Korean Dictionary
How to say "Composition" in Korean
“Composition” in Korean is 구성 (pronounced "Guseong").
구성
Guseong
Usage & Context
The arrangement of elements in an artwork. A core concept taught in all Korean art schools.
Example Sentence
좋은 구성은 그림을 아름답게 만듭니다.
Good composition makes a picture beautiful.
How to use 구성 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Composition” is 구성, romanized as Guseong.
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 구성.
Pronunciation Guide
구성 (Gu-seong) starts with 'gu' like 'goo', followed by 'seong' which sounds like 'sung' (as in 'sang a song') but with a slightly more open 'o' sound, similar to 'song' but without a hard 'g' at the end. The stress is fairly even across both syllables.
More Example Sentences
A student reviewing a difficult academic text or novel.
글의 구성이 너무 복잡해서 이해하기 어려웠어요.
The composition of the writing was too complex, so it was hard to understand.
Someone talking about a play or concert performance they enjoyed.
무대 구성이 정말 독창적이라서 몰입감이 높았어요.
The stage composition was really original, so it was very immersive.
An art enthusiast commenting on a piece of art.
이 그림은 구성이 안정적이라서 편안한 느낌을 줘요.
This painting has a stable composition, giving a comfortable feeling.
Cultural Context
구성 is a broad term in Korean, meaning 'composition,' 'structure,' or 'organization.' While it applies to art, it's also used widely in other contexts like '팀 구성' (team composition), '문장 구성' (sentence structure), or '이야기 구성' (story plot). In visual arts, '구도' (gudo) is often used more specifically for visual composition or framing, whereas '구성' refers to the overall arrangement and elements, making it a fundamental concept in all creative fields in Korea.
Editorial note
We review entries like 구성 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
좋은 구성
Good composition/structure
구성 요소
Constituent elements
이야기 구성
Story composition/plot structure
Related Expressions
구도
gudo
Visual composition, framing (more specific to visual arts)
배치
baechi
Arrangement, layout
구조
gujo
Structure
요소
yoso
Element
More Art & Design Words
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