Korean Dictionary
How to say "Fan" in Korean
“Fan” in Korean is 선풍기 (pronounced "seonpunggi").
선풍기
seonpunggi
Usage & Context
A fan is used for air circulation and cooling. The term 선풍기 is commonly used in Korean homes during summer. Many Koreans use fans as an energy-efficient cooling option.
Example Sentence
여름에 선풍기를 켜요.
I turn on the fan in summer.
How to use 선풍기 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Fan” is 선풍기, romanized as seonpunggi.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 선풍기.
Pronunciation Guide
선 (seon) sounds like 'sun' in English. 풍 (pung) sounds like 'poong' as in 'moon' with a 'p' at the start, and the 'ng' like in 'sing'. 기 (gi) sounds like 'gee' in 'geese'. Stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Asking a family member or friend to turn on a fan.
더워서 선풍기 좀 틀어줄래?
It's hot, could you turn on the fan?
A common warning or superstition, often told by older Koreans.
밤에 선풍기 켜고 자면 감기 걸려.
If you sleep with the fan on at night, you'll catch a cold.
Bragging about a convenient feature of a household item.
우리 집 선풍기는 리모컨도 있어.
Our fan even has a remote control.
Cultural Context
The '선풍기' (fan) is a summer staple in Korea, often used alongside or instead of air conditioning. A notable cultural aspect is the '선풍기 사망설' (fan death superstition), where some Koreans believe sleeping in a closed room with a fan on can be fatal. While scientifically debunked, many still instinctively use a timer or leave a window slightly open when sleeping with a fan, especially older generations.
Editorial note
We review entries like 선풍기 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
선풍기 켜다
To turn on the fan
선풍기 끄다
To turn off the fan
선풍기 바람
Fan breeze
Related Expressions
부채
buchae
Hand fan
환풍기
hwanpunggi
Exhaust fan / Ventilator
에어컨
eeokon
Air conditioner (often used with fans for better circulation)
바람
baram
Wind / Breeze
More Daily Life Words
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