Key Facts
- Hangul: 공책; Revised Romanization: gongchaek
- Part of speech: noun
- Senses: notebook, exercise book
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 空冊 (空 empty + 冊 book)
- Register: Neutral, everyday word used in both spoken and written Korean. Mainly used for school notebooks.
Notebook in Korean: What Does 공책 Mean?
공책 means a paper notebook or exercise book, the kind students write lessons and vocabulary in. It is neutral and used in both speech and writing, and it is heard most in school settings.
Pronunciation
Say gong-chaek. The syllable gong ends in ㅇ (ng), and chaek begins with the aspirated ㅊ. The final ㄱ is unreleased, but before a vowel it carries over, so 공책에 sounds like gong-chae-ge.
Example Sentences with 공책
공책에 써요.
Gongchaege sseoyo.
I write in a notebook.
Short and practical: 공책에 puts the writing 'in' the notebook, and 써요 is the verb for write.
공책이 두 권 있어요.
Gongchaegi du gwon isseoyo.
I have two notebooks.
권 is the counter for bound books, so 두 권 means two volumes. The native number 두 precedes it.
공책에 단어를 적었어요.
Gongchaege daneoreul jeogeosseoyo.
I wrote the words in my notebook.
적었어요 means "wrote down", and 단어를 (words) is the object, so the sentence describes copying vocabulary into a notebook.
Phrases That Use 공책
공책에 쓰다 is to write in a notebook, 공책 한 권 is one notebook, and 새 공책 is a new notebook.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 공책에 쓰다 | to write in a notebook |
| 공책 한 권 | one notebook |
| 새 공책 | new notebook |
The Mistake to Avoid
노트북 looks like English "notebook", but in Korean it means a laptop.
- Wrong: 노트북 for a paper notebook.
- Correct: 공책 or 노트 for the paper one. 노트북 is a laptop computer.
공책 Compared with Similar Words
노트 is the loanword for notebooks and note-taking. 노트북 means a laptop computer, not paper.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 공책 | notebook | This page's word |
| 노트 | notebook (loanword) | 노트 is a loanword used for notebooks and note-taking. |
| 노트북 | laptop | 노트북 means a laptop computer, not a paper notebook. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
空冊 combines 空 (empty) and 冊 (book), so the word means 'an empty book' waiting to be filled.
Buying a Notebook at a Stationery Shop
A customer asks for a lined notebook. The clerk helps them choose a size.
Customer
줄 있는 공책 있어요?
Jul inneun gongchaek isseoyo?
Do you have lined notebooks?
Clerk
네, 큰 공책하고 작은 공책이 있어요.
Ne, keun gongchaekhago jageun gongchaegi isseoyo.
Yes, we have large notebooks and small ones.
Customer
작은 공책 한 권 주세요.
Jageun gongchaek han gwon juseyo.
One small notebook, please.
Clerk
네, 여기 있어요.
Ne, yeogi isseoyo.
Certainly, here you are.
줄 있는 means ‘with lines’. 큰 and 작은 describe the notebook’s size, while 한 권 tells the clerk how many to give you. Asking for 공책 makes the paper meaning clear even in a shop that also sells computer accessories.
How Do You Ask for the Right Notebook?
줄 있는 공책 means a lined notebook, literally ‘a notebook with lines’. 줄 없는 공책 has no lines. These phrases describe the inside pages; 큰 공책 and 작은 공책 describe the overall size. A small notebook can still be lined, so you can combine both kinds of description when choosing one.
공책 한 권 counts one whole notebook. 공책 두 권 counts two. 권 is for the bound item, while 장 counts individual sheets of paper. If someone asks for 종이 한 장, they want one sheet, not a whole exercise book. The counter tells the listener which unit you mean.
새 공책 is a new notebook. 새 comes directly before the noun and needs no extra particle. 공책에 쓰다 uses 에 to identify the surface or place where the writing goes. 공책을 사다 instead makes the notebook the object of buying, so it takes 을.
Where Will You Hear or See 공책?
A school supplies list may place 공책 beside pencils and erasers. In class, a teacher can ask students to write something in their notebooks without specifying whose notebook each time. In 공책에 단어를 적었어요, the notebook is the place and the vocabulary words are the thing written down.
In a stationery shop, 노트 is also a common product label for paper notebooks. 공책 often brings schoolwork to mind, but adults can use the word too. Neither noun makes the sentence casual or formal by itself. The sentence ending controls how politely you ask for the item.
In a study video, 오답 노트 means a notebook or collection of notes about wrong answers. 단어장 is a vocabulary notebook or word list. These labels name a purpose, while 공책 names the physical book more generally. A learner can use an ordinary 공책 as a 단어장 by filling it with vocabulary.
Supplies to Learn beside 공책
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 연필 | pencil | Names what you write with. |
| 지우개 | eraser | Useful when buying basic school supplies. |
| 종이 | paper | Names the material or loose sheets. |
| 문구점 | stationery shop | The place to ask for a paper notebook. |
| 필통 | pencil case | Holds pens and pencils, rather than written notes. |
The school vocabulary lesson teaches the wider set. When shopping, naming 공책 and its size is usually enough to start; the clerk can then ask about the cover, page layout, or quantity.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 줄 있는 공책 describe?
- Which counter counts whole notebooks, and which counts sheets?
- Does 노트북 mean a paper notebook?
Show answers
- A lined notebook.
- 권 counts whole notebooks; 장 counts sheets.
- No. It means a laptop; use 공책 or 노트 for paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is notebook in Korean?
It is 공책 (gongchaek).
What is a laptop?
A laptop is 노트북. Despite the English look, it never means a paper notebook.
How do I count notebooks?
Use 권, as in 공책 한 권.
Is 노트 the same as 공책?
They mean the same paper notebook. 노트 is a loanword from English "note" and is common for notebooks sold in shops; 공책 is the standard school word.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: school words groups 공책 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: the vocabulary flashcard decks take this word.
- Next in the list: pencil.
- Compare: laptop.