Korean Dictionary
How to say "Colander" in Korean
“Colander” in Korean is 채 (pronounced "chae").
채
chae
Usage & Context
Straining tool with holes for draining. Essential for pasta and vegetables. Prevents water from pooling.
Example Sentence
채로 국수를 거르다.
I drain noodles with a colander.
How to use 채 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Colander” is 채, romanized as chae.
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 채.
Pronunciation Guide
채 (chae) sounds like 'chay' in 'chai tea' or 'chase' without the 's'. The 'ch' is like in 'chair', and the 'ae' vowel is similar to the 'a' in 'cat' but slightly more open.
More Example Sentences
Giving cooking instructions in the kitchen.
파스타 삶은 물은 채에 걸러주세요.
Please drain the pasta water using a colander.
Preparing ingredients for a meal.
채반에 야채를 씻어서 물기를 빼요.
Wash the vegetables in a colander and drain the water.
Commenting on a kitchen tool's suitability.
이 채는 구멍이 너무 커서 쌀이 다 빠져나가겠어.
This colander's holes are too big; all the rice will fall through.
Cultural Context
While '채' is the general term for a sieve or colander, '채반' (chaeban) is very commonly used, especially for larger, basket-like colanders often made of bamboo or plastic. These are essential for washing vegetables or draining noodles, which are staples in Korean cuisine. Various types of '채' are used in traditional Korean cooking, from fine mesh sieves for sifting flour to coarser ones for draining blanched vegetables (나물, namul) or noodles (국수, guksu).
Editorial note
We review entries like 채 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
채에 거르다
To strain with a colander
채반에 씻다
To wash in a colander
물기를 빼다
To drain the water
Related Expressions
채반
chaeban
Colander/sieve (often basket-like)
체
che
Sieve (often for sifting flour)
거르다
georeuda
To strain/filter
물기 빼다
mulgi ppaeda
To drain water
More Cooking Words
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