Korean Dictionary
How to say "Army Stew" in Korean
“Army Stew” in Korean is 부대찌개 (pronounced "budae jjigae").
부대찌개
budae jjigae
Usage & Context
A Korean stew made with leftover military rations and local ingredients. It originated near U.S. military bases and has become a popular comfort food. The stew is known for its unique combination of flavors and hearty ingredients.
Example Sentence
부대찌개는 독특해요.
Army stew is unique.
How to use 부대찌개 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Army Stew” is 부대찌개, romanized as budae jjigae.
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 부대찌개.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '부' (bu) like 'boo' in 'boo-hoo'. '대' (dae) sounds like 'day' in 'daylight'. '찌' (jji) is a tense 'jj' sound, like 'jee' but with more force, almost like 'chee' but voiced. '개' (gae) sounds like 'gae' in 'gag' but with a softer 'g'. Combine as 'Bu-dae jji-gae', with emphasis on the 'jji'.
More Example Sentences
Expressing a craving for comfort food during specific weather.
비 오는 날엔 얼큰한 부대찌개가 최고지!
On a rainy day, spicy budae jjigae is the best!
Suggesting a meal and customizing it with an add-on.
오늘 저녁은 부대찌개에 라면 사리 추가해서 먹자.
Let's eat budae jjigae with extra ramen noodles for dinner tonight.
Describing an ideal social dining experience.
친구들이랑 술 한잔 하면서 부대찌개 먹으면 딱이야.
It's perfect to eat budae jjigae while having a drink with friends.
Cultural Context
Budae Jjigae has a unique history, originating in the post-Korean War era when Koreans near U.S. military bases used surplus ingredients like Spam, hot dogs, and canned beans, combining them with traditional Korean ingredients like kimchi and gochujang. It's a hearty, savory, and often spicy stew, popular for sharing among friends and family, especially with soju. It symbolizes resilience and adaptation, evolving into a beloved comfort food.
Editorial note
We review entries like 부대찌개 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
부대찌개 2인분 주세요.
Please give me two servings of budae jjigae.
라면 사리 추가요!
Add ramen noodles, please!
부대찌개에 소주 한 잔.
A glass of soju with budae jjigae.
Related Expressions
찌개
jjigae
Stew (general term)
김치찌개
kimchi jjigae
Kimchi stew (another popular stew)
햄
haem
Ham / Spam (key ingredient)
소시지
sosiji
Sausage / Hot dog (key ingredient)
More Food Words
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