Korean Dictionary
How to say "Ear" in Korean
“Ear” in Korean is 귀 (pronounced "gwi").
귀
gwi
Usage & Context
The organ of hearing on the side of the head. Essential vocabulary for describing facial features. Used in medical and everyday contexts.
Example Sentence
귀가 아파요.
My ear hurts.
How to use 귀 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Ear” is 귀, romanized as gwi.
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 귀.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'gwee' — one syllable, rhyming with English 'we' but starting with a soft 'g.' The 'w' glide is quick, not drawn out.
More Example Sentences
describing a pet's reaction
강아지가 귀를 쫑긋 세웠어요.
The puppy perked up its ears.
explaining why you didn't hear someone
귀에 이어폰 꽂고 음악 들어요.
I'm listening to music with earbuds in my ears.
gossiping with a friend
그 소문 내 귀에도 들어왔어.
That rumor reached my ears too.
Cultural Context
귀 appears in many everyday Korean idioms that reveal cultural attitudes about listening. '귀가 얇다' (literally 'thin ears') describes someone gullible who believes everything they hear — the opposite of the English 'thick-skinned.' '귀에 못이 박히다' ('a callus forms on your ear') means you've heard something so many times you're sick of it, often said by parents nagging children. Korean moms have a specific phrase, '귀 파줄게' ('let me clean your ears'), reflecting the cultural practice of family ear-cleaning with a traditional metal scoop called 귀이개 — an intimate gesture foreigners often find surprising. K-pop fans also use '귀호강' ('ear luxury') to describe hearing an especially beautiful voice.
Editorial note
We review entries like 귀 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
귀가 아파요.
My ear hurts.
귀를 기울이다
to lend an ear / listen carefully
귀가 얇다
to be gullible (lit. 'thin ears')
Related Expressions
귀걸이
gwigeori
earring
귀이개
gwiigae
ear pick / cleaner
청력
cheongnyeok
hearing ability
귀호강
gwihogang
'ear luxury' — hearing something beautiful
More Body Parts Words
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