Korean Dictionary
How to say "Beef" in Korean
“Beef” in Korean is 소고기 (pronounced "so gogi").
소고기
so gogi
Usage & Context
A premium meat used in Korean cuisine for grilling and soups. Beef is tender and flavorful when properly prepared. It's used in many special occasion dishes.
Example Sentence
소고기는 비싸요.
Beef is expensive.
How to use 소고기 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Beef” is 소고기, romanized as so gogi.
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 소고기.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce "소고기" as "So-go-gi." "So" rhymes with 'toe', "go" like 'go', and "gi" like 'gee' in 'geese'. The pronunciation is smooth and even, with no strong stress on any particular syllable.
More Example Sentences
Suggesting a special meal for an occasion.
오늘 저녁은 특별히 소고기 스테이크 먹을까?
Shall we have beef steak for dinner tonight, especially?
Discussing the quality of Korean beef.
한우는 비싸지만 정말 부드럽고 맛있어요.
Hanwoo (Korean beef) is expensive, but it's really tender and delicious.
Explaining a Korean tradition.
소고기 미역국은 생일이나 출산 후에 꼭 먹는 음식이에요.
Beef seaweed soup is a dish you definitely eat on birthdays or after childbirth.
Cultural Context
소고기 (so gogi) is often considered a premium meat in Korea, especially Hanwoo (한우), which is Korean native beef. It's frequently served for special occasions, celebrations, or as a luxurious treat. Popular dishes include 갈비 (galbi, grilled short ribs), 불고기 (bulgogi, marinated grilled beef), and various soups like 미역국 (miyeokguk, seaweed soup) and 곰탕 (gomtang, beef bone soup). Its rich flavor is highly prized.
Editorial note
We review entries like 소고기 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
소고기 미역국
Beef seaweed soup
소고기 덮밥
Beef rice bowl
소고기 무국
Beef and radish soup
Related Expressions
한우
hanu
Korean native beef
갈비
galbi
Ribs (often beef short ribs)
불고기
bulgogi
Marinated grilled beef
육회
yukhoe
Korean beef tartare
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