Korean Dictionary
How to say "Buddhism" in Korean
“Buddhism” in Korean is 불교 (pronounced "Bulgyo").
불교
Bulgyo
Usage & Context
One of the major religions in Korea with a history spanning over 1,600 years. Korean Buddhism has unique characteristics and many beautiful temples throughout the country.
Example Sentence
불교는 한국의 주요 종교입니다.
Buddhism is a major religion in Korea.
How to use 불교 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Buddhism” is 불교, romanized as Bulgyo.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 불교.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'bul-gyo'. Two syllables: 'bul' (like 'bool'), 'gyo' (a 'gy' glide into 'oh'). The ㄹㄱ cluster fuses smoothly.
More Example Sentences
family religion
저희 할머니는 불교를 믿으세요.
My grandmother is a Buddhist.
cultural experience
불교 사찰에서 템플스테이를 했어요.
I did a temple stay at a Buddhist monastery.
history
불교는 한국에 오래전에 전해졌어요.
Buddhism came to Korea long ago.
Cultural Context
불교 arrived in Korea in the 4th century and became the state religion during the 고려 dynasty. Today, about 15-20% of Koreans identify as Buddhist. Major holidays: 부처님 오신 날 (Buddha's Birthday) is a public holiday celebrated with lantern festivals. Famous temples: 불국사, 해인사, 송광사. Korean Buddhism's unique tradition is 선불교 (Seon / Zen Buddhism).
Editorial note
We review entries like 불교 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
불교를 믿어요.
I practice Buddhism.
절에 다녀요.
I go to the temple.
불교 신자예요.
I'm a Buddhist.
Related Expressions
절
jeol
Buddhist temple
스님
seunim
Buddhist monk/nun (honorific)
부처님
bucheonim
Buddha (honorific)
템플스테이
tempeulseutei
temple stay
More Religion Words
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