Korean Dictionary
How to say "Endurance" in Korean
“Endurance” in Korean is 지구력 (pronounced "jigu-ryeok").
지구력
jigu-ryeok
Usage & Context
Endurance is the ability to sustain physical activity over time. Building endurance is important for many sports and fitness activities in Korea.
Example Sentence
지구력을 키워야 해요.
I need to build endurance.
How to use 지구력 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Endurance” is 지구력, romanized as jigu-ryeok.
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 지구력.
Pronunciation Guide
지 (ji) sounds like 'jee' in 'jeep'. 구 (gu) sounds like 'goo' in 'goose'. 력 (ryeok) sounds like 'ryuk' in 'Ryukyu' or 'rye-ock' with a quick 'r' sound and the 'eo' like 'uh' in 'butter'. The stress is fairly even, perhaps slightly on '구'.
More Example Sentences
Discussing the key aspect of a specific sport.
마라톤은 지구력이 가장 중요한 운동이에요.
Marathon is an exercise where endurance is most important.
Giving advice on improving physical stamina.
지구력을 키우려면 꾸준히 운동해야 해요.
To build endurance, you need to exercise consistently.
Commenting on a sports team's performance.
우리 팀은 지구력이 좋아서 후반에도 지치지 않아요.
Our team has good endurance, so we don't get tired even in the second half.
Cultural Context
지구력 (jigu-ryeok) is a fundamental concept in Korean sports and fitness, referring to both physical stamina and mental perseverance. It literally means 'earth power' or 'sustaining power'. Beyond physical activities, '지구력' can also be used metaphorically to describe one's ability to endure difficult situations or long-term tasks, reflecting a cultural value placed on persistence and resilience.
Editorial note
We review entries like 지구력 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
지구력을 키우다
to build/develop endurance
지구력이 좋다
to have good endurance
지구력 운동
endurance exercise
Related Expressions
체력
cheryeok
physical strength/stamina (broader term)
인내심
innaesim
patience, perseverance (mental endurance)
끈기
kkeungi
tenacity, persistence (similar to mental endurance)
순발력
sunballyeok
agility, quickness (antonym/different type of physical ability)
More Sports Words
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