Korean Dictionary
How to say "Steamed Rice" in Korean
“Steamed Rice” in Korean is 밥 (pronounced "bap").
밥
bap
Usage & Context
Bap (rice) is the foundation of nearly every Korean meal. In Korean, the word 밥 can also mean meal in general, showing how central rice is to Korean food culture.
Example Sentence
한국인은 하루에 세 번 밥을 먹는다.
Koreans eat rice three times a day.
How to use 밥 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Steamed Rice” is 밥, romanized as bap.
Usage tip
Use this word with ordering phrases, taste descriptions, and polite requests when speaking in a restaurant.
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 밥.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'bap' — one syllable, ending with a closed 'p' sound (no aspiration after it). Rhymes roughly with English 'pop' but shorter and ending in 'p'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
진지
jinji
Honorific noun for 'meal' used when addressing or referring to elders, e.g., 진지 드세요 ('please eat your meal') to a grandparent.
Casual (반말)
밥
bap
Default everyday word; used with peers, family, and in casual speech.
More Example Sentences
A classic Korean greeting, similar to 'how are you'.
밥 먹었어요?
Did you eat? (literally 'Did you eat rice?')
Casually asking a friend out for dinner.
오늘 저녁에 밥 같이 먹을래?
Want to grab a meal together tonight?
A kid telling a sibling dinner is ready.
엄마가 밥 차려 놓으셨어요.
Mom set the table / prepared the meal.
Cultural Context
밥 is so central that 밥 먹었어요? ('have you eaten?') functions as a genuine greeting expressing care, not a literal question. It also stands in for 'meal' as a whole — 저녁밥 means 'dinner', not just 'dinner rice'. Refusing offered food can feel rude, and the phrase '밥 한 번 먹자' ('let's eat together sometime') is a common, soft way to say 'let's stay in touch' that may or may not result in a real meal.
Editorial note
We test food and dining words like 밥 inside ordering situations, because the natural Korean phrase often includes a polite request ending.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
밥 먹었어요?
Have you eaten?
밥 한 공기 더 주세요.
One more bowl of rice, please.
언제 밥 한번 먹자.
Let's grab a meal sometime.
Related Expressions
진지
jinji
Meal (honorific form)
식사
siksa
Meal (polite, Sino-Korean)
공기밥
gonggibap
A bowl of steamed rice (restaurant side order)
한 끼
han kki
One meal / one sitting
More Korean Food & Dining Words
Related Articles
Meat in Korean: 고기 and the Words Every K-BBQ Fan Should Know
One word, 고기 (gogi), is the key to reading Korean meat vocabulary. Add an animal name in front and the whole menu starts to make sense.
Puppy in Korean: 강아지, 멍멍이, and the Words Koreans Really Use
강아지 means puppy, but Koreans use it for any dog they're fond of. Here are the words you actually need, plus the cultural shift behind them.
Spicy in Korean: What 맵다 Means and How to Use It
One adjective unlocks Korean menus, spice level conversations, and the cultural attachment to heat that shapes everything from pojangmacha street food to mukbang. Here's how to use it.
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Steamed Rice and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
