Korean Dictionary
How to say "Ginger" in Korean
“Ginger” in Korean is 생강 (pronounced "saengggang").
생강
saengggang
Usage & Context
A spicy root used in Korean cooking for flavor and health benefits. Ginger is used in soups, marinades, and teas. It adds warmth and a distinctive spicy flavor to dishes.
Example Sentence
생강은 따뜻해요.
Ginger is warming.
How to use 생강 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Ginger” is 생강, romanized as saengggang.
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 생강.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce 'saeng' like 'sang' in 'sang a song'. 'Ggang' sounds like 'gang' in 'gangster', but with a slightly harder, more emphasized 'g' sound, almost like a 'k' at the beginning.
More Example Sentences
Sharing a kimchi-making tip.
김치 담글 때 생강을 꼭 넣어야 시원해요.
When making kimchi, you must add ginger for it to be refreshing.
Giving health advice to a friend.
감기 기운이 있을 때 생강차를 마시면 좋아요.
It's good to drink ginger tea when you feel a cold coming on.
Explaining a cooking technique for meat.
고기 양념에 생강을 갈아 넣으면 잡내가 없어져요.
If you grate ginger into the meat marinade, the gamey smell disappears.
Cultural Context
생강 (saengggang) is ginger, a widely used ingredient in Korean cuisine and traditional medicine. It's valued for its pungent, spicy, and warming properties. In cooking, it's often minced or grated into marinades for meat (like bulgogi or galbi) to tenderize and remove gamey odors, and it's a key ingredient in kimchi. Beyond cooking, 생강차 (saenggangcha, ginger tea) is a popular home remedy for colds, indigestion, and to warm the body, especially during colder months.
Editorial note
We review entries like 생강 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
생강을 갈다
to grate ginger
생강 맛
ginger flavor
생강 편
ginger slices
Related Expressions
마늘
maneul
garlic
파
pa
green onion/scallion
생강차
saenggangcha
ginger tea
매콤하다
maekomhada
to be spicy (mildly)
More Food Words
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