Korean Dictionary
How to say "Cafeteria" in Korean
“Cafeteria” in Korean is 구내식당 (pronounced "Gunaesiktang").
구내식당
Gunaesiktang
Usage & Context
School and university cafeterias (구내식당) in Korea serve affordable, nutritious Korean meals such as rice, soup, kimchi, and various side dishes (반찬). University cafeteria meals are often subsidized and popular with budget-conscious students. The 구내식당 is a social gathering place where students meet between classes and relax over lunch.
Example Sentence
구내식당에서 점심을 먹었어요.
I ate lunch in the cafeteria.
How to use 구내식당 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Cafeteria” is 구내식당, romanized as Gunaesiktang.
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 구내식당.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'goo-neh-sheek-tahng' — 'gu' rhymes with 'goo,' 'nae' sounds like 'neh,' and 'sik-tang' ends with a strong 'ng.' Say it smoothly without pausing between syllables.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
구내식당
gu-nae-sik-tang
Standard neutral term used in workplaces, schools, and signage
Casual (반말)
학식
hak-sik
College slang short for 학생식당 (student cafeteria), used by university students
More Example Sentences
two college students deciding where to eat lunch
오늘 학식 메뉴 뭐예요?
What's on the cafeteria menu today?
a new employee reviewing their first week
회사 구내식당 밥이 생각보다 괜찮아요.
The company cafeteria food is better than I expected.
inviting a coworker out for lunch
구내식당에서 점심 먹고 커피 한 잔 할까요?
Shall we grab lunch at the cafeteria and get a coffee?
Cultural Context
University 학식 (student cafeteria) is a core part of Korean college life — meals often cost only 3,000–5,000 won and come with rice, soup, kimchi, and two or three 반찬 (side dishes) on a divided metal tray. Some schools became internet-famous for their cheap breakfast programs like Inha University's '천원의 아침밥' (the 1,000-won breakfast). Company 구내식당 are also a big deal: tech firms like Naver and Kakao are known for high-end cafeterias that function almost as a perk, while older companies still run a classic meal-ticket system.
Editorial note
We review entries like 구내식당 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
구내식당 어디에 있어요?
Where is the cafeteria?
오늘 학식 뭐예요?
What's on the cafeteria menu today?
구내식당에서 점심 먹었어요.
I had lunch at the cafeteria.
Related Expressions
식당
sik-tang
restaurant / dining hall
학식
hak-sik
student cafeteria (slang)
급식
geup-sik
school meal service
반찬
ban-chan
side dishes
More Education Words
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