Key Facts
- Hangul: 나무; Revised Romanization: namu
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: neutral, everyday word
Tree in Korean: What Does 나무 Mean?
나무 has two senses: tree and wood. Context tells you which one is meant. A living tree is something you plant (나무를 심다) or sit under. Wood as a material usually appears with 로, "made of", as in 나무로 만들었어요, "it was made of wood".
How Do You Pronounce 나무?
Two short, open syllables: na-mu. There is no final consonant, so nothing changes when a particle follows: 나무가 is na-mu-ga. The vowel ㅜ (u) is like the oo in "food", with rounded lips.
Example Sentences with 나무
나무가 커요.
Namuga keoyo.
The tree is big.
커요 means "is big". The subject particle 가 is used because 나무 ends in a vowel.
공원에 나무가 많아요.
Gongwone namuga manayo.
There are many trees in the park.
공원에 means "in the park", and 많아요 means "there are many". The ㅎ in 많아요 is silent: manayo.
이 책상은 나무로 만들었어요.
I chaeksangeun namuro mandeureosseoyo.
This desk is made of wood.
This is the "wood" sense. 나무로 marks the material, and 만들었어요 means "was made". No living tree is involved.
Common Phrases and Collocations
In 나뭇잎 (leaf), a ㅅ is added between the two parts of the compound. This is called sai-siot, and it changes the sound: 나뭇잎 is pronounced [na-mun-nip].
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 나무를 심다 | to plant a tree |
| 나무 위 | on (top of) the tree |
| 나뭇잎 | leaf |
| 나무 그늘 | the shade of a tree |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: assuming 나무 only means a living tree, and looking for a separate word when you read 나무로 만들었어요.
Correct: 나무 also means wood as a material. 이 책상은 나무로 만들었어요 means "This desk is made of wood."
나무 Compared with Similar Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 나무 | tree; wood | This page's word |
| 숲 | forest | Many trees growing together |
| 풀 | grass | Low green plants, not trees |
Where Does the Word Come From?
나무 is a native Korean word and has no hanja form.
Cultural Note
Korea marks Arbor Day, 식목일, on April 5, a day traditionally associated with planting trees.
Choosing a Place to Rest in a Park
Two friends have been walking in the sun. One suggests the shade of a nearby tree.
Jisu
저 나무 아래에서 쉴까요?
Jeo namu araeeseo swilkkayo?
Shall we rest under that tree?
Alex
좋아요. 그늘이 있네요.
Joayo. Geuneuri inneyo.
Good idea. There is some shade.
Jisu
여기는 시원해요.
Yeogineun siwonhaeyo.
It is cool here.
Alex
조금 쉬었다 가요.
Jogeum swieotda gayo.
Let’s rest a little before we go.
나무 아래 means “under the tree”. The ending 에서 marks where the friends will rest. 그늘 names the shade itself, so the second speaker explains what makes the spot comfortable. The friends are choosing a location rather than describing wood as a material.
Counting Trees and Naming Their Parts
Use 그루 to count living trees: 나무 한 그루 means one tree, and 나무 두 그루 means two trees. The counter tells the listener that you are counting individual plants. A desk made of wood does not become a 그루 just because its material is 나무.
나무가 많아요 describes many trees without counting them. Korean does not need a plural ending here: 많아요 already tells you there is more than one. By contrast, 나무 한 그루 makes the number explicit. This is useful when describing a garden or asking how many trees someone planted.
The words beside 나무 often identify a part: 나무의 뿌리 means the tree's roots, while 나무의 가지 means its branches. In everyday descriptions the connection can also be clear without 의. Knowing the part helps when a whole-tree description such as “big” does not explain what you can see.
Where Will You Meet 나무?
In a park, a name label may identify the kind of tree. 소나무 means pine tree, while 은행나무 means ginkgo tree. Here 나무 is part of the tree's name, so the full name is written together. Recognizing the ending helps you identify a plant word even before you know the species.
In a furniture description, 나무 usually points to the material. 나무로 만든 의자 means “a chair made of wood”. The noun after 만든 names the finished object; 나무로 tells you what it is made from. This is the same material pattern as the desk example above, placed before a noun.
On a walk, 나무 위 and 나무 아래 locate something relative to a tree. 위 points upward or to a position on the tree, while 아래 means below it. The exact scene matters: a bird in the branches and a person in the shade occupy different positions even though both descriptions involve the same tree.
A Saying about Small Mistakes
원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 literally means “Even monkeys fall from trees”. Its usual point is that even someone skilled can make a mistake. A monkey is used as the image of an expert climber, so the surprise gives the saying its meaning.
You might hear the saying after a capable person makes an unexpected error. It is a comment on the mistake rather than a prediction about animals. The word 도 means “even” here, and 나무에서 marks the place the monkey falls from.
Related Nature Words
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 뿌리 | root | The part that anchors the tree below ground. |
| 가지 | branch | A part that grows out from the trunk. |
| 잎 | leaf | The general leaf word; 나뭇잎 specifies a tree leaf. |
| 줄기 | stem / trunk | The main supporting part of a plant. |
| 그늘 | shade | The sheltered area you look for on a sunny walk. |
The landscape and nature lesson places trees beside forests, grass and other outdoor features.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 나무 한 그루 count?
- In 나무로 만든 의자, does 나무 mean a living tree or wood?
- Does 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 usually teach a fact about monkeys?
Show answers
- One living tree.
- Wood, the material of the chair.
- Its usual point is that even an expert can make a mistake.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "tree" in Korean?
Say 나무 (namu).
Does 나무 mean tree or wood?
Both. 나무 is a living tree and also wood as a material, as in 나무로 만들었어요, "made of wood".
What is the difference between 나무 and 숲?
나무 is a single tree, or wood. 숲 is a forest, many trees together.
When is Arbor Day in Korea?
Arbor Day, 식목일, is on April 5.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: landscape and nature words groups 나무 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Read next: flower.