Key Facts
- 점심 (jeomsim) means lunch, and also midday.
- Part of speech: noun; origin: Sino-Korean.
- Register: Neutral, everyday word; 점심 식사 is the formal version.
- Level: A1.
- Hanja: 點心 (點 dot + 心 heart).
Lunch in Korean: What Does 점심 Mean?
점심 means lunch and midday. It comes from 點心, where 點 is dot and 心 is heart; the term originally meant a small snack to tide you over. The register is neutral, and 점심 식사 is the formal version. It sits between 아침, the earlier meal, and 저녁, the later one, so Korean days are often described by their three meals. Unlike English, the word for the meal and the word for the time of day are the same.
How Do You Pronounce 점심?
Two syllables, jeom and sim. Both end in ㅁ, so the lips close twice. The ㅅ before ㅣ sounds close to English sh, so sim sounds like "shim".
How Do You Use 점심 in a Sentence?
점심에 뭐 먹어요?
What do you eat for lunch?
Jeomsime mwo meogeoyo? 에 sets lunch as the time, 뭐 means what, and 먹어요 means eat.
점심을 먹었어요?
Did you have lunch?
Jeomsimeul meogeosseoyo? 먹었어요 is the past of eat. Asking this is also a friendly greeting around midday.
점심시간에 산책해요.
I take a walk during lunchtime.
Jeomsimsigane sanchaekaeyo. 점심시간 joins 점심 and 시간 (time) into one word, and 산책해요 means take a walk.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 점심을 먹다 | to eat lunch |
| 점심시간 | lunchtime |
| 점심 식사 | lunch (formal) |
| 점심 약속 | lunch plans |
These cover eating, time, the formal term and plans. 점심 식사 and 점심 약속 keep a space, while 점심시간 is one word.
Common Mistake
Wrong: ✗ 점심 for exactly 12:00
Correct: ✓ 정오 or 열두 시 for the clock time; 점심 for the meal or lunchtime
Why: 점심 follows the meal, not the clock, so a lunch at one o'clock is still 점심. Its two senses, lunch and midday, are one idea seen from food or from time.
How Does 점심 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How to tell it from 점심 |
|---|---|---|
| 정오 | noon | 정오 is exactly 12:00 on the clock, not a meal. |
| 아침 | morning/breakfast | 아침 is the earlier meal and time of day. |
| 저녁 | evening/dinner | 저녁 is the later meal and time of day. |
Making Lunch Plans at Work
Two coworkers are deciding when to eat. Both use polite everyday speech, and the actual time comes after the invitation.
Mina
오늘 점심 같이 먹어요?
Oneul jeomsim gachi meogeoyo?
Shall we have lunch together today?
Jun
좋아요. 몇 시에 먹을까요?
Joayo. Myeot sie meogeulkkayo?
Sounds good. What time shall we eat?
Mina
한 시에 먹어요.
Han sie meogeoyo.
Let’s eat at one.
Jun
그럼 식당 앞에서 만나요.
Geureom sikdang apeseo mannayo.
Then let’s meet in front of the restaurant.
점심 같이 먹어요 can be an invitation when said as a question. In this conversation the answer 좋아요 accepts it. The coworkers choose one o’clock, which is still a perfectly ordinary time for 점심. 식당 앞에서 gives their meeting place; the lunch invitation itself does not specify where to meet.
A Meal, a Time and an Appointment
점심을 먹다 names eating the meal. 점심에 uses lunch as a time: an action can happen at lunchtime even if it is not eating. 점심시간 is the lunch period, which may include walking, resting or doing errands. This distinction explains why the example about taking a walk uses 점심시간에 rather than an object marker.
In conversation, speakers often leave out 을 after 점심 when the meaning is clear. The dialogue's 점심 같이 먹어요 and the fuller 점심을 같이 먹어요 both mean eating lunch together. Leaving out the particle does not turn 점심 into a verb. 먹어요 still supplies the action.
점심 약속 means a lunch appointment or lunch plans with someone. It can explain why a coworker cannot join your group. The word 약속 refers to an arrangement, so this phrase suggests that lunch is already planned. 점심 메뉴, by contrast, concerns the food choices. Knowing one does not tell you the other: you can have lunch plans without having chosen a dish.
Where Will You Hear or See 점심?
Restaurant menus may label a midday offering 점심 메뉴 or 점심 특선, meaning a lunch special. 저녁 메뉴 refers to evening choices. These labels tell you which meal the offering belongs to; check the posted hours for the actual serving period. The noun 점심 does not promise that lunch service begins exactly at noon.
A notice reading 점심시간 may explain a midday break at a small office or service counter. Any hours next to it tell you the actual break. Read the numbers as well as the word: the ordinary meaning of lunchtime is not a fixed opening-hours rule.
Among coworkers and acquaintances, asking whether someone has eaten lunch can show friendly concern. Context matters: a question about having eaten does not automatically offer to buy a meal. An invitation such as the dialogue's first line makes the shared plan clearer. Likewise, 점심 식사 sounds fuller and more formal, but 점심 itself is not rude when speaking politely.
Words for the Rest of the Meal Conversation
| Korean | Meaning | One useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 식당 | restaurant; dining hall | Names where you eat, including a workplace cafeteria. |
| 도시락 | packed lunch; lunchbox | Names food packed to take with you, rather than the time of day. |
| 메뉴 | menu; menu choice | Helps when deciding what to order for lunch. |
| 간식 | snack | Names food between meals, rather than the main midday meal. |
The time expressions lesson groups 점심 with the other parts of the day. For the meal before lunch, compare 아침, morning and breakfast. A late breakfast does not become 점심 merely because you eat it close to twelve.
Quick Self-Test
- You eat lunch at 1 p.m. Is 점심 still the right word?
- Which phrase names lunch plans with someone?
- Does a notice saying 점심시간 give exact hours by itself?
Show answers
- Yes. 점심 names the midday meal, rather than exactly twelve o’clock.
- 점심 약속 means lunch plans or a lunch appointment.
- No. Read the hours beside it to learn when the break starts and ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does 점심 Mean?
점심 means lunch, and also midday as a time of day. 점심을 먹다 is to eat lunch, and 점심시간 is lunchtime.
Does It Mean Exactly Noon?
No. For exactly 12:00 use 정오 or 열두 시. 점심 follows the meal, so a lunch at one o'clock is still 점심.
What Is the Formal Form?
점심 식사 is the formal version, used on invitations and in polite speech. In everyday talk, 점심 alone is normal.
What Is the Hanja?
The hanja are 點心, dot and heart. The term originally meant a small snack to tide you over before it became the word for the midday meal.
Where to Go Next
Open time expressions vocabulary, then evening / dinner for the last meal of the day.