Korean Dictionary
How to say "Courtyard" in Korean
“Courtyard” in Korean is 마당 (pronounced "Madang").
마당
Madang
Usage & Context
Open space within or surrounded by buildings. Central feature of traditional Korean houses.
Example Sentence
한옥의 마당은 매우 아름다워요.
The courtyard of a hanok is very beautiful.
How to use 마당 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Courtyard” is 마당, romanized as Madang.
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 마당.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'ma-dang' — 'ma' like 'mah' and 'dang' rhyming with 'dong' (bell sound). Two crisp syllables. This is a pure Korean word, not hanja-based.
More Example Sentences
Nostalgic childhood stories
어릴 때 마당에서 뛰어놀았어요.
As a kid, I ran around in the courtyard.
Describing a pet's living situation
마당에서 강아지를 키워요.
We raise a dog in the yard.
Talking about seasonal chores
가을에 마당에 낙엽이 쌓여요.
Fallen leaves pile up in the yard in autumn.
Cultural Context
마당 is a quintessential feature of traditional Korean 한옥 homes — an open inner courtyard where family gathered, children played, and food like 김치 and 고추 was dried or fermented. Modern urban Koreans living in apartments often yearn for a 마당 — you'll hear '마당 있는 집' (a house with a yard) as a dream home descriptor. The word also carries warm, nostalgic connotations and appears in many folk songs and sayings about rural life.
Editorial note
We review entries like 마당 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
마당이 넓어요.
The courtyard is spacious.
마당에 꽃이 피었어요.
Flowers bloomed in the yard.
마당에서 바비큐 해요.
We're having a barbecue in the yard.
Related Expressions
정원
jeongwon
garden (more manicured)
한옥
hanok
traditional Korean house
뒷마당
dwitmadang
backyard
앞마당
apmadang
front yard
More Architecture Words
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