Korean Dictionary
How to say "Dragonfly" in Korean
“Dragonfly” in Korean is 잠자리 (pronounced "Jamjari").
잠자리
Jamjari
Usage & Context
Aerial insects common in Korean summer and autumn. 잠자리 catching is a beloved childhood activity in rural Korea. 고추잠자리 (red dragonfly) appearing in autumn signals the changing season in Korean nature poetry. 잠자리 비행 (dragonfly flight) is admired for its agility — they can fly in all directions.
Example Sentence
가을 하늘에 잠자리가 날아다니는 걸 보면 계절이 바뀌었다는 걸 알아요.
Seeing dragonflies fly in the autumn sky tells you the season has changed.
How to use 잠자리 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Dragonfly” is 잠자리, romanized as Jamjari.
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 잠자리.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce 'Jam' like the English word 'jam' (as in fruit jam). 'Ja' sounds like 'jah' (similar to 'jar' without the 'r' sound). 'Ri' is like 'ree'. The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Recalling a childhood memory of playing outdoors.
어릴 때 친구들과 잠자리를 잡으러 다녔어요.
When I was little, I used to go catching dragonflies with my friends.
Observing nature in a peaceful setting.
연못가에 잠자리가 우아하게 날아다니네요.
Dragonflies are flying gracefully by the pond.
Noticing seasonal changes in nature.
가을이 되면 고추잠자리가 많이 보여요.
When autumn comes, you can see many red dragonflies.
Cultural Context
잠자리 (jamjari) is a beloved symbol of summer and autumn in Korea. Catching dragonflies with a net (잠자리채) is a classic childhood activity, especially in rural areas. The appearance of 고추잠자리 (gochujamjari), or red dragonflies, is a common sign that autumn is truly setting in, often referenced in Korean poetry and daily conversation.
Editorial note
We review entries like 잠자리 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
잠자리 잡으러 가자!
Let's go catch dragonflies!
잠자리가 날아다녀요.
Dragonflies are flying around.
잠자리가 많아요.
There are many dragonflies.
Related Expressions
고추잠자리
gochujamjari
red dragonfly
잠자리채
jamjarichae
dragonfly net
잠자리 비행
jamjari bihaeng
dragonfly flight (admired for agility)
곤충
gonchung
insect
More Nature Words
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