Korean Dictionary
How to say "Confucianism" in Korean
“Confucianism” in Korean is 유교 (pronounced "Yugyo").
유교
Yugyo
Usage & Context
Confucianism has profoundly influenced Korean society for centuries, shaping values of respect, hierarchy, and family loyalty. Though not a religion in the traditional sense, it remains central to Korean ethics and culture.
Example Sentence
유교는 한국 문화에 깊은 영향을 미쳤습니다.
Confucianism has deeply influenced Korean culture.
How to use 유교 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Confucianism” is 유교, romanized as Yugyo.
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 유교.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'yu-gyo'. Two syllables: 'yu' (like 'you'), 'gyo' (a soft 'gy' glide into 'oh').
More Example Sentences
cultural analysis
유교는 한국 사회에 큰 영향을 줬어요.
Confucianism has hugely influenced Korean society.
observation
유교 사상이 아직도 남아 있어요.
Confucian ideology still remains.
cultural explanation
유교 때문에 나이 서열이 중요해요.
Age hierarchy matters because of Confucianism.
Cultural Context
유교 was the governing philosophy of the Joseon Dynasty for 500 years and remains foundational to Korean society — respect for elders (어르신 공경), family hierarchy, education reverence, and gender roles all trace back to it. Unlike 불교 or 기독교, 유교 is often considered more a philosophy/ethics system than a religion. The 'three bonds and five relations' (삼강오륜) codifies its social ethics.
Editorial note
We review entries like 유교 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
유교 영향이 커요.
The Confucian influence is huge.
유교 문화가 뿌리 깊어요.
Confucian culture runs deep.
유교적 가치관이 있어요.
There are Confucian values.
Related Expressions
공자
gongja
Confucius
사상
sasang
thought, ideology
효
hyo
filial piety
예절
yejeol
etiquette, manners
More Religion Words
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