Korean Dictionary
How to say "Chest" in Korean
“Chest” in Korean is 가슴 (pronounced "gaseum").
가슴
gaseum
Usage & Context
The front part of the torso containing the heart and lungs. Essential vocabulary for describing body parts. Used in medical and everyday contexts.
Example Sentence
가슴이 아파요.
My chest hurts.
How to use 가슴 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Chest” is 가슴, romanized as gaseum.
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 가슴.
Pronunciation Guide
가 (ga) sounds like 'gah' (as in 'garage' without the 'r'). 슴 (seum) sounds like 'seum' (similar to 'sum' but with a 'eu' vowel, like the 'u' in 'put'). The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Describing a feeling of anxiety or physical discomfort.
가슴이 답답해서 숨쉬기가 힘들어요.
My chest feels tight, and it's hard to breathe.
Talking about post-exercise soreness.
운동했더니 가슴 근육이 아프네요.
My chest muscles hurt after working out.
Expressing sincerity or making a solemn promise.
가슴에 손을 얹고 맹세할 수 있어요.
I can swear on my heart (literally, 'put my hand on my chest').
Cultural Context
가슴 is a versatile word in Korean. While it literally means 'chest,' it's very frequently used metaphorically to refer to one's heart, emotions, or inner feelings, much like 'heart' in English. Phrases like '가슴 아프다' (my heart aches/it's heartbreaking) or '가슴이 벅차다' (my heart is full/overwhelmed with emotion) are extremely common in daily conversation, K-pop lyrics, and K-dramas, reflecting its deep emotional connotation.
Editorial note
We review entries like 가슴 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
가슴 아프다
To be heartbroken / It hurts my heart
가슴이 뛰다
To have one's heart race (e.g., from excitement, fear)
가슴에 와닿다
To resonate with one's heart / To be deeply touched
Related Expressions
심장
simjang
Heart (organ)
배
bae
Abdomen/Stomach
어깨
eokkae
Shoulder
등
deung
Back
More Body Parts Words
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