Korean Dictionary
How to say "Countdown" in Korean
“Countdown” in Korean is 카운트다운 (pronounced "Kaunteudasun").
카운트다운
Kaunteudasun
Usage & Context
카운트다운 is used in Korean for New Year countdowns sports events rocket launches and TV show finales. New Year countdowns at major gathering spots like Bosingak Bell in Seoul draw huge crowds. The word is borrowed from English and is widely understood by all age groups.
Example Sentence
새해 카운트다운을 친구들과 함께 했어요.
I did the New Year countdown together with friends.
How to use 카운트다운 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Countdown” is 카운트다운, romanized as Kaunteudasun.
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 카운트다운.
Pronunciation Guide
"Ka" like 'kah' in 'car'. "Un" like 'oon' in 'moon'. "Teu" like 'too' but with a very light 't' and a short 'oo' sound, almost like 'tuh'. "Da" like 'dah' in 'dah-ling'. "Un" like 'oon' in 'moon'.
More Example Sentences
Friends planning New Year's Eve activities.
새해 카운트다운 보러 광화문에 갈까?
Shall we go to Gwanghwamun to see the New Year's countdown?
An announcement during a rocket launch or similar event.
발사 10초 전, 카운트다운 시작!
10 seconds before launch, countdown begins!
K-drama fans discussing an upcoming finale.
드라마 마지막 회 카운트다운이 시작됐어.
The countdown for the drama's final episode has begun.
Cultural Context
'카운트다운' is a direct loanword from English and is widely understood and used in Korea, especially for exciting events like New Year's Eve, rocket launches, or even the finale of popular TV shows. The New Year's countdown at Bosingak Bell in Seoul is a major annual event, broadcast nationwide, where people gather to ring in the new year.
Editorial note
We review entries like 카운트다운 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
카운트다운 시작
Countdown begins
새해 카운트다운
New Year's countdown
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 카운트다운!
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, countdown!
Related Expressions
새해맞이
saehaemaji
New Year's celebration
D-데이
di-dei
D-Day (often used for important deadlines or events)
시작
sijak
start, beginning
종료
jongnyo
end, completion
More Numbers and Time Words
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