Learn Body Organs & Parts in Korean: Essential Vocabulary, Pronunciation & Examples

Body Organs in Korean

Welcome to today’s Korean vocabulary lesson! Understanding body parts and internal organs in Korean is essential, especially when you need to describe health conditions, visit a doctor’s clinic, or talk about daily human functions.

In this lesson, we will explore 9 key body organs and parts featured in our study chart, complete with Hangul, Romanized pronunciation, English meanings, bodily functions, and real-life example sentences!

🖼️ Vocabulary Chart Breakdown

Here is a detailed guide to the 9 body parts and organs from our guide:

1. 코 (Nose)

• Hangul: 코
• Pronunciation: ko
• English: Nose
• Function: Helps you smell (냄새를 맡아요 – naem-sae-reul mat-a-yo)
• Example Sentence:
  • 코가 막혔어요. (Ko-ga mak-hyeoss-eo-yo.) = My nose is stuffed.

2. 입 (Mouth)

• Hangul: 입
• Pronunciation: ip
• English: Mouth
• Function: Helps you eat and speak (음식을 먹고 말을 해요 – eum-sik-eul meok-go mal-eul hae-yo)
• Example Sentence:
  • 입을 크게 벌리세요. (Ip-eul keu-ge beol-ri-se-yo.) = Please open your mouth wide.

3. 혀 (Tongue)

• Hangul: 혀
• Pronunciation: hyeo
• English: Tongue
• Function: Helps you taste food (맛을 느껴요 – mat-eul neu-kkyeo-yo)
• Example Sentence:
  • 뜨거운 국에 혀를 데었어요. (Tteu-geo-un guk-e hyeo-reul de-eoss-eo-yo.) = I burned my tongue on hot soup.

4. 기도 (Trachea / Windpipe)

• Hangul: 기도
• Pronunciation: gi-do
• English: Trachea (Windpipe)
• Function: Carries air to the lungs (공기를 폐로 전달해요 – gong-gi-reul pye-ro jeon-dal-hae-yo)
• Culture Tip: The word 기도 (gi-do) also means “prayer” in Korean depending on the context!
• Example Sentence:
  • 음식이 기도로 들어갔어요. (Eum-sik-i gi-do-ro deu-reo-gass-eo-yo.) = Food went down the wrong pipe (trachea).

5. 방광 (Bladder)

• Hangul: 방광
• Pronunciation: bang-gwang
• English: Bladder
• Function: Stores urine (소변을 저장해요 – so-byeon-eul jeo-jang-hae-yo)
• Example Sentence:
  • 방광염 치료를 받고 있어요. (Bang-gwang-yeom chi-ryo-reul bat-go iss-eo-yo.) = I am being treated for a bladder infection.

6. 갑상선 (Thyroid)

• Hangul: 갑상선
• Pronunciation: gap-sang-seon
• English: Thyroid
• Function: Controls metabolism (신진대사를 조절해요 – sin-jin-dae-sa-reul jo-jeol-hae-yo)
• Example Sentence:
  • 갑상선 건강을 확인해요. (Gap-sang-seon geon-gang-eul hwak-in-hae-yo.) = Checking thyroid health.

7. 비장 (Spleen)

• Hangul: 비장
• Pronunciation: bi-jang
• English: Spleen
• Function: Filters blood (혈액을 걸러줘요 – hyeol-aeg-eul geol-reo-jwo-yo)
• Example Sentence:
  • 비장은 면역 체계에 중요해요. (Bi-jang-eun myeon-yeok che-gye-e jung-yo-hae-yo.) = The spleen is important for the immune system.

8. 쓸개 (Gallbladder)

• Hangul: 쓸개
• Pronunciation: sseul-gae
• English: Gallbladder
• Function: Stores bile (쓸개즙을 저장해요 – sseul-gae-jeub-eul jeo-jang-hae-yo)
• Idiom Tip: In Korean, the expression “쓸개 없는 놈” (sseul-gae eobs-neun nom) literally means “a guy without a gallbladder,” which metaphorically refers to someone who lacks backbone or dignity!

9. 피부 (Skin)

• Hangul: 피부
• Pronunciation: pi-bu
• English: Skin
• Function: Protects the body (몸을 보호해요 – mom-eul bo-ho-hae-yo)
• Example Sentence:
  • 한국 스킨케어로 피부가 좋아졌어요. (Han-guk seu-kin-ke-eo-ro pi-bu-ga jo-a-jyeoss-eo-yo.) = My skin got better with Korean skincare.

📊 Quick Reference Table

Korean (Hangul)	Romanization	English	Main Function
코	ko	Nose	Helps you smell
입	ip	Mouth	Helps you eat
혀	hyeo	Tongue	Helps you taste
기도	gi-do	Trachea	Carries air
방광	bang-gwang	Bladder	Stores urine
갑상선	gap-sang-seon	Thyroid	Controls metabolism
비장	bi-jang	Spleen	Filters blood
쓸개	sseul-gae	Gallbladder	Stores bile
피부	pi-bu	Skin	Protects the body

🏥 Bonus Grammar Tip: How to Say Something Hurts in Korean

When visiting a doctor or pharmacy in Korea, use this simple pattern to express pain:

[Body Part] + 이/가 아파요. ([Body Part] + i/ga a-pa-yo) = My [Body Part] hurts.

• 코가 아파요. (Ko-ga a-pa-yo.) = My nose hurts.
• 입안이 아파요. (Ip-an-i a-pa-yo.) = The inside of my mouth hurts.
• 피부가 아파요. (Pi-bu-ga a-pa-yo.) = My skin hurts.