Korean Dictionary
How to say "Herbs / Wild greens" in Korean
“Herbs / Wild greens” in Korean is 나물 (pronounced "Namul").
나물
Namul
Usage & Context
Edible wild greens and seasoned vegetable dishes central to Korean cuisine. 나물 includes both the raw plants and the preparation method (seasoning with sesame oil, garlic, soy sauce). Spring 나물 gathering (나물 캐기) is a traditional activity. 봄나물 (spring greens) like 냉이, 달래, 쑥 are eagerly anticipated seasonal delicacies.
Example Sentence
봄나물은 건강에 좋고 맛도 좋아요.
Spring greens are good for health and taste good too.
How to use 나물 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Herbs / Wild greens” is 나물, romanized as Namul.
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 나물.
Pronunciation Guide
"Na" sounds like "nah" in "nap". "Mul" sounds like "mool" as in "pool". The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Describing the ingredients of bibimbap.
비빔밥에는 여러 가지 나물이 들어가서 맛있어요.
Bibimbap is delicious because it contains various kinds of seasoned greens.
Talking about a home-cooked meal.
엄마가 봄나물로 건강한 밥상을 차려주셨어요.
Mom prepared a healthy meal with spring greens for me.
Discussing traditional holiday food.
명절에는 삼색 나물을 꼭 준비해요.
For holidays, we always prepare three-color seasoned greens.
Cultural Context
Namul is a cornerstone of Korean cuisine, referring both to edible wild greens and the seasoned vegetable dishes made from them. Spring is a particularly important season for bomnamul (spring greens) like naengi (shepherd's purse) and dallae (wild garlic), which are believed to refresh the body after winter. Preparing namul involves blanching and then seasoning with sesame oil, garlic, soy sauce, and other condiments, making them flavorful and healthy side dishes (banchan).
Editorial note
We review entries like 나물 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
나물 캐기
Gathering wild greens
나물 반찬
Seasoned greens side dish
나물 비빔밥
Bibimbap with seasoned greens
Related Expressions
봄나물
bomnamul
Spring greens
나물 무침
namul muchim
Seasoned greens (a common preparation)
채소
chaeso
Vegetable (general term)
산나물
sannamul
Mountain greens (wild greens from mountains)
More Nature Words
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