Key Facts
- Word: 동의어 (dong-uieo), noun, Sino-Korean origin
- Register: neutral, textbook and dictionary term
- Senses: synonym
- Hanja: 同義語
Synonym in Korean: What Does 동의어 Mean?
동의어 labels words that can replace one another, like 예쁘다 and 아름답다 in the first example. A thesaurus is a 동의어 사전. Strict synonyms are rare, and teachers often speak of 유의어, words with similar meaning, for pairs that differ in tone or context. Learning synonyms makes writing sound more natural because it lets you avoid repeating the same word. The everyday way to ask for one is 비슷한 말, "similar word".
How Do You Pronounce 동의어?
Say dong-ui-eo. The final ㅇ of 동 stays with the first syllable and is not a separate sound to link: the ng belongs to 동. That is why the romanisation uses a hyphen, dong-uieo, to stop readers from seeing "do-nguieo". The ㅢ is read ui, and the ㅓ in 어 is unrounded.
Example Sentences with 동의어
'예쁘다'의 동의어는 '아름답다'예요.
'yeppeuda'ui dong-uieoneun 'areumdapda'yeyo
A synonym of 'pretty' is 'beautiful'.
The pattern mirrors the antonym definition: 의 links the words, and 예요 follows the dictionary form.
이 단어에는 동의어가 많아요.
i daneoeneun dong-uieoga manayo
This word has many synonyms.
에는 marks the word as the thing that has them. 많아요 means "there are many".
동의어를 쓰면 글이 더 자연스러워요.
dong-uieoreul sseumyeon geuri deo jayeonseureowoyo
Using synonyms makes writing more natural.
쓰면 means "if you use", and 더 자연스러워요 means "is more natural". The sentence is advice about writing style.
Common Phrases and Collocations
In study talk the word has these partners.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 동의어를 찾다 | to find a synonym |
| 동의어 사전 | thesaurus |
| 동의어와 반의어 | synonyms and antonyms |
The Mistake to Avoid
Meaning and pronunciation both cause slips with this word.
Wrong: ✗ Mixing up 동의어 with 반의어, or reading the ㅇ in 동 as the start of the next syllable
Correct: ✓ 동 = same, 반 = opposite; keep the ng in dong
The first syllables 동 (same) and 반 (opposite) distinguish the two words. And the ㅇ in 동의어 is the final ng of 동, so the word is dong-ui-eo.
동의어 Compared with Similar Words
Terms for similar meaning differ in strictness.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 반의어 | antonym | Opposite meaning. |
| 유의어 | similar-meaning word | Near-synonym; 동의어 implies the same meaning. |
| 비슷한 말 | similar word | Everyday phrase for a synonym. |
What Are the Hanja behind 동의어?
동의어 is Sino-Korean, written 同義語: 同 means same, 義 means meaning and 語 means word. The standard form uses 義, as in 반의어.
Looking for Another Word in a Writing Class
A student has repeated the same word in an essay. The teacher suggests a synonym search, then asks the student to check the result in context.
Student
같은 단어를 너무 많이 썼어요.
Gateun daneoreul neomu mani sseosseoyo.
I used the same word too many times.
Teacher
동의어를 찾아보세요.
Dong-uieoreul chajaboseyo.
Try looking for a synonym.
Student
예문도 같이 확인할게요.
Yemundo gachi hwaginhalgeyo.
I’ll check the example sentences too.
찾아보세요 combines looking for something with trying it. The student’s reply mentions 예문, example sentences, because a matching English translation does not show every condition on a Korean word’s use. The dialogue turns a synonym list into a specific editing step.
Where Will You See 동의어?
동의어 appears in dictionaries, vocabulary exercises, writing lessons and search tools. In an exercise, the instruction may ask you to find a word with the same meaning. In a dictionary, the label points you toward a related entry. It does not promise that every sentence containing the first word can take the second unchanged.
동의어를 찾다 means “find a synonym”. The phrase names a search task. 동의어 사전 names the resource, a thesaurus. 동의어와 반의어 names two categories together: synonyms and antonyms. The shared ending 어 means “word”; the opening syllables distinguish sameness from opposition.
In ordinary conversation, 비슷한 말 is often easier than the technical term. It literally means “similar expression” or “similar word”. Someone asking for a 비슷한 말 may want an approximate alternative rather than a claim that two words have exactly identical meanings.
How Do You Check a Synonym before Using It?
Start with the meaning used in your particular sentence. A word can have more than one sense, and a synonym for one sense may not fit another. A dictionary’s example sentences help identify which meaning is being discussed before you replace anything in your own writing.
Then compare the tone. The original example pairs 예쁘다, “pretty”, and 아름답다, “beautiful”. Both can praise appearance, but 아름답다 can sound more elevated. Describing a beautiful landscape and casually praising a small accessory may call for different choices even though the English meanings overlap.
Finally, check the words around the noun or adjective. Collocations are combinations that speakers normally use together. A replacement can preserve the broad meaning but make the combination sound unusual. Reading a full example gives you evidence about the word’s partners as well as its translation.
The existing advice about making writing more natural is most useful when repetition is distracting. Repeating a key term can also keep an explanation clear. In a paragraph defining 동의어, keeping that term visible may help the reader more than switching between several technical labels.
Related Terms for Dictionary Work
| Korean | Meaning | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| 단어 | word | The vocabulary item you are looking up. |
| 뜻 | meaning | The sense needed in your sentence. |
| 예문 | example sentence | Evidence of how a word combines with others. |
| 반의어 | antonym | A word with an opposite meaning. |
The opposites vocabulary lesson gives the contrast set, and the antonym entry explains 반의어. When building notes, keep the relationship explicit: a synonym offers a similar meaning; an antonym points in the opposite direction. A list without those labels can make two very different kinds of vocabulary pair look alike.
Quick Self-Test
- Does a synonym fit every sentence containing the original word?
- Which word means “example sentence”: 뜻 or 예문?
- What does 동의어와 반의어 mean?
Show answers
- No. Check the sense, tone and usual word combinations.
- 예문. 뜻 means “meaning”.
- Synonyms and antonyms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is synonym in Korean?
It is 동의어 (dong-uieo), a word with the same meaning as another.
Why is there a hyphen in dong-uieo?
It shows that the ng belongs to 동 and prevents misreading.
What is the difference from 유의어?
유의어 means a word with similar meaning; 동의어 implies the same meaning.
What is a thesaurus called?
A thesaurus is called 동의어 사전.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: opposites vocabulary pairs synonyms with their opposites.
- Index: browse Korean words A to Z for more words like synonym.
- Practice: add 동의어 to your vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Compare: 반의어 is the opposite-meaning term.