Korean Dictionary
How to say "Deep Bow" in Korean
“Deep Bow” in Korean is 절 (pronounced "jeol").
절
jeol
Usage & Context
절 is the deep formal bow performed in Korean traditional culture during greetings, ancestral rites, and holiday ceremonies. The style of 절 differs for men and women with specific hand positions and depth. Performing 절 to elders on 설날 and other major holidays is a fundamental Korean cultural practice.
Example Sentence
설날 아침에 어른들께 절을 드렸어요.
I performed deep bows to elders on Seollal morning.
How to use 절 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Deep Bow” is 절, romanized as jeol.
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 절.
Pronunciation Guide
절 (jeol) sounds like 'juh-l', rhyming with 'doll' but with a 'j' sound and a slightly more open 'eo' vowel. The pronunciation is 'Juh-L'.
More Example Sentences
Performing a New Year's greeting to elders.
새해 복 많이 받으세요 하고 어른들께 큰 절을 올렸어요.
I wished them 'Happy New Year' and gave a deep bow to the elders.
Observing a traditional wedding ceremony.
결혼식에서 신랑 신부가 하객들에게 절을 했어요.
At the wedding, the bride and groom bowed to the guests.
Showing respect during an ancestral rite.
조상님께 절을 하며 감사의 마음을 전했어요.
I conveyed my gratitude by bowing to my ancestors.
Cultural Context
절 (jeol) is a deep, formal bow, a fundamental gesture of respect in Korean culture. It is performed in various contexts, including ancestral rites, holiday greetings (like Seollal and Chuseok), and showing deference to elders. The specific style of 절 differs for men and women, with distinct hand positions and depth of the bow. Performing 절 to elders on major holidays is a core cultural practice, symbolizing respect, gratitude, and wishes for good fortune.
Editorial note
We review entries like 절 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
절을 하다
to perform a bow
절을 올리다
to offer a bow (more respectful)
큰절을 받다
to receive a deep bow
Related Expressions
절하다
jeolhada
to bow (verb)
큰절
keunjeol
a deep, full bow (most formal)
세배
sebae
New Year's bow
공수
gongsu
hand position for bowing
More Holidays & Festivals Words
Related Articles
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Deep Bow and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
