Korean Dictionary
How to say "First" in Korean
“First” in Korean is 첫 번째 (pronounced "cheot beonjjae").
첫 번째
cheot beonjjae
Usage & Context
The ordinal number for first, used to indicate the initial position in a sequence. This is commonly used in rankings, lists, and ordering.
Example Sentence
첫 번째 학생이 좋아요.
I like the first student.
How to use 첫 번째 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “First” is 첫 번째, romanized as cheot beonjjae.
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 첫 번째.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '첫' (cheot), sounds like 'chut' in 'shutter' but with a clear 't' sound at the end. '번' (beon) is like 'bun' in 'bunch', and '째' (jjae) is a tense 'jae' sound, similar to 'j' in 'jam' but with more tension in the tongue.
More Example Sentences
Reporting arrival order at an event.
제가 첫 번째로 도착했어요.
I arrived first.
Sharing a personal experience with a friend.
이게 제 첫 번째 한국 여행이에요.
This is my first trip to Korea.
Giving instructions in a classroom or theater.
첫 번째 줄에 앉아주세요.
Please sit in the first row.
Cultural Context
In Korean culture, '첫 번째' is frequently used in competitive contexts like K-pop music show rankings (1위, 'il-wi' or 'first place') or academic achievements. It signifies the initial position in a sequence, often carrying a sense of importance or newness, like '첫인상' (cheot-insang, first impression) or '첫사랑' (cheot-sarang, first love).
Editorial note
We review entries like 첫 번째 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
첫 번째 질문
first question
첫 번째 단계
first step
첫 번째로 중요한 것
the most important thing (lit. 'first important thing')
Related Expressions
첫
cheot
first (as a modifier, e.g., 첫눈 - first snow)
처음
cheoeum
the first time, beginning
일등
il-deung
first place, top rank
맨 처음
maen cheoeum
very first, at the very beginning
More Numbers and Time Words
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