Korean Dictionary
How to say "Blood is Thicker than Water" in Korean
“Blood is Thicker than Water” in Korean is 피는 물보다 진하다 (pronounced "Pineun Mulboda Jinhada").
피는 물보다 진하다
Pineun Mulboda Jinhada
Usage & Context
This universal proverb exists in Korean as well, emphasizing the importance of family bonds above all other relationships.
Example Sentence
아무리 싸워도 피는 물보다 진하다는 말처럼 가족은 소중해요.
No matter how much we fight, family is precious as they say blood is thicker than water.
How to use 피는 물보다 진하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Blood is Thicker than Water” is 피는 물보다 진하다, romanized as Pineun Mulboda Jinhada.
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 피는 물보다 진하다.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'pi-neun mul-bo-da jin-ha-da'. '피는' is 'pee-neun'. '진하다' has an aspirated ㅎ — 'jin-ha-da'.
More Example Sentences
family support
피는 물보다 진하다고, 결국 가족이 도와줬어요.
Blood is thicker than water — in the end, family helped.
sibling reconciliation
싸워도 피는 물보다 진하잖아.
Even if we fight, blood is thicker than water.
philosophical chat
피는 물보다 진하다지만 친구가 더 나을 때도 있어요.
They say blood is thicker, but sometimes friends are better.
Cultural Context
This proverb aligns perfectly with Korea's family-centric (가족 중심) culture, where blood relatives traditionally take priority — you see it in inheritance norms, holiday obligations, and dramas about family business. However, younger Koreans increasingly push back, as 'chosen family' (친구 같은 가족) gains traction in urban life.
Editorial note
We review entries like 피는 물보다 진하다 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
역시 가족이 최고야.
Family is the best after all.
피는 못 속여요.
Blood can't lie (genes show).
가족은 평생 함께예요.
Family is for life.
Related Expressions
가족
gajok
family
친척
chincheok
relative
혈육
hyeoryuk
blood kin
인연
inyeon
fateful bond / connection
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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