Korean Dictionary
How to say "Earthquake" in Korean
“Earthquake” in Korean is 지진 (pronounced "Jijin").
지진
Jijin
Usage & Context
Korea is not highly prone to earthquakes compared to Japan, but does experience them. The 2016 Gyeongju earthquake (규모 5.8) was the largest recorded in modern Korea. 지진 대피 훈련 (earthquake evacuation drills) are conducted in schools. Being aware of safety procedures is important for residents and tourists.
Example Sentence
갑자기 지진이 났어요! 어떻게 해야 해요?
An earthquake suddenly occurred! What should I do?
How to use 지진 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Earthquake” is 지진, romanized as Jijin.
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 지진.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'Ji,' sounds like 'jee' (as in 'jeep'). The second syllable, 'jin,' sounds like 'jin' (as in 'gin'). The stress is fairly even across both syllables.
More Example Sentences
Giving safety instructions.
지진 발생 시에는 침착하게 대피해야 합니다.
In case of an earthquake, you must evacuate calmly.
Reporting on a minor natural event.
어젯밤에 작은 지진이 있었지만 피해는 없었어요.
There was a small earthquake last night, but there was no damage.
Discussing earthquake-prone regions.
일본은 지진이 자주 발생하는 나라예요.
Japan is a country where earthquakes occur frequently.
Cultural Context
While Korea is not as seismically active as its neighbor Japan, awareness of 지진 has significantly increased after notable earthquakes like the 2016 Gyeongju event. Earthquake drills (지진 대피 훈련) are now standard in schools and public institutions, reflecting a growing understanding of natural disaster risks. News reports often include the magnitude (규모, gyumo) and epicenter (진앙, jinang). The topic of earthquake preparedness is taken seriously, with public service announcements and guidelines readily available.
Editorial note
We review entries like 지진 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
지진이 나다
An earthquake occurs
지진 대피 훈련
Earthquake evacuation drill
규모 5.8 지진
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake
Related Expressions
쓰나미
sseunami
Tsunami
화산
hwasan
Volcano
재난
jaenan
Disaster
지진계
jijingye
Seismograph
More Nature Words
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