Korean Dictionary
How to say "Cell" in Korean
“Cell” in Korean is 세포 (pronounced "Sepo").
세포
Sepo
Usage & Context
The basic unit of life. Korean biologists conduct extensive research on cell biology, including stem cell research at major universities.
Example Sentence
세포는 생명의 기본 단위이다.
Cells are the basic unit of life.
How to use 세포 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Cell” is 세포, romanized as Sepo.
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 세포.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'se-po' — 'se' like 'seh' (short 'eh' sound), and 'po' like 'poh' (rhymes with 'go'). Two clean syllables.
More Example Sentences
A medical researcher describing their work
암 세포를 연구하고 있어요.
I'm researching cancer cells.
A biology student observing under a microscope
세포가 분열하고 있어요.
The cells are dividing.
A doctor explaining new treatment options
줄기세포 치료가 가능해요.
Stem cell therapy is possible.
Cultural Context
세포 is strictly the biological cell — for other meanings of 'cell' (prison cell, phone cell), Korean uses completely different words like 감방 (jail cell) or 셀 (battery cell, as loanword). Korea is a global leader in stem cell (줄기세포) research and has one of the world's most advanced biotech sectors. The term appears in everyday health vocabulary too, as in '암세포' (cancer cells) and '면역세포' (immune cells) seen in medical coverage.
Editorial note
We review entries like 세포 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
세포가 건강해요.
The cells are healthy.
세포 구조를 배웠어요.
I learned about cell structure.
세포가 죽었어요.
The cells died.
Related Expressions
줄기세포
julgisepo
stem cell
암세포
amsepo
cancer cell
조직
jojik
tissue
세포막
sepomak
cell membrane
More Science & Research Words
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