Key Facts
- Hangul: 라면; Revised Romanization: ramyeon
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: loanword
- Register: Neutral; the common Korean word for instant noodles, with 라면 also used for ramen-style dishes.
Ramyeon in Korean: What Does 라면 Mean?
라면 is the Korean word for instant noodles, neutral in tone and used everywhere from convenience stores to home kitchens. Snack bars also cook it to order. Japanese-style restaurant ramen is usually called 라멘 instead.
How Do You Pronounce 라면?
Two syllables, ra-myeon. The Korean ㄹ at the start is a quick tap of the tongue, between an English r and l, and the second syllable sounds like "myun".
Example Sentences with 라면
저는 라면을 좋아해요.
Jeoneun ramyeoneul joahaeyo.
I like ramyeon.
좋아해요 means like, so this is the simplest way to state a food preference. 저는 means as for me.
라면 하나 끓여 주세요.
Ramyeon hana kkeuryeo juseyo.
Please make me a ramyeon.
A real ordering line at a snack bar. 하나 means one, and 끓여 주세요 asks someone to cook it for you; 끓여 is said kkeu-ryeo.
밤에 라면을 먹었어요.
Bame ramyeoneul meogeosseoyo.
I ate ramyeon at night.
밤에 means at night. Late-night noodles are a familiar scene, and 먹었어요 is the past tense of eat.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Cooking, eating and counting phrases come up again and again with 라면.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 라면을 끓이다 | to boil ramyeon |
| 라면을 먹다 | to eat ramyeon |
| 매운 라면 | spicy ramyeon |
| 라면 한 봉지 | a packet of ramyeon |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: romanizing it as ramen, or expecting 라면 to mean a bowl of Japanese restaurant ramen.
Correct: 라면, romanized ramyeon, usually means instant noodles. Japanese-style ramen is usually 라멘.
라면 Compared with Similar Words
Three noodle words are close to 라면 in meaning but not in type.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 라면 | ramyeon | Instant noodles, usually spicy and served hot |
| 국수 | noodles | The general word for noodles of any kind |
| 냉면 | cold noodles | Chewy noodles served cold, a restaurant dish |
| 컵라면 | cup noodles | 라면 sold in a cup, made by adding hot water |
Where Does the Word Come From?
라면 is a loanword, usually traced to Japanese ramen, which itself goes back to a Chinese noodle dish. The first Korean instant ramyeon went on sale in the 1960s, and the word has meant the instant kind ever since.
At a Snack Bar: Adding an Egg
A customer orders cooked ramyeon at a snack bar. The server asks about an extra ingredient. The short order 라면 하나 is natural when the menu and setting make one serving clear.
Customer
라면 하나 주세요.
Ramyeon hana juseyo.
One ramyeon, please.
Server
계란 넣어 드릴까요?
Gyeran neoeo deurilkkayo?
Would you like me to add an egg?
Customer
네, 계란도 넣어 주세요.
Ne, gyerando neoeo juseyo.
Yes, please add an egg too.
Server
네, 잠시만 기다려 주세요.
Ne, jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo.
Certainly. Please wait a moment.
계란 means egg, and 도 means “too” or “also”. 넣어 드릴까요 offers to add something for the customer; 넣어 주세요 requests the same action. These lines concern a cooked order, so the customer expects a prepared serving rather than an unopened packet.
Packets, Cups and Portions
라면 한 봉지 means one packet of ramyeon. 봉지 counts the bag or packet, so it is useful on a shopping list or when discussing how much to cook. 라면 하나 can mean one serving in a snack bar or one item in a shop; the situation supplies the unit.
컵라면 names the cup format. 봉지라면 names the packet format. The words tell you how the noodles are packaged, not whether they are mild or spicy. For preparation, read the directions on the actual package: the noun alone does not give the amount of water or cooking time.
계란라면 is ramyeon with egg, and 치즈라면 is ramyeon with cheese. On a snack-bar menu, the ingredient before 라면 tells you what makes that option different. It is still a ramyeon dish, so the menu may list several versions together.
Understand the Cooking Words
라면을 끓이다 literally means to boil ramyeon. In an order such as 라면 하나 끓여 주세요, English naturally says “Please make me a ramyeon.” The Korean verb identifies cooking in boiling liquid; it is more specific than a general word for making something.
국물 is the broth and 면 is the noodles. A comment about the 국물 concerns the liquid part of the serving. This distinction helps when someone discusses the flavor or amount of broth separately from the noodles.
Where Will You See 라면?
Convenience-store shelves use the word for packaged noodles, while snack-bar menus use it for a cooked dish. In a home kitchen, the same noun appears in questions about what to cook. The word is neutral across these settings; the order or question ending supplies the politeness.
A product labeled 매운 라면 is spicy ramyeon, but 라면 by itself does not guarantee a particular heat level. Check the flavor description or ask about the dish if that detail matters to your order.
Useful Words for a Ramyeon Order
| Korean | Meaning | A useful connection |
|---|---|---|
| 계란 | egg | An ingredient a server may offer to add. |
| 치즈 | cheese | Often appears before 라면 in a menu name. |
| 국물 | broth | The liquid part of the dish. |
| 봉지 | bag or packet | Count a packaged portion with 한 봉지. |
The Korean dishes lesson helps you distinguish ramyeon from other menu choices. For this order, recognizing the ingredient and the serving format is more useful than translating every menu item as “noodles”.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 라면 한 봉지 count?
- What extra ingredient does 치즈라면 name?
- Which word names the broth rather than the noodles?
Show answers
- One packet of ramyeon. 봉지 gives the packaging unit.
- Cheese. The ingredient comes before 라면.
- 국물 names the broth; 면 names the noodles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say ramyeon in Korean?
Write 라면 and romanize it ramyeon, not ramen. It is the everyday Korean word for instant noodles, sold in packets and cups.
Is 라면 a Korean-origin word?
No. 라면 is a loanword related to Japanese ramen. In Korea it took on its own meaning: it usually refers to instant noodles, while Japanese-style ramen is called 라멘.
How do you say spicy ramyeon?
Say 매운 라면. 매운 means spicy and goes in front of the noun, and many of the best-known Korean brands are spicy.
What is 컵라면?
컵라면 is cup noodles: 라면 sold in a cup and made by pouring in hot water. Korean convenience stores keep hot water ready for it.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean dish words groups 라면 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists every single-word page.
- Practice: add ramyeon in Korean to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list: ribs.
- Compare with noodles and cold noodles.