Korean Dictionary
How to say "Bear" in Korean
“Bear” in Korean is 곰 (pronounced "gom").
곰
gom
Usage & Context
A large powerful animal that inhabits Korean mountains and forests. Bears hold significant meaning in Korean mythology and founding legends. They are respected as symbols of strength and nature.
Example Sentence
곰이 산에 살아요.
The bear lives in the mountains.
How to use 곰 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Bear” is 곰, romanized as gom.
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 곰.
Pronunciation Guide
The word '곰' (gom) is a single syllable. It sounds like 'gohm,' where 'go' is like in the English word 'go' and 'm' is like in 'mom.'
More Example Sentences
Talking about a child's comfort item.
곰 인형을 안고 잠들었어요.
I fell asleep hugging a bear doll.
Discussing Korea's founding legend.
단군 신화에 곰이 나와요.
A bear appears in the Dangun myth.
Describing one's own laziness in a humorous way.
겨울잠 자는 곰처럼 게을러요.
I'm lazy like a bear hibernating.
Cultural Context
Bears (곰) are incredibly significant in Korean culture, most notably in the Dangun myth, Korea's founding legend, where a bear transforms into a woman and becomes the mother of Dangun, the first king. This gives bears a revered status, symbolizing patience, endurance, and motherhood. '곰' can also describe someone who is slow, clumsy, or simple-minded but often in an endearing way.
Editorial note
We review entries like 곰 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
곰 같다
to be like a bear (clumsy, slow, but often endearing)
곰 인형
teddy bear
곰이 나타났다
A bear appeared (used in warnings or news)
Related Expressions
곰탱이
gomtaengi
a clumsy/slow person (often affectionate)
반달가슴곰
bandalgaseumgom
Asiatic black bear (a specific type of bear in Korea)
곰처럼 미련하다
gomcheoreom miryeonhada
to be foolish like a bear (common idiom)
곰 발바닥
gom balbadak
bear paw
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