Key Facts
- Hangul: 신문; Revised Romanization: sinmun
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 新聞 (新 new + 聞 hear)
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
Newspaper in Korean: What Does 신문 Mean?
신문 is a newspaper, the printed paper or the publication behind it. It is neutral and fits any situation. For the news itself, as you hear it on TV or read it online, Korean uses 뉴스.
Pronunciation
Say sin-mun. The ㄴ of the first syllable and the ㅁ of the second sit side by side, so you close the mouth for ㅁ after a nasal tongue tip. The u in mun is a rounded back vowel.
Example Sentences with 신문
아버지는 아침에 신문을 읽어요.
abeojineun achime sinmuneul ilgeoyo.
My father reads the newspaper in the morning.
A habit sentence: 아침에 means 'in the morning' and the verb 읽어요 means 'read'. 아버지는 makes the father the topic with 는.
신문에 기사가 있어요.
sinmune gisaga isseoyo.
There is an article in the newspaper.
Here the paper is a location: 신문에 puts the article in it, with 기사 as the word for article.
저는 신문을 구독해요.
jeoneun sinmuneul gudokaeyo.
I subscribe to a newspaper.
저는 marks the speaker as topic, and 구독해요 is the verb for subscribing. Together they describe an ongoing subscription. The sentence does not specify whether the subscription is for paper delivery or digital access.
Phrases That Use 신문
Four phrases are worth learning. 신문을 읽다 is to read the paper, 신문을 구독하다 is to subscribe, 신문 기사 is a newspaper article, and 신문사 is the company that publishes it.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 신문을 읽다 | to read a newspaper |
| 신문 기사 | newspaper article |
| 신문을 구독하다 | to subscribe to a newspaper |
| 신문사 | newspaper company |
The Mistake to Avoid
신문 has a homophone, and learners assume the word always means newspaper.
- Wrong: assuming every 신문 in a police or court story must mean "newspaper"
- Correct: when the context is questioning a witness or suspect, 신문 (訊問) can mean interrogation
The two words share their spelling, so context decides. 신문 (新聞) is the newspaper; a legal story can mention either word.
신문 Compared with Similar Words
뉴스 is the news content or broadcast, while 기사 is a single article within a paper. 신문 names the newspaper or publication, while 기사 identifies an individual report.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 신문 | newspaper | This page's word |
| 뉴스 | news | The news content or broadcast. |
| 기사 | article | One article in a paper. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
新聞 combines 新 (new) and 聞 (hear), so the word means 'newly heard things'.
Reading the Paper at a Café
A customer notices a newspaper on a café table. The customer asks before picking it up, then checks the date of the issue.
Customer
이 신문 읽어도 돼요?
I sinmun ilgeodo dwaeyo?
May I read this newspaper?
Staff member
네, 읽으세요.
Ne, ilgeuseyo.
Yes, go ahead.
Customer
오늘 신문이에요?
Oneul sinmunieyo?
Is it today’s paper?
Staff member
네, 오늘 신문이에요.
Ne, oneul sinmunieyo.
Yes, it’s today’s paper.
이 신문 points to a particular copy on the table. 오늘 신문 asks which day’s issue it is. Korean can put the time word directly before 신문, without adding a separate word equivalent to the English possessive in “today’s.”
Where Will You Hear 신문 Used?
신문 appears in conversations about reading habits, subscriptions and the source of a story. 신문에서 봤어요 means “I saw it in the newspaper.” The person is identifying where they encountered the information. This does not tell you whether they read a printed copy or the newspaper’s website.
종이 신문 specifies a paper edition. 인터넷 신문 refers to an online newspaper. 신문 therefore reaches beyond the physical sheets in someone’s hands: a publication can report news online as well. 뉴스 is the broader word for news content, including broadcasts.
In a drama, a character asking about 오늘 신문 may want a particular report, advertisement or announcement. Listen for the following noun. 기사 focuses on an article, while 광고 points to an advertisement. Both can be printed in the same issue, but they have different purposes.
Useful Phrases beyond “Read a Newspaper”
신문을 펴다 means to open or spread out a newspaper. 신문을 접다 means to fold it. These phrases describe handling the paper, so they fit scenes at breakfast, on a train or in a waiting room. They do not describe scrolling through an online article.
신문에 나다 means to appear in the newspaper. The subject can be a person, an event or a story that receives coverage. The expression tells you something was reported; it does not say whether the report was favorable. 신문에 광고를 내다, by contrast, means to place an advertisement in the paper.
신문사 is the newspaper organization or company. 신문 기자 is a newspaper reporter. The first names an institution, and the second names a person’s job. Recognizing the final word helps when a character introduces where they work or what they do.
Words around an Article
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 기사 | article | A particular written report, rather than the whole issue. |
| 기자 | reporter | The person who gathers and writes news. |
| 제목 | title / headline | Names the heading above an article. |
| 광고 | advertisement | Paid promotional content that can appear beside news. |
| 잡지 | magazine | A different kind of publication, often organized around a topic. |
The everyday objects lesson groups 신문 with other things found at home. For understanding what is on a newspaper page, 기사, 제목 and 광고 help you separate the parts of the issue.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 신문사 name a reporter or an organization?
- What does 오늘 신문 identify?
- Does 신문에 나다 necessarily mean receiving positive publicity?
Show answers
- An organization: a newspaper company. 기자 names a reporter.
- Today’s newspaper issue.
- No. It means appearing in the newspaper, whatever the tone of the report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is newspaper in Korean?
It is 신문 (sinmun).
How do I say I subscribe to a newspaper?
Say 저는 신문을 구독해요.
Is 신문 the same as 뉴스?
No. 뉴스 is news; 신문 is the paper.
Does 신문 have another meaning?
Yes, the homophone 訊問 means interrogation.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: everyday objects groups 신문 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: the vocabulary flashcard decks take this word.
- Next in the list: wallet.