Korean Dictionary
How to say "Fire" in Korean
“Fire” in Korean is 불 (pronounced "Bul").
불
Bul
Usage & Context
Fire or flame. 불 조심 (fire safety/beware of fire) signs are common. Fire is central to Korean BBQ culture where customers grill over open flame or hot charcoal. 달집태우기 (bonfire burning, Lunar New Year tradition) involves burning large straw bale structures to drive away evil spirits and welcome good fortune.
Example Sentence
삼겹살 구울 때 불이 너무 세면 탈 수 있어요.
When grilling samgyeopsal, if the fire is too strong, it can burn.
How to use 불 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Fire” is 불, romanized as Bul.
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 불.
What learners usually mean by “Fire in Korean”
People may mean literal fire, a fire emergency, or figurative fire from songs and slang.
Real usage
불 is the everyday word for fire or light. 화재 is the formal word for a fire incident. 불나다 means a fire breaks out.
Avoid this mistake
Do not use only 불 when reporting an emergency if you need the formal incident word. 화재 is clearer in news, safety, or official contexts.
Better pattern
Use 불 for ordinary fire, 화재 for a fire incident, 불이 났어요 for there is a fire, and 불꽃 for flame or spark.
safety warning
불 조심하세요.
Be careful with fire.
formal emergency report
건물에 화재가 발생했어요.
A fire broke out in the building.
Pronunciation Guide
The word '불' (Bul) is pronounced like 'bool'. The 'b' sound is soft, similar to the 'p' in 'spin', followed by the 'u' vowel which is like the 'oo' in 'moon', and ending with a clear 'l' sound.
More Example Sentences
Planning a camping trip with friends.
캠핑 가서 모닥불 피우고 싶어요.
I want to go camping and build a bonfire.
Realizing a mistake after leaving the house.
가스레인지 불을 끄는 걸 깜빡했어요.
I forgot to turn off the gas stove fire.
Reporting on a news event or disaster.
소방관들이 큰 불을 진압하기 위해 노력했어요.
Firefighters worked hard to put out the big fire.
Cultural Context
Fire, '불', is deeply ingrained in Korean daily life and culture. '불 조심' (Beware of Fire) signs are ubiquitous, especially in mountainous areas or during dry seasons. Korean BBQ culture heavily features '불', as many restaurants use charcoal grills or gas flames directly at the table for customers to cook meat like samgyeopsal. During Lunar New Year, a tradition called '달집태우기' (Daljip-taeugi) involves burning large straw structures to ward off evil spirits and invite good fortune for the year.
Editorial note
We review entries like 불 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
불을 켜다
to turn on the light/fire
불을 끄다
to turn off the light/fire
불 조심
beware of fire, fire safety
Related Expressions
화재
Hwaje
fire (disaster)
불꽃
Bulkkot
flame, spark
연기
Yeongi
smoke
숯
Sut
charcoal
More Nature Words
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