make up the set.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 칼로 자르다 | to cut with a knife |
| 칼을 갈다 | to sharpen a knife |
| 식칼 | kitchen knife |
| 칼날 | blade |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners mark the knife as the object.
- Wrong: 칼을 자르다 (this means cutting the knife itself)
- Right: 칼로 자르다 (to cut with a knife)
The knife is the tool, so it takes 로.
칼 Compared with Similar Words
Two tools sit near the knife. 나이프 is the table knife used at the meal. 가위 is the scissors, which cut with two blades.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 나이프 | table knife | The knife used at the table. |
| 가위 | scissors | Used to cut with two blades. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
칼 is a native Korean word with no hanja form.
Preparing Fruit in a Friend’s Kitchen
A guest wants to cut an apple. The host points out the knife and gives a short warning.
Guest
칼이 어디 있어요?
Kari eodi isseoyo?
Where is the knife?
Host
도마 옆에 있어요.
Doma yeope isseoyo.
It is beside the cutting board.
Guest
이 칼로 사과를 잘라도 돼요?
I kallo sagwareul jallado dwaeyo?
May I cut the apple with this knife?
Host
네. 칼이 날카로우니까 조심하세요.
Ne. Kari nalkarounikka josimhaseyo.
Yes. Be careful, because the knife is sharp.
칼로 names the tool and 사과를 names the apple being cut. The question also asks permission: 잘라도 돼요 means “may I cut it?” The guest is checking whether this is an appropriate knife to use, rather than asking the host to do the cutting.
The host’s answer uses 조심하세요, the same polite warning as the earlier example. 날카로우니까 gives the reason for the warning. You can understand the practical message even if the longer adjective form is still new: the knife is sharp, so take care.
Useful Phrases with a Real Blade
칼이 잘 들다 means a knife cuts well. Here 들다 is about the blade’s cutting performance, rather than lifting or holding it. A knife can look impressive but fail to cut well, so this phrase tells you something about how it works.
칼이 무디다 means a knife is blunt. It contrasts with 칼이 날카롭다, “the knife is sharp”. These describe the blade’s condition. 칼을 갈다 describes the action of sharpening it. The object marker 을 belongs with the knife because the knife is what receives the sharpening.
칼집 is a knife sheath, but 칼집을 내다 in cooking means to score an ingredient: make shallow cuts in its surface. A recipe mentioning meat or vegetables gives you that cooking meaning. It is not asking you to make a storage case for your knife.
Figurative 칼 in Everyday Expressions
칼같이 means “with strict precision” or “exactly”, depending on context. Literally it evokes a knife’s sharpness. With a time, it can describe doing something exactly on schedule. With a person’s decision, it can suggest firmness and a clear boundary.
칼퇴근 is an informal expression for leaving work right on time. It does not refer to carrying a knife home. The 칼 part adds the idea of a precise cut-off. You may hear it in office conversation or see it in casual writing about the working day.
Keep these expressions as complete units. The figurative meaning of 칼같이 does not mean every phrase containing 칼 is figurative. In a kitchen, 칼을 갈다 will usually be about sharpening a real tool; the surrounding situation supplies the meaning.
Where You Will Hear 칼
Cooking videos use 칼 when demonstrating cutting and blade care. At a Western-style restaurant, 나이프 is a common word for the table knife, especially alongside 포크, “fork”. In a historical drama, 칼 can also refer to a sword. The scene tells you what kind of blade is meant.
The noun is neutral. 칼 조심하세요 is a polite warning rather than a formal name for a special knife. When asking someone to pass an item, naming the type or pointing to it helps distinguish a kitchen knife from scissors or another cutting tool.
Tools and Parts to Learn Together
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 도마 | cutting board | The surface food rests on while you cut it. |
| 식칼 | kitchen knife | Specifies a knife for food preparation. |
| 칼날 | blade / cutting edge | Names the sharp working part. |
| 가위 | scissors | A different tool, often also used with food. |
The kitchen vocabulary lesson places these tools in the same room. Learn 도마 with 칼 so you can describe both the tool and the surface needed for preparing ingredients.
Quick Self-Test
- In 칼로 사과를 잘라요, which item is the tool?
- What does 칼이 잘 들다 tell you about a knife?
- Does 칼퇴근 describe an actual knife?
Show answers
- 칼, marked by 로.
- It cuts well.
- No. It is an informal expression for leaving work right on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say knife in Korean?
Say 칼 (kal).
How do you say "cut with a knife"?
Say 칼로 자르다. The particle 로 marks the knife as the tool.
What is a kitchen knife?
It is 식칼.
What is the word for blade?
Use 칼날.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Daily life home kitchen vocabulary groups 칼 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare with 가위, the scissors.
- Related theme: kitchen vocabulary.