Homonyms

Korean words: Homonyms

Homonyms are words that have the same spelling and sound but differ in meaning.
For example,

• left (opposite of right)
• left (past tense of leave)

Let's have a look at some of the most common homonyms in Korean.

• 사과 = an apple
• 사과 = an appology

• 배 = a ship
• 배 = a pear
• 배 = a stomach/tummy
• 배 = a counter for times

1.  두배 = 2 times (twice)
2.  세배 = 3 times
3.  네배 = 4 times

• 말 = a language, speech (말하다 = speak)
• 말 = a horse
• 말 = the end of (a month) [eg. 8월말 = the end of August]

• 쓰다 = write [eg. 일기를 썼다 = wrote a diary]
• 쓰다 = bitter (taste) [eg. 약이 쓰다 = the medicine is bitter]
• 쓰다 = wear (a hat) [eg. 모자 쓸거야 = I will wear a hat]

• 눈 = an eye (눈이 좋다 = has a good eyesight)
• 눈 = snow (크리스마스에 눈이 내렸어 = It snowed in Christmas)

• 거리 = a street, a road (거리에 사람들이 많다 = There are many people on the street.)
• 거리 = a distance (집에서 학교까지 거리가 꽤 멀다 = The distance between my house to school is quite far)

• 김 = steam
• 김 = a seaweed [김밥 = a Korean-style sushi]

• 절 = bow (bending a head, knee and/or body to express greeting, respect, courtesy or veneration)
• 절 = a temple

• 걸다 = to dial, ring or phone (친구한테 전화를 걸었다 = I rang my friend.)
• 걸다 = to hang (a coat or picture) (옷걸이에 옷을 걸었다 = I hung my clothes on a hanger) (벽에 그림을 걸었다 = I hung a picture on the wall)
• 걸다 = to talk (to), speak (to) (to initiate a conversation) (도로에서 외국인에게 말을 걸었다 = I spoke to a foreigner on the road.)
• 걸다 = to risk (one's life) (나는 목숨 걸고 일했다 = I risked my life to do the work.)

I know of one story where a little girl who had a fight with her brother, was told by her parents that she should apologize to him. She was told, (가서 오빠한테 사과해! = Go and apologize to your brother!) She was probably around 9 or 10 years old, and while trying to stop her sobbing, she took an apple and gave it to him. She mistook the meaning of "an apology" "사과" with that of an actual apple!

Use Google Translate for help with pronunciations.