Key Facts
- Hangul: 국; Revised Romanization: guk
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
Soup in Korean: What Does 국 Mean?
국 is the thin, clear Korean-style soup, and it can also mean broth. The register is neutral and everyday. A Korean meal usually pairs rice with 국, so the word sits next to 밥 on the table.
How Do You Pronounce It?
One syllable, guk. The final ㄱ is not released: stop the sound without a puff, as when saying "book" quickly.
Example Sentences with 국
국이 뜨거워요.
Gugi tteugeowoyo.
The soup is hot.
The subject marker 이 follows 국 because it ends in a consonant, and 뜨거워요 means "is hot". A one-clause sentence is enough to warn a guest.
저는 아침에 국을 먹어요.
Jeoneun achime gugeul meogeoyo.
I eat soup in the morning.
아침에 means "in the morning". Soup at breakfast is normal in Korea, and the verb is 먹어요, not "drink".
밥과 국을 주세요.
Bapgwa gugeul juseyo.
Please give me rice and soup.
Here 과 joins 밥 and 국. The pair "rice and soup" is how a basic meal is requested.
Common Phrases and Collocations
미역국 is seaweed soup, 국물 is the broth itself, and 국을 끓이다 is the verb phrase for making soup by boiling.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 국을 끓이다 | to boil/make soup |
| 미역국 | seaweed soup |
| 국물 | broth |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: calling a thick, bubbling 찌개 a 국.
Correct: 국 has a lot of broth and is thinner, while 찌개 is a thicker stew with less liquid. These are typical differences; use the established dish name on the menu when ordering.
국 Compared with Similar Words
찌개 is a stew: thicker, saltier and usually served in a pot. 탕 is a hearty soup, often heavier and richer. 국 is the general everyday word, eaten with rice as a side.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 국 | soup (clear, thin Korean-style) | This page's word |
| 찌개 | stew | Thicker, saltier and usually served in a pot; 국 is thinner and eaten with rice as a side. |
| 탕 | hearty soup | Often a heavier, richer soup; 국 is the general everyday word. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
국 is a native Korean word, so it has no hanja.
Cultural Note
Seaweed soup (미역국) is traditionally eaten on birthdays.
Asking for More Soup at Lunch
A customer has almost finished the soup served with lunch. They ask the server whether they can have a little more.
Customer
국 좀 더 주세요.
Guk jom deo juseyo.
A little more soup, please.
Server
네. 국이 뜨거우니까 조심하세요.
Ne. Gugi tteugeounikka josimhaseyo.
Certainly. Be careful, because the soup is hot.
Customer
감사합니다.
Gamsahamnida.
Thank you.
더 means “more”, and 좀 makes the request less abrupt. The server uses 국이 because the soup is the subject of the warning. A request for more does not establish whether a refill is included in the meal; the restaurant’s service arrangements decide that.
How Do 국 and 국물 Fit Together?
국 names the soup as a dish, while 국물 often singles out its liquid. A bowl can contain both vegetables or meat and 국물. The word 국물 is also used for liquid in stews and noodle dishes, so it is broader than “the liquid in a dish called 국”.
국을 먹다 describes eating soup. 국물을 마시다 describes drinking the liquid. English “drink soup” therefore has no single automatic translation: the choice depends on whether the speaker describes having the dish or sipping its broth. The existing breakfast example uses 먹어요 because it is about eating soup as food.
With particles, the final ㄱ links into a following vowel: 국이 is pronounced [구기], and 국을 is [구글]. In 국물, the ㄱ becomes a nasal sound before ㅁ, giving [궁물]. These follow the National Institute of Korean Language’s standard pronunciation rules. Keep the written 국 even when the sound changes in a longer word.
Set Phrases from the Kitchen
국을 끓이다 means to make soup by boiling or simmering it. 국을 데우다 means to heat soup that already exists, such as yesterday’s leftovers. The two verbs describe different kitchen tasks. A person reheating a bowl does not necessarily mean they are cooking a new pot from ingredients.
국에 밥을 말다 means to mix rice into soup. 밥 is the thing added, while 국에 marks the soup it goes into. 국밥 names a soup-and-rice dish, commonly served as a meal. Seeing 밥 in the name tells you rice is central to the dish, rather than just a separate side order.
Reading Soup Names on a Menu
미역국 is seaweed soup, and 콩나물국 is soybean sprout soup. The ingredient comes before 국 in both names. Recognizing the ending helps you identify a soup even if the ingredient word is new. The complete name still matters: it does not tell you every seasoning or broth ingredient.
The distinction between 국, 찌개 and 탕 is a useful starting point, rather than a rule you can apply by measuring thickness. Established dish names decide what a menu calls them. Learn the full name of a dish you want to order instead of replacing its ending based only on the amount of broth in the bowl.
Words for the Soup Bowl
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 국물 | broth / soup liquid | Focuses on the liquid part of a dish. |
| 건더기 | solid ingredients in soup | Contrasts with the liquid. |
| 숟가락 | spoon | The utensil used for spooning soup. |
| 그릇 | bowl / dish | Also counts bowls, as in 국 한 그릇. |
The Korean dishes lesson groups soup with other meal words. Use the dish name when ordering and words such as 국물 or 건더기 when describing which part of the bowl you mean.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word focuses on the liquid part of a soup or stew?
- What does 국을 데우다 describe?
- How is 국물 pronounced?
Show answers
- 국물.
- Heating existing soup, rather than necessarily making a fresh pot.
- [궁물]. The final ㄱ changes sound before ㅁ, while the spelling stays 국물.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "soup" in Korean?
Soup in Korean is 국 (guk), the thin, brothy soup served in an individual bowl with rice. Korean says you eat soup, 국을 먹어요, rather than drink it.
What is the difference between 국 and 찌개?
국 is thin, with a lot of broth, and comes in your own bowl. 찌개 is a thicker, saltier stew with less liquid, often shared from one pot.
What soup is eaten on birthdays?
미역국, seaweed soup. It is traditionally eaten on birthdays and is also served to mothers after giving birth.
How do you say "to make soup"?
Say 국을 끓이다. 끓이다 means to boil, and it is the usual verb for making any soup or stew.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: the Korean dish words page groups 국 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 국 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Compare with the page for stew.
- The next word in the list is tteokbokki.