Key Facts
- Hangul: 치마; Revised Romanization: chima
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Native (no hanja)
- Register: Neutral everyday word; the hanbok skirt is also called 치마.
Skirt in Korean: What Does 치마 Mean?
치마 is the everyday word for a skirt. It is neutral and applies to all lengths. The hanbok skirt is also called 치마, so context decides which garment is meant.
How Do You Pronounce 치마?
Say chi-ma. The ch sounds like the "ch" in English "cheese", and the vowels are short and clear, with no final consonants.
Example Sentences with 치마
이 치마는 너무 짧아요.
I chimaneun neomu jjalbayo.
This skirt is too short.
이 치마는 너무 짧아요 is a typical shop comment. 너무 means "too" and 짧아요 is "short".
저는 치마를 입고 싶지 않아요.
Jeoneun chimareul ipgo sipji anayo.
I do not want to wear a skirt.
저는 치마를 입고 싶지 않아요 is a personal preference. The verb 입고 comes from 입다, "wear".
딸에게 예쁜 치마를 사 줬어요.
Ttarege yeppeun chimareul sa jwosseoyo.
I bought my daughter a pretty skirt.
딸에게 예쁜 치마를 사 줬어요 uses 딸 for daughter and 예쁜 for "pretty".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 치마를 입다 | to wear a skirt |
| 짧은 치마 | short skirt |
| 긴 치마 | long skirt |
| 치마 정장 | skirt suit |
The Mistake to Avoid
Mistake: 치마를 신다. Correct: 치마를 입다, like all clothes worn on the body. Also, because 치마 can mean the hanbok skirt, say 한복 치마 when that is what you mean.
치마 Compared with Similar Words
Neighbours in the wardrobe: 바지 is pants. A 치마 has no legs. 원피스 is a one-piece dress, which is more than a skirt.
| Word | Meaning | Versus skirt |
|---|---|---|
| 치마 | skirt | This page's word |
| 바지 | pants | Trousers; 치마 has no legs. |
| 원피스 | dress | A one-piece dress, not just a skirt. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
치마 is a native Korean word, so there is no hanja behind it. Phrases like 짧은 치마, 긴 치마 and 치마 정장 show how it takes length and style words.
Looking for a Longer Skirt
A customer likes a skirt but wants more length. The assistant suggests another one, and the customer asks to try it on before deciding.
Customer
이 치마보다 긴 거 있어요?
I chimaboda gin geo isseoyo?
Do you have one longer than this skirt?
Assistant
네. 이 치마는 어때요?
Ne. I chimaneun eottaeyo?
Yes. How about this skirt?
Customer
좋아요. 입어 봐도 돼요?
Joayo. Ibeo bwado dwaeyo?
I like it. May I try it on?
Assistant
네. 입어 보세요.
Ne. Ibeo boseyo.
Yes. Please try it on.
치마보다 means “than this skirt” in the comparison. 긴 거 means “a long one”, with 거 standing in for the item already being discussed. The customer does not need to repeat 치마 in every line. 입어 보다 means trying clothing on, so it is the useful next step after finding a promising length.
How Do Shops Describe Skirt Styles?
짧은 치마 and 긴 치마 describe length without naming a particular cut. 미니스커트 means miniskirt, and 롱스커트 means long skirt. 스커트 is the loanword for “skirt”, common in fashion listings. Seeing it on a product page does not mean the item is a different category from 치마.
청치마 is a denim skirt. 청 identifies the denim fabric here, rather than telling you the garment’s length. 주름치마 is a pleated skirt, with 주름 referring to the folds. A product can be both long and pleated, so fabric, shape and length can appear together in a description.
치마 정장 means a skirt suit: the skirt is part of a coordinated formal outfit. 원피스 is a dress, a single garment that includes the upper body. If you are looking for only the lower garment, 치마 gives the shop assistant a different starting point from 원피스.
Where Will You Hear 치마 outside a Clothing Shop?
In everyday talk, 치마를 입다 can describe putting on a skirt or wearing one, depending on the sentence. 치마를 입고 있어요 makes the current state explicit: someone is wearing a skirt. 벗다 is the taking-off verb. The garment takes 를 because 치마 ends in a vowel.
At a hanbok rental shop or in a historical drama, 치마 can identify the skirt of a traditional outfit. 저고리 is the short upper garment paired with it. 한복 치마 makes the traditional context explicit when you are comparing it with an everyday skirt. The ordinary word 치마 itself works for both.
In online stores, 치마 may be grouped under 하의, clothing for the lower body. That section can contain 바지 as well. A category heading tells you which part of the body the clothes cover; the individual product name tells you whether you are looking at a skirt, trousers or another item.
치마 길이 means skirt length. A product chart may list 총길이, the total length, to give a measurement rather than simply calling a skirt long or short. In a shop, the wearer’s height affects where the hem falls, which is why trying the garment on can help resolve a length question.
Words for Describing a Skirt More Precisely
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 허리 | waist | Useful when explaining where the fit feels tight. |
| 길이 | length | Distinguishes how long the garment is from its waist size. |
| 주름 | folds / pleats | Describes the fabric structure in 주름치마. |
| 안감 | lining | The inner layer beneath the outer fabric. |
| 저고리 | traditional upper garment | Commonly paired with a hanbok 치마. |
The clothing vocabulary lesson teaches the wider wardrobe. When asking for a different skirt, separate length from fit: a longer skirt may have the same waist measurement, while a larger size may change more than the length.
Quick Self-Test
- Which wearing verb goes with 치마?
- What material does 청치마 name?
- Does 긴 치마 necessarily mean a bigger waist size?
Show answers
- 입다: 치마를 입다.
- Denim.
- No. 긴 describes length, not waist size.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "skirt" in Korean?
Say 치마 (chima).
Which verb do you use with 치마?
Use 입다, so 치마를 입다.
Does 치마 mean a hanbok skirt too?
Yes. To be clear, say 한복 치마.
What is a skirt suit?
It is a 치마 정장.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: daily life clothing vocabulary places skirt among related words.
- Index: more words after skirt are in Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: save skirt in the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next to read: the page for socks.
- Compare with the page for pants.