Korean Dictionary
How to say "Cure" in Korean
“Cure” in Korean is 염장하다 (pronounced "yeomjang hada").
염장하다
yeomjang hada
Usage & Context
Preserving meat or fish with salt. Traditional Korean method for making dried fish and salted vegetables. Creates concentrated flavors.
Example Sentence
생선을 염장해요.
I cure fish.
How to use 염장하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Cure” is 염장하다, romanized as yeomjang hada.
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 염장하다.
Pronunciation Guide
For '염장' (yeomjang), 'yeom' sounds like 'yuh-um' (similar to 'yum' but with a softer 'y'), and 'jang' like 'jang' in 'jang-gle'. '하다' (hada) is pronounced 'ha' like 'hah' and 'da' like 'dah'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
염장해요
yeomjang haeyo
This is the common polite form used in daily conversation.
Casual (반말)
염장해
yeomjang hae
Used with close friends or people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Explaining a step in making kimchi preparation.
김치를 담글 때 배추를 먼저 염장해야 해요.
When making kimchi, you first need to salt-cure the napa cabbage.
Discussing traditional food preservation methods in a specific region.
제주도에서는 갈치를 염장해서 보관하기도 해요.
In Jeju Island, they sometimes salt-cure cutlassfish for preservation.
Describing the taste and use of cured meat.
염장한 고기는 짭짤해서 밥반찬으로 좋아요.
Salt-cured meat is salty and good as a side dish for rice.
Cultural Context
'염장하다' is a traditional and vital technique in Korean food culture, especially for making kimchi and preserving seafood. This process not only preserves food but also draws out moisture, concentrates flavors, and prepares ingredients for fermentation. It's crucial for the distinct taste and texture of many Korean fermented foods, which are central to the Korean diet.
Editorial note
We review entries like 염장하다 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
배추를 염장하다
to salt-cure napa cabbage
생선을 염장하다
to salt-cure fish
염장 기술
salt-curing technique
Related Expressions
절이다
jeorida
to salt/pickle (often used for vegetables like cabbage for kimchi)
숙성하다
sukssseonghada
to age/ferment
건조하다
geonjohada
to dry
보존하다
bojonhada
to preserve
More Cooking Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Cure and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
