Key Facts
- Hangul: 물리; Revised Romanization: mulli
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 物理 (物 thing + 理 principle)
- Register: Neutral, everyday word used in both spoken and written Korean. With 적 it forms 물리적, 'physical'.
Physics in Korean: What Does 물리 Mean?
물리 is the everyday word for physics in class, on timetables and in speech. 물리 시간 is physics class, 물리 법칙 is a law of physics, and 물리학 is physics as a field of study. Add 적 and you get 물리적, "physical", as in a physical force or a physical limit.
How Do You Pronounce 물리?
Spelled mulli in Revised Romanization because the two ㄹ sounds are written separately: the final ㄹ of mul and the initial ㄹ of li are both read as a long, doubled l. Say mul-li with the tongue touching the ridge behind your upper teeth once and holding it for a moment.
Example Sentences with 물리
저는 물리를 공부해요.
Jeoneun mullireul gongbuhaeyo.
I study physics.
A plain statement about what you study. 공부해요 is the polite form of "study", and the topic marker goes on 저는.
물리 시험이 어려워요.
Mulli siheomi eoryeowoyo.
The physics exam is difficult.
Adjective 어려워요 ("is difficult") describes the exam. 시험이 is the subject of that clause.
동생은 물리 선생님이 되고 싶어 해요.
Dongsaengeun mulli seonsaengnimi doego sipeo haeyo.
My younger sibling wants to be a physics teacher.
The pattern ending 되고 싶어 해요 means "wants to become", the third-person form. It is how you describe another person's wish.
Common Phrases and Collocations
These three combinations come up in school conversation.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 물리 시간 | physics class |
| 물리학 | physics (field) |
| 물리 법칙 | law of physics |
The Mistake to Avoid
The pronunciation error is influenced by English reading habits.
Wrong: Pronouncing 물리 as "mul-ri", with a single flap on the second syllable.
Correct: The ㄹ + ㄹ sequence is read as a double l: [mul-li].
Treat the two letters as one long l sound and the word will match a Korean teacher's.
물리 Compared with 화학 and 과학
Two school words sit right next to 물리.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 화학 | chemistry | The neighbouring science subject. |
| 과학 | science | Science in general; physics is one branch of it. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
물리 is written 物理 in hanja: 物 (thing) plus 理 (principle). So the word is literally "the principle of things", which is a fair description of physics.
After Class: Planning for the Physics Exam
Two classmates check what they need to revise. 물리 names the subject, while 시험 and 문제 identify the exam and the questions they are working on.
Mina
물리 시험이 내일이에요?
Mulli siheomi nairieyo?
Is the physics exam tomorrow?
Jisu
아니요, 금요일이에요.
Aniyo, geumyoirieyo.
No, it is on Friday.
Mina
그럼 같이 물리 공부할까요?
Geureom gachi mulli gongbuhalkkayo?
Then shall we study physics together?
Jisu
좋아요. 이 문제부터 풀어요.
Joayo. I munjebuteo pureoyo.
Good idea. Let’s start with this problem.
문제를 풀다 means to solve a problem, rather than simply read it. 부터 means “starting with”, so the last line chooses where to begin. 물리 공부 is “physics study”; the subject name can appear directly before 공부 without an English-style “of”.
How Do 물리 시간 and 물리 수업 Differ?
물리 시간 often means the period on a school timetable: the time when physics is taught. 물리 수업 means a physics class or lesson, with more focus on the teaching session. Both can refer to the same class. 시간 is especially helpful when asking what comes next during a school day.
물리 시험 is a physics exam, and 물리 문제 is a physics problem or question. 시험 names the whole assessment; 문제 can be one item inside it. 물리 실험 means a physics experiment. These are literal combinations, so the second noun tells you what part of studying physics is being discussed.
물리 법칙 means a law of physics. 법칙 refers to a rule or principle describing how something works, rather than a law passed by a government. In a discussion of motion or energy, this phrase concerns the behavior of the physical world. The English word “law” has both meanings, so the surrounding noun matters.
Where Will You See the Academic Forms?
School timetables and conversations between students can use the short subject name 물리. University department names use 물리학과, “department of physics”. 학 in 물리학 identifies the academic field; 과 in 물리학과 identifies the department. A department name on a building directory is more specific than the school-subject label.
물리학자 means a physicist. That word names someone who works in the field, while 물리 선생님 means a physics teacher. A physicist may teach, but the two labels describe different roles. When introducing someone's job, choose the role you actually mean.
Does 물리 Always Refer to a School Subject?
물리적 means “physical” in expressions about forces, barriers, or constraints. 물리적 한계 means a physical limitation: for example, a space may be too small to fit an object. The expression does not refer to someone’s physics grade. 물리적 can also describe practical constraints, so read the whole phrase rather than translating it as “physics-related” automatically.
물리 치료 means physical therapy. On a clinic sign, 치료 points to treatment rather than a school lesson. The shared 물리 is useful to recognize, but it does not make the clinic a place to study physics. The noun that follows tells you which setting you are in.
Words for a Physics Lesson
| Korean | Meaning | Classroom use |
|---|---|---|
| 힘 | force; strength | In physics, the force acting on something. |
| 운동 | motion; exercise | In a physics lesson, often motion rather than a workout. |
| 에너지 | energy | A loanword used when discussing energy and its changes. |
| 실험 | experiment | A practical investigation, rather than an exam. |
The school subjects lesson places 물리 beside chemistry and the other subjects. Learn the classroom meanings of 힘 and 운동 alongside their everyday meanings so a familiar word does not mislead you.
Quick Self-Test
- Which names a department: 물리학 or 물리학과?
- Is 물리 치료 a physics lesson?
- What does 문제를 풀다 mean in class?
Show answers
- 물리학과. 물리학 names the field itself.
- No. It means physical therapy.
- To solve a problem or question.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "physics" in Korean?
Say 물리 (mulli). It is a neutral word for the subject and for the science.
How is 물리 pronounced?
Two ㄹ sounds meet, so you read [mul-li] with a long l, not "mul-ri".
What is the difference between 물리 and 물리학?
물리 is the everyday word. 물리학 is the name of physics as an academic field.
How do you say "physics class"?
Say 물리 시간. The exam is 물리 시험.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Other subjects are grouped in the school subjects vocabulary list.
- Return to Korean words A to Z for other school words.
- A vocabulary flashcard deck works well for school subjects, since the list is short and fixed.
- The page for chemistry compares the neighbouring subject.
- For the wider category see science.