Key Facts
- 문장 (munjang) means a sentence, a full unit of written or spoken language.
- Part of speech: noun; origin: Sino-Korean.
- Register: neutral, standard grammar and school term.
- Hanja: 文章 (文 writing + 章 passage).
- Level: A1.
Sentence in Korean: What Does 문장 Mean?
문장 is a Sino-Korean noun, from 文 writing and 章 passage. It has one sense, sentence, and is the standard term in grammar and at school. It sits above 단어, the word, and below 글, writing or text.
How Do You Pronounce 문장?
The Revised Romanization is munjang. Both syllables end in a consonant. The final ng of 장 does not move across before a vowel; it stays put, so 문장을 is said munjang-eul and romanized munjangeul.
How Do You Use 문장 in a Sentence?
이 문장을 읽어 보세요.
Please read this sentence.
I munjangeul ilgeo boseyo. 읽어 보세요 is please try reading. 이 means this, so a teacher points at one sentence on the board.
짧은 문장으로 말해 주세요.
Please say it in a short sentence.
Jjalbeun munjangeuro malhae juseyo. 짧은 means short, and 말해 주세요 is please say it. The learner asks a speaker to use a simpler sentence.
문장을 만들어 봤어요.
I tried making a sentence.
Munjangeul mandeureo bwasseoyo. 만들어 봤어요 means I tried making. The learner has built a sentence of their own.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 문장을 만들다 | to make a sentence |
| 짧은 문장 | short sentence |
| 문장 부호 | punctuation mark |
문장을 만들다 is to make a sentence. 짧은 문장 is a short sentence, and 문장 부호 is a punctuation mark.
Common Mistake
Wrong: 문제 when you mean a sentence, because both start with 문.
Correct: 문장 is a sentence. 문제 means a problem or test question; only the first syllable is shared.
How Does 문장 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How to tell it from 문장 |
|---|---|---|
| 단어 | word | 단어 is a word, a unit within a sentence. |
| 글 | writing / text | 글 is writing or text, a broader term than a sentence. |
| 구 | phrase | 구 is a phrase, smaller than a sentence. |
Checking a Sentence in a Writing Lesson
A learner has written a practice sentence and wants feedback. The teacher asks to see it, then confirms that it works.
Learner
이 문장 맞아요?
I munjang majayo?
Is this sentence correct?
Teacher
문장을 읽어 주세요.
Munjangeul ilgeo juseyo.
Please read the sentence.
Learner
저는 서울에 살아요.
Jeoneun seoure sarayo.
I live in Seoul.
Teacher
네, 맞아요. 잘 썼어요.
Ne, majayo. Jal sseosseoyo.
Yes, it is correct. You wrote it well.
맞아요 asks whether something is correct, not what it means. If you want feedback on your writing, show the sentence as you ask. 문장을 읽어 주세요 asks the learner to read that sentence; the object marker 을 makes the task explicit.
Where Will You Meet 문장?
문장 is common in workbook instructions, writing feedback and language classes. A teacher may ask you to make a sentence with a new word. 문장을 만들다 means to build an example of your own; 문장을 쓰다 means to write a sentence. The first emphasizes composing it, while the second can also describe putting an existing sentence on paper.
An instruction containing 문장을 완성하다 asks you to complete a sentence. You may need to fill a blank or add an ending. The item is incomplete until you supply the missing part. This differs from reading practice, where the whole sentence is already present and your task is to read it.
In an editing conversation, 자연스러운 문장 means “a natural sentence”. That is a comment about how ordinary and appropriate the wording sounds. 문법 and 문장 are related, but they name different things: 문법 is grammar, and 문장 is the actual sentence built with it.
How Do You Count Sentences?
한 문장 means “one sentence”, and 두 문장 means “two sentences”. A task asking for one sentence sets a different limit from a task asking for one word. You can put several words inside a single sentence without breaking that instruction.
A sentence is also different from a line on the page. A long sentence may wrap onto two lines on a small screen. 줄 counts lines; 문장 counts sentences. If a worksheet asks for 두 문장, changing the width of the writing box will not change how many sentences you have written.
Korean sentences can be short because the speaker often leaves out a subject that the listener already knows. The polite response 좋아요 can work as a complete sentence meaning “It is good” or “I like it” in context. A sentence does not have to contain an explicit Korean word for “I”, “you” or “it”.
Set Phrases for Talking about Writing
짧은 문장 literally means “short sentence”. It describes length, while 쉬운 문장 means “easy sentence” and describes difficulty. A short sentence may still contain an unfamiliar word. If you need simpler language, asking for 쉬운 문장 is more precise than only asking for fewer words.
문장 부호 means punctuation marks as a category. 마침표 is a period or full stop, and 물음표 is a question mark. These names are useful when reading an instruction about how to finish a written sentence. The punctuation mark belongs to the sentence; it is not another word in the sentence.
Related Words for Classroom Instructions
| Korean | Meaning | How it relates to 문장 |
|---|---|---|
| 단어 | word | A task can ask you to use this inside a sentence. |
| 예문 | example sentence | A model sentence showing how a word or pattern works. |
| 문단 | paragraph | A larger section of writing that can contain several sentences. |
| 줄 | line | A layout unit, which may contain only part of a sentence. |
| 문법 | grammar | The rules and patterns used to build sentences. |
The classroom vocabulary lesson teaches words for following lessons and instructions. 예문 is especially useful on a dictionary page: it tells you that the text is an example of usage rather than the definition itself.
Quick Self-Test
- A sentence wraps onto two lines. Is it now two 문장?
- Which word means a model sentence: 예문 or 문법?
- Can a Korean sentence leave out its subject?
Show answers
- No. Lines are 줄; wrapping does not create a second sentence.
- 예문. 문법 means grammar.
- Yes, when the subject is clear from context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does 文章 Mean?
文 is writing and 章 is passage.
How Do I Say 'Make a Sentence'?
Say 문장을 만들다.
How Is 문장 Different from 문제?
Only the first syllable matches. 문제 is a problem or question.
What Is a 문장 부호?
It is a punctuation mark.
Where to Go Next
문장 is in the classroom words vocabulary list. Next, read word in Korean to see its smaller unit, and compare it with grammar in Korean. See also Korean words A to Z.