Korean Dictionary
How to say "College entrance exam" in Korean
“College entrance exam” in Korean is 대학 입시 (pronounced "Daehak ipsi").
대학 입시
Daehak ipsi
Usage & Context
The standardized test for college admission. The college entrance exam is a major milestone in Korean education.
Example Sentence
대학 입시는 매우 경쟁적입니다.
The college entrance exam is very competitive.
How to use 대학 입시 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “College entrance exam” is 대학 입시, romanized as Daehak ipsi.
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 대학 입시.
Pronunciation Guide
대 (dae) sounds like 'day'. 학 (hak) sounds like 'hack'. 입 (ip) sounds like 'ip' as in 'lip'. 시 (si) sounds like 'see'. The pronunciation is generally even, but '입시' often carries a slightly heavier emphasis due to its significance.
More Example Sentences
A student complaining about stress.
대학 입시 준비 때문에 잠을 잘 못 자요.
I can't sleep well because of college entrance exam preparations.
Discussing the pressure of the education system.
한국에서 대학 입시는 학생들에게 엄청난 스트레스입니다.
In Korea, the college entrance exam is immense stress for students.
Talking about educational policy.
대학 입시 제도가 매년 조금씩 바뀌어요.
The college entrance exam system changes slightly every year.
Cultural Context
The '대학 입시' culminates in the '수능' (Suneung), the College Scholastic Ability Test, which is a defining moment for Korean students. The entire nation often mobilizes on Suneung day, with traffic controls and quiet environments near test centers. It's a high-stakes, highly competitive process that significantly shapes a student's future, leading to intense pressure and long study hours.
Editorial note
We review entries like 대학 입시 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
대학 입시 준비
college entrance exam preparation
대학 입시 스트레스
college entrance exam stress
대학 입시 제도
college entrance exam system
Related Expressions
수능
suneung
CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test)
입시 경쟁
ipsi gyeongjaeng
entrance exam competition
재수생
jaesusaeng
student retaking the college entrance exam
입학 시험
iphak siheom
entrance exam (general)
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