Korean Dictionary
How to say "Chord" in Korean
“Chord” in Korean is 화음 (pronounced "Hwaam").
화음
Hwaam
Usage & Context
A combination of notes played together to create harmony. Essential for guitar and piano players in Korea.
Example Sentence
화음이 복잡해요.
The chord is complex.
How to use 화음 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Chord” is 화음, romanized as Hwaam.
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 화음.
Pronunciation Guide
화 (hwa) sounds like 'hwah'. 음 (eum) sounds like 'eum' as in 'album' or 'oom'. Put it together: 'hwah-eum'.
More Example Sentences
Learning a musical instrument.
기타로 화음을 연주하는 법을 배우고 있어요.
I'm learning how to play chords on the guitar.
Describing the musical quality of a song.
이 노래는 아름다운 화음으로 가득 차 있어요.
This song is full of beautiful chords.
Practicing piano and facing a challenge.
피아노로 화음을 잡는 게 아직 어려워요.
It's still hard for me to play chords on the piano.
Cultural Context
화음 refers to a musical chord, a combination of notes played simultaneously. It's a fundamental concept in Western music theory, which is widely taught in Korea. Many Koreans learn instruments like piano or guitar, where understanding and playing 화음 is essential. K-pop songs often feature complex and rich 화음 structures, contributing to their distinctive sound. The term is commonly used in music lessons, band practices, or when discussing song arrangements.
Editorial note
We review entries like 화음 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
화음을 넣다
To add chords/harmony
화음을 맞추다
To harmonize (vocally or instrumentally)
기타 화음
Guitar chords
Related Expressions
코드
kodeu
Chord (loanword, often used interchangeably)
멜로디
mellodi
Melody
반주
banju
Accompaniment
화성학
hwaseonghak
Harmony (music theory)
More Music Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Chord and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
