Korean Dictionary
How to say "Cough" in Korean
“Cough” in Korean is 기침 (pronounced "gichim").
기침
gichim
Usage & Context
기침 is a common symptom in Korea especially during the dry winter months and yellow dust (황사) season. Koreans are very conscious of coughing in public and it is considered polite to cover your mouth and wear a mask when you have a 기침. Korean pharmacies carry many cough syrups and throat lozenges specifically formulated for this symptom.
Example Sentence
기침이 멈추지 않아서 약국에 갔어요.
The cough would not stop so I went to the pharmacy.
How to use 기침 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Cough” is 기침, romanized as gichim.
Usage tip
When describing symptoms, combine the word with where it hurts, when it started, and how severe it is.
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 기침.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'gi-chim' — 'gi' like 'gee', 'chim' rhymes with 'cheem'. The 'ch' is aspirated.
More Example Sentences
describing a bad cold
기침이 계속 나서 잠을 못 잤어요.
I couldn't sleep because of the cough.
doctor's visit
마른 기침이 2주 넘게 가요.
I've had a dry cough for over 2 weeks.
public etiquette reminder
기침할 때 입을 가려주세요.
Please cover your mouth when you cough.
Cultural Context
기침 etiquette in Korea is strict, especially after COVID — covering the mouth and wearing masks (마스크) when sick is mandatory in public spaces. Koreans distinguish between '마른 기침' (dry cough) and '가래 기침' (phlegmy cough) when describing symptoms to doctors. 목캔디 (throat candy) and 기침 시럽 are common remedies.
Editorial note
We review entries like 기침 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
기침이 나요.
I have a cough.
기침이 심해요.
The cough is severe.
기침이 멈추지 않아요.
The cough won't stop.
Related Expressions
기침 시럽
gichim sireop
cough syrup
마른 기침
mareun gichim
dry cough
가래
garae
phlegm
목캔디
mokkaendi
throat candy/lozenge
More Health & Medical Words
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