Korean Dictionary
How to say "Elementary School" in Korean
“Elementary School” in Korean is 초등학교 (pronounced "Chodeunghakgyo").
초등학교
Chodeunghakgyo
Usage & Context
Elementary school (초등학교) in Korea covers grades 1-6, beginning at age 8. Mandatory education starts here, with a broad curriculum including Korean, math, science, social studies, English, art, music, and PE. Elementary school is generally a relatively happy period, featuring field trips, seasonal festivals, and a nurturing classroom atmosphere.
Example Sentence
초등학교 시절 친구들이 보고 싶어요.
I miss my elementary school friends.
How to use 초등학교 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Elementary School” is 초등학교, romanized as Chodeunghakgyo.
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 초등학교.
Pronunciation Guide
초 (cho) sounds like 'cho' in 'chocolate'. 등 (deung) sounds like 'dung' in 'dungaree' but with a softer 'd' and a 'eu' vowel like in 'book' but with lips spread. 학 (hak) sounds like 'hak' in 'hack'. 교 (gyo) sounds like 'gyo' in 'gyoza'. The stress is fairly even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
Parents discussing their child's upcoming education.
우리 아이가 내년에 초등학교에 입학해요.
Our child is starting elementary school next year.
Two old friends reminiscing about their long-standing friendship.
초등학교 때부터 친구였어요.
We've been friends since elementary school.
Recalling a fond childhood memory.
초등학교 운동장에서 축구했어요.
We played soccer on the elementary school playground.
Cultural Context
Korean elementary schools (초등학교) are where mandatory education begins, covering grades 1-6. Unlike middle or high school, students typically don't wear uniforms, allowing for more personal expression. Parental involvement is often high, with many parents actively participating in school events or parent-teacher associations. After-school academies (학원, hagwon) for subjects like English or math are common even for elementary students, reflecting Korea's strong emphasis on early education.
Editorial note
We review entries like 초등학교 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
초등학교 동창
Elementary school alumni
초등학교 선생님
Elementary school teacher
초등학교 졸업
Elementary school graduation
Related Expressions
중학교
Junghakgyo
Middle school
고등학교
Godeunghakgyo
High school
대학교
Daehakgyo
University
유치원
Yuchiwon
Kindergarten
More Education Words
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