Key Facts
- Hangul: 상어; Revised Romanization: sangeo
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
Shark in Korean: What Does 상어 Mean?
상어 is the fish with a cartilage skeleton and a fin on its back. Korean treats it as a fish, not a sea mammal, and the word works for every species, from small ones to the great white. Some kinds add a word in front of 상어, as in 고래상어 (whale shark); the great white has its own name, 백상아리.
How Do You Pronounce 상어?
Two syllables: sang-eo. The first ends in the ng sound, as in English "song", made at the back of the tongue. The second syllable begins with ㅇ, which is silent, so the vowel ㅓ follows straight on. Keep the ng and the vowel apart: the ng does not move across, so it is not "sa-ngeo".
Example Sentences with 상어
상어가 무서워요.
Sangeoga museowoyo.
Sharks are scary.
무서워요 describes how the speaker feels. The adjective works for a thing that makes you afraid, so the sentence says that sharks are scary.
바다에 상어가 있어요.
Badae sangeoga isseoyo.
There are sharks in the sea.
바다에 says where: in the sea. 있어요 means there are some, so this is a plain statement of existence.
저는 상어를 봤어요.
Jeoneun sangeoreul bwasseoyo.
I saw a shark.
The past verb 봤어요 says you saw one. The subject 저는 is the speaker, and 상어를 is what was seen.
Phrases and Collocations with 상어
The phrases name parts of the animal and two well-known species.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 상어 지느러미 | shark fin |
| 백상아리 | great white shark |
| 상어 이빨 | shark tooth |
| 고래상어 | whale shark |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ treating 상어 as a kind of 고래
Correct: ✓ 상어 is a fish; 고래 is a mammal
Why: A shark is a fish, and a whale (고래) is a mammal, so a shark is not a kind of whale. Even 고래상어, the whale shark, is a shark; the 고래 in its name only points to its huge size.
상어 Compared with Similar Words
Two sea animals are often mixed up with 상어. Both are mammals, not fish.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 고래 | whale | A mammal, not a shark. |
| 돌고래 | dolphin | A mammal, much smaller than most whales. |
Where Does 상어 Come From?
상어 is native Korean, with no hanja form to break it into parts. You meet it first as a whole word, and then learn the compounds that grow from it.
At an Aquarium: Spotting the Shark
Two friends are looking into a large aquarium tank. One points to an animal moving behind a rock.
Hana
저기 상어 보여요?
Jeogi sangeo boyeoyo?
Can you see the shark over there?
Minho
어디요? 잘 안 보여요.
Eodiyo? Jal an boyeoyo.
Where? I can’t see it clearly.
Hana
바위 뒤에 있어요.
Bawi dwie isseoyo.
It is behind the rock.
Minho
아, 이제 보여요. 정말 크네요.
A, ije boyeoyo. Jeongmal keuneyo.
Oh, now I see it. It’s really big.
보여요 asks whether something is visible. It suits a tank where an animal may be hidden. The second speaker does not repeat 상어 in every reply: once both friends know which animal they mean, Korean can leave it out. 바위 뒤, “behind the rock”, supplies the missing location.
Counting Sharks and Naming Their Parts
상어 한 마리 means one shark, and 상어 두 마리 means two sharks. 마리 is the animal counter. A sign headed 상어 can refer to sharks as a group, while a sentence with 두 마리 identifies an actual number. The bare noun does not have to carry an English-style plural ending.
상어 지느러미 names a shark’s fin. 지느러미 is the general word for a fish fin, so the phrase can describe the animal’s body in a documentary. The setting matters: on a food menu, the same combination can name shark fin as an ingredient.
상어 이빨 means shark tooth or shark teeth. 이빨 is normal when talking about an animal’s teeth. The phrase gives no number by itself. A display case may contain one tooth or several, so use the picture, count or surrounding description to decide the English translation.
새끼 상어 means a baby or young shark. 새끼 goes before the animal name here. 아기 상어 is also familiar from children’s songs and stories, where 아기 gives the animal a baby-like character. Neither expression names a separate shark species.
Where You Will Read 상어
Aquarium labels may show a species name instead of the broad word 상어. 고래상어 is one such name. 백상아리 is another useful one to recognise because its spelling does not end in 상어. Knowing the general word helps you discuss the group; the label identifies the particular animal.
In a coastal news report, 상어 출몰 means that sharks have appeared in an area. 출몰 is a compact word used in reports and notices about appearances or sightings. It does not by itself say that anyone has been attacked. Read the words around it before deciding what happened.
상어 주의 is warning language: “Beware of sharks” or “Caution: sharks”. 주의 tells the reader to be careful. Compare the neutral sentence 바다에 상어가 있어요, which simply states that sharks are in the sea. A warning heading has a practical purpose even without a full sentence ending.
Words around an Aquarium Tank
| Korean | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 수족관 | aquarium | Can refer to the attraction or a tank, depending on context. |
| 바다 | sea | The natural setting in many descriptions. |
| 지느러미 | fin | A body part shared with other fish. |
| 물고기 | fish | A broader everyday category that includes sharks. |
The sea animals vocabulary lesson groups sharks with other marine animals. Use the animal’s name when identifying it, then add a location or count to explain what you can see.
Quick Self-Test
- How do you say two sharks using the animal counter?
- Does 상어 출몰 necessarily report an attack?
- Does 백상아리 end in 상어, and what animal does it name?
Show answers
- 상어 두 마리.
- No. It reports the appearance or sighting of sharks.
- No. It names the great white shark.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say shark in Korean?
Say 상어 (sangeo). It is a native Korean noun.
Is a 상어 the same as a 고래?
No. A shark is a fish and a whale is a mammal.
How do you say shark fin in Korean?
Say 상어 지느러미.
What is a whale shark called?
It is 고래상어, a shark that borrows 고래 for its size.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: sea animals vocabulary sets the shark beside other sea animals.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add it to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Contrast: the pages for whale and dolphin cover the mammals.