Korean Dictionary
How to say "Discipline" in Korean
“Discipline” in Korean is 훈육 (pronounced "Hunuk").
훈육
Hunuk
Usage & Context
Teaching children appropriate behavior and boundaries. Korean parenting traditionally emphasizes discipline and respect for authority.
Example Sentence
훈육은 사랑의 표현입니다.
Discipline is an expression of love.
How to use 훈육 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Discipline” is 훈육, romanized as Hunuk.
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 훈육.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'hoon-yook' — 'hun' rhymes with 'soon,' and 'yuk' is a single quick syllable like 'yook' rhyming with 'book.' Soft final 'k.'
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
훈육
hunyuk
Standard term for parental/teacher discipline aimed at character formation
Casual (반말)
혼내기
honnaegi
Casual, everyday way parents describe scolding/disciplining ('scolding time')
More Example Sentences
a parenting podcast discussion
요즘 부모들은 훈육과 체벌을 엄격히 구분해요.
Parents these days strictly distinguish between discipline and corporal punishment.
a parenting advice column
아이 훈육할 때는 일관성이 가장 중요해요.
When disciplining a child, consistency is most important.
venting in a mom group chat
남편과 훈육 방식이 달라서 고민이에요.
My husband and I have different discipline styles, and it's stressing me out.
Cultural Context
훈육 has shifted dramatically in Korean culture. Older generations raised under 유교 (Confucian) values often used a 매 (wooden stick, sometimes called 사랑의 매 — 'the rod of love'), but modern parenting is strongly moving toward 정서적 훈육 (emotional discipline) influenced by books like 『육아 서바이벌』 and shows like 『금쪽같은 내 새끼』 with child-therapist 오은영 박사, who became a national parenting icon. Corporal punishment at school was officially banned in 2011, reshaping the entire vocabulary around 훈육.
Editorial note
We review entries like 훈육 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
아이를 훈육하다
To discipline a child
훈육 방식
Discipline style / approach
엄한 훈육
Strict discipline
Related Expressions
교육
gyoyuk
education
체벌
chebeol
corporal punishment
자제력
jajeryeok
self-control
방임
bangim
neglect / laissez-faire (antonym)
More Parenting & Family Life Words
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