Korean Dictionary
How to say "Belly" in Korean
“Belly” in Korean is 배 (pronounced "bae").
배
bae
Usage & Context
The front part of the abdomen. Used in medical and everyday contexts. Important for describing body shape and health.
Example Sentence
배가 아파요.
My belly hurts.
How to use 배 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Belly” is 배, romanized as bae.
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 배.
Pronunciation Guide
"배" (bae) is pronounced like the "bay" in "bay window" or "San Francisco Bay." It's a simple, open vowel sound, similar to the 'a' in "cat" but slightly more open and drawn out.
More Example Sentences
Expressing hunger, one of the most common uses.
배가 너무 고파요.
I'm so hungry (literally 'My belly is hungry').
Complaining about digestive discomfort.
배에 가스가 찼어요.
I have gas in my stomach/belly.
Describing a baby's appearance.
아기 배가 볼록해요.
The baby's belly is round/puffy.
Cultural Context
"배" is an extremely common and versatile word. It can mean "belly," "stomach," "pear," or "boat," depending on the context. When referring to the body, it means the abdomen. "배가 고프다" (to be hungry) is one of the first phrases learners encounter. In daily life, people often touch their "배" when feeling full or having indigestion. It's also common to refer to a "beer belly" as "똥배" (ttongbae, literally "poop belly").
Editorial note
We review entries like 배 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
배가 부르다
To be full (after eating).
배를 만지다
To touch one's belly.
배에 힘을 주다
To tense one's abdominal muscles.
Related Expressions
복부
bokbu
abdomen (more formal/medical)
윗배
witbae
upper abdomen
아랫배
araetbae
lower abdomen
배탈
baetal
stomach upset, indigestion
More Body Parts Words
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