Key Facts
- 노트북 (noteubuk) means laptop.
- Part of speech: noun; origin: loanword.
- Register: Neutral; the word is a shortening of English 'notebook' and is used for laptop computers.
- Level: A1.
Laptop in Korean: What Does 노트북 Mean?
노트북 is a loanword: it shortens the English "notebook computer" and, in Korean, names only the computer. Both senses, laptop and notebook computer, are the same object. The register is neutral, so you can use it with a shop assistant, a coworker or a friend. Because Korean syllables cannot end in an English-style t, a vowel is added after it, which is where the middle syllable 트 comes from.
How Do You Pronounce 노트북?
Say each syllable evenly: no, teu, buk. The middle vowel ㅡ (eu) is unrounded, made with the lips spread, so it is not an English "oo". The final ㄱ closes the word without a release, much like a stopped k, and before a vowel it becomes g, as in 노트북을 (noteubugeul).
How Do You Use 노트북 in a Sentence?
저는 노트북을 가지고 다녀요.
I carry a laptop with me.
Jeoneun noteubugeul gajigo danyeoyo The object marker follows 노트북 as it does any noun, and 가지고 다녀요 describes carrying something with you. This is the sentence for describing your daily kit.
이 노트북은 가벼워요.
This laptop is light.
I noteubugeun gabyeowoyo 이 points at the thing near you, 가벼워요 means light in weight, and the topic marker 은 puts this laptop in focus. It is a natural shop-floor comment.
노트북을 사고 싶어요.
I want to buy a laptop.
Noteubugeul sago sipeoyo 사고 싶어요 is the want-to-buy pattern, joining the verb to buy with a wish ending. Use it to state a plan or ask for help in a store.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 노트북을 켜다 | to turn on a laptop |
| 노트북 가방 | laptop bag |
| 노트북을 사다 | to buy a laptop |
| 노트북 충전기 | laptop charger |
Four set phrases cover most needs: turn it on, buy it, the bag and the charger. In 노트북 가방 and 노트북 충전기 the word sits in front of the next noun like an adjective, with no marker between them.
Common Mistake
Learners hear the English word notebook and reach for 노트북 when they mean the paper kind.
Wrong: 노트북 for a paper notebook you write in.
Correct: 공책 (or the shorter loanword 노트) for the paper kind; 노트북 only for the computer.
How Does 노트북 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How to tell it from 노트북 |
|---|---|---|
| 컴퓨터 | computer | Computer in general. 노트북 is the portable type, so use it when you mean the one you carry. |
| 공책 | paper notebook | The notebook you write in by hand. Never swap it with 노트북. |
Borrowing a Charger at the Library
Two students are working at a library table. One has brought a laptop but forgotten the charger.
Yuna
노트북 충전기 있어요?
Noteubuk chungjeongi isseoyo?
Do you have a laptop charger?
Alex
네. 노트북 배터리가 없어요?
Ne. Noteubuk baeteoriga eopseoyo?
Yes. Is your laptop battery dead?
Yuna
네. 잠깐 빌려도 돼요?
Ne. Jamkkan billyeodo dwaeyo?
Yes. May I borrow it for a moment?
Alex
네. 여기 있어요.
Ne. Yeogi isseoyo.
Yes. Here you go.
배터리가 없어요 literally says there is no battery, but in this conversation it means the battery has no charge left. The laptop and the request for a charger supply that meaning. 잠깐 asks for a short time, and 빌려도 돼요 asks permission to borrow. Before lending a charger, check that it fits the other laptop.
Where Will You Hear or See 노트북?
Electronics shops and product listings use 노트북 as an ordinary category name. 중고 노트북 means a used laptop; 노트북 수리 means laptop repair. These phrases describe the product’s condition or the service offered. Neither is slang, so you can use them when speaking to a shop employee.
In a café or library, 노트북 may appear in rules about computer use or in a conversation about available sockets. The noun identifies the device, while the rest of the notice gives the rule. Recognizing 노트북 alone does not tell you whether its use is allowed, restricted to certain seats or prohibited.
Actions and Accessories Worth Pairing with It
노트북을 켜다 means to turn the laptop on; 노트북을 끄다 means to turn it off. Opening and closing the lid are different actions: 노트북을 열다 and 노트북을 닫다. This distinction helps when someone asks you to shut down a computer rather than simply close it.
노트북 가방 is a bag for carrying the computer. 노트북 충전기 is its charger. In both phrases the first noun tells you what the second noun is for. The spelling keeps a space between the nouns; you do not need 의, “of”, to express the relationship.
When reporting a problem, identify whether it concerns the whole computer or one part. 화면 is the screen, 키보드 is the keyboard and 배터리 is the battery. Giving the part’s name helps a repair worker understand why you brought the laptop in. A dark screen and a key that does not work are different problems even though both involve your 노트북.
Related Technology Words
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 충전기 | charger | The accessory you plug in to charge the device. |
| 배터리 | battery | Can refer to the battery or its remaining charge. |
| 화면 | screen | Use this when describing what you can see. |
| 마우스 | mouse | A separate pointing device; the word is an English loanword. |
The technology vocabulary lesson groups devices and accessories. Pairing the device with the accessory is useful when borrowing equipment: a phone charger and a laptop charger may be different things.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 노트북을 닫다 necessarily mean shutting the computer down?
- What does 중고 노트북 mean in a listing?
- In the library dialogue, does 배터리가 없어요 mean the battery was removed?
Show answers
- No. It means closing the laptop; 끄다 means turning it off.
- A used laptop.
- No. In this situation it means the battery has run out of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does 노트북 Mean?
It means laptop, also called a notebook computer in English.
Does 노트북 Mean a Paper Notebook?
No. A paper notebook is 공책, while 노트북 is only the computer.
How Do I Say I Want a Laptop?
Say 노트북을 사고 싶어요, which means I want to buy a laptop.
Is 노트북 Polite Enough for a Shop?
Yes. The register is neutral, so it suits shops, offices and friends alike.
Where to Go Next
Next, compare it with the broader Korean word for computer, then see the Korean word for a paper notebook to keep the paper kind separate.