Key Facts
- Hangul: 창문; Revised Romanization: changmun
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Register: Neutral everyday word; 창 alone is also used, especially in compounds.
Window in Korean: What Does 창문 Mean?
창문 is the standard word for a window. 창 on its own is also used, especially in compounds, so you will meet both. 창문 is a Sino-Korean compound of 窓 (window) and 門 (door), which explains why the word contains 문 and why learners sometimes mix it up with the door word.
How Do You Pronounce 창문?
The romanization is changmun, two syllables, chang-mun.
Example Sentences with 창문
창문을 열어도 돼요?
changmuneul yeoreodo dwaeyo?
May I open the window?
A polite request for permission. The ending -어도 돼요 means "is it okay if", which makes the sentence a question about permission.
더워서 창문을 열었어요.
deowoseo changmuneul yeoreosseoyo.
It was hot, so I opened the window.
A reason-then-action sentence. 더워서 gives the cause (it was hot), and 열었어요 is the past tense of opening.
창문 밖에 눈이 와요.
changmun bakke nuni wayo.
It is snowing outside the window.
밖 means "outside", and the sentence sets snow in the view beyond the glass. Here 창문 밖 works as a place phrase, "outside the window".
Common Phrases with 창문
Opening and closing are the two verbs to remember. 창가 is a compound with 창 and names the spot by the window.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 창문을 열다 | to open the window |
| 창문을 닫다 | to close the window |
| 창문 밖 | outside the window |
| 창가 | by the window |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: calling a window 문 because 창문 ends in 문.
Correct: 창문 (or the short 창) for a window, and plain 문 for a door.
창문 Compared with Its Neighbours
The door word and the shortened window word are the two neighbours.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 문 | door | The entrance; 창문 is the window. |
| 창 | window (short form) | Used alone and in compounds like 창가 and 유리창. |
Where Does 창문 Come From?
The hanja are 窓門: 窓 "window" + 門 "door". You never need the characters to read or write the word.
In a Shared Office: Closing the Window
Two coworkers are sitting near an open window. One feels cold and asks the other to close it.
Coworker A
창문 좀 닫아 주세요.
Changmun jom dada juseyo.
Please close the window.
Coworker B
추워요?
Chuwoyo?
Are you cold?
Coworker A
네, 바람이 많이 들어와요.
Ne, barami mani deureowayo.
Yes, a lot of wind is coming in.
Coworker B
그럼 닫을게요.
Geureom dadeulgeyo.
Then I will close it.
The first speaker asks someone else to act. This differs from the existing example 창문을 열어도 돼요?, where the speaker asks permission to open the window themselves. 좀 literally means “a little”, but in this request it helps soften the wording. The object marker 을 is omitted naturally in the conversation.
Are You Requesting an Action or Asking Permission?
창문을 열어 주세요 means “Please open the window”. 창문을 열어도 돼요? means “May I open the window?” Both are polite, but they assign the action differently. The first asks the listener to do something; the second asks whether the speaker may do it. That distinction matters in a classroom, taxi, or shared room.
To make the same pair about closing, use 창문을 닫아 주세요 and 창문을 닫아도 돼요? The window remains the object of the action. Changing 열다 to 닫다 changes the action, while the ending tells the listener whether you need help or permission.
Opening a Window Versus Finding It Open
창문을 열다 means to open a window. 창문이 열려 있다 means that the window is open. The first phrase describes an action, and the second describes a state. When you enter a room, you may notice an open window without knowing who opened it. The state phrase lets you describe what you see.
The particles help distinguish the two patterns. In 창문을 열다, 을 marks what someone opens. In 창문이 열려 있다, 이 marks the window whose state is being described. This is why memorising only the English word “open” can leave you unsure which Korean construction to choose.
Useful Phrases around the Window
| Korean | Meaning | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| 창문을 조금 열다 | open the window a little | The size of the opening. |
| 창문을 활짝 열다 | open the window wide | A fully opened window. |
| 창문을 닦다 | clean the window | Cleaning the glass surface. |
| 창밖을 보다 | look out of the window | Looking toward the view outside. |
창밖 is written as one word and means the space outside a window. The longer expression 창문 밖 uses a space between 창문 and 밖. Both can refer to what lies beyond the glass. 창가, however, names the area beside the window, such as a seat inside a cafe.
Where Will You See 창문 and 창가?
At home or in a classroom, 창문 appears in requests about ventilation, temperature, and noise. 환기 means ventilation: opening a window may be discussed as a way to let fresh air circulate. The purpose can explain the request even when nobody feels hot.
In a cafe or when choosing a seat, 창가 자리 means a window seat or a place by the window. It describes location, rather than a type of window. You can ask about the seat using 창가 without needing to describe whether the glass is open, closed, large, or small.
Name the Part or Place More Precisely
| Korean | Meaning | One useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 유리 | glass | The material, rather than the whole window. |
| 유리창 | glass window / windowpane | Useful when talking about the glass surface. |
| 커튼 | curtain | Can be opened or closed separately from the window. |
| 방충망 | insect screen | The screen that helps keep insects out. |
| 창가 | area by the window | Useful when choosing where to sit. |
The home vocabulary lesson teaches nearby household items. Closing a curtain blocks the view or light; closing the window changes the opening to the outside. Naming the right object avoids confusion when asking someone to make a room darker or less draughty.
Quick Self-Test
- Which asks permission: 열어 주세요 or 열어도 돼요?
- Does 창가 mean the area beside the window or the space outside it?
- In 창문을 닦다, what are you doing?
Show answers
- 열어도 돼요? asks permission.
- The area beside the window.
- Cleaning the window.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "window" in Korean?
Say 창문 (changmun). The short form 창 is also used, especially in compounds.
How do I ask to open the window?
Ask 창문을 열어도 돼요?, the first example on this page.
What is the difference between 창문 and 문?
창문 is the window and 문 is the door, even though 문 appears inside 창문.
What does 창가 mean?
It means "by the window", a compound built from 창.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Home vocabulary groups 창문 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add the word to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Related page: Apartment in Korean.
- Related page: Door in Korean.