Korean Dictionary
How to say "Car Horn" in Korean
“Car Horn” in Korean is 경적 (pronounced "gyeongjeok").
경적
gyeongjeok
Usage & Context
경적 is the horn of a vehicle used to signal warnings or alert other drivers in Korea. Unnecessary use of the 경적 in Korean residential areas and quiet zones is prohibited and considered impolite. Korean drivers in cities generally use 경적 sparingly compared to other Asian countries.
Example Sentence
위험한 상황에서만 경적을 사용하세요.
Use the car horn only in dangerous situations.
How to use 경적 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Car Horn” is 경적, romanized as gyeongjeok.
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 경적.
Pronunciation Guide
경 (gyeong) sounds like 'gyung' in 'gyung-le' (if it were a word), with the 'eo' like the 'aw' in 'saw'. 적 (jeok) sounds like 'juck' in 'jockey' without the 'y' sound. Put it together as 'gyung-juck'.
More Example Sentences
Complaining about excessive noise from a car horn.
경적 소리가 너무 시끄러워요.
The car horn sound is too loud.
Explaining why someone used their car horn.
앞차가 안 가서 경적을 울렸어요.
The car in front wasn't moving, so I honked the horn.
A polite request or sign in a quiet area.
밤에는 경적 사용을 자제해주세요.
Please refrain from using the horn at night.
Cultural Context
In Korea, using the car horn (경적) excessively is generally considered impolite and can be seen as aggressive or impatient, especially in residential areas or late at night. Drivers typically use it for brief warnings, like alerting someone backing up, rather than to express frustration or rush other drivers. Compared to some other countries, Korean drivers tend to be more reserved with their horns.
Editorial note
We review entries like 경적 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
경적을 울리다
To honk the horn
경적 소리
Horn sound
경적 금지
No honking
Related Expressions
빵빵거리다
ppangppanggeorida
To honk repeatedly (onomatopoeia)
경고음
gyeonggoeum
Warning sound/alarm
클랙슨
keullaekseun
Klaxon (loanword for horn)
소리 지르다
sori jireuda
To shout/yell
More Transportation Words
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