Korean Dictionary
How to say "Army Stew" in Korean
“Army Stew” in Korean is 부대찌개 (pronounced "Budae Jjigae").
부대찌개
Budae Jjigae
Usage & Context
부대찌개 is a hearty Korean stew that originated after the Korean War, using surplus American military food like Spam and hot dogs mixed with Korean ingredients. The name literally means 'army base stew.' It has since become a beloved comfort food across Korea.
Example Sentence
부대찌개에 라면 사리를 추가해서 먹으면 더 맛있어요.
Army stew tastes even better with added ramen noodles.
How to use 부대찌개 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Army Stew” is 부대찌개, romanized as Budae Jjigae.
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 부대찌개.
Pronunciation Guide
For 부대 (Budae), 'Bu' sounds like 'boo' in 'book', and 'dae' sounds like 'day'. For 찌개 (Jjigae), 'Jji' is like 'jee' in 'jeep' but with a stronger, tenser 'j' sound (similar to 'ch' in 'cheese' but voiced). 'Gae' sounds like 'gay' or 'geh' in 'get'. The double 'ㅉㅉ' indicates a strong, tense 'j' sound.
More Example Sentences
Recommending comfort food.
비 오는 날에는 얼큰한 부대찌개가 최고예요.
On a rainy day, spicy army stew is the best.
Recounting a social dinner.
친구들과 부대찌개에 소주 한잔했어요.
I had army stew and a shot of soju with friends.
Discussing the essential ingredients of the dish.
부대찌개는 햄, 소시지, 라면 사리가 들어가야 제맛이죠.
Army stew tastes best with ham, sausage, and ramen noodles.
Cultural Context
부대찌개 (Budae Jjigae), literally 'army base stew,' is a hearty Korean stew with a unique history. It originated after the Korean War, utilizing surplus American military food like Spam, hot dogs, and baked beans, combined with traditional Korean ingredients such as kimchi and gochujang. It symbolizes resilience and adaptation. Today, it's a beloved comfort food, especially popular for group meals, often cooked at the table with added ramen noodles (라면 사리, ramyeon sari). Famous '부대찌개 거리' (Budae Jjigae Street) exist, like in Uijeongbu, where the dish originated.
Editorial note
We review entries like 부대찌개 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
부대찌개 먹으러 가자.
Let's go eat army stew.
부대찌개 끓이다.
To cook army stew.
부대찌개 맛집.
A good army stew restaurant.
Related Expressions
김치찌개
Kimchi Jjigae
kimchi stew
된장찌개
Doenjang Jjigae
soybean paste stew
전골
Jeongol
hot pot (broader category, 부대찌개 is a type of jeongol)
찌개
Jjigae
stew (general term)
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