Korean Dictionary
How to say "Infection" in Korean
“Infection” in Korean is 감염 (pronounced "gamyeom").
감염
gamyeom
Usage & Context
감염 refers to the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in the body. Korea has a robust infection control system in hospitals with strict protocols to prevent hospital-acquired 감염. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened Korean public awareness about 감염 prevention through masking and hand hygiene.
Example Sentence
상처에 감염이 생기지 않도록 잘 소독해야 해요.
You need to disinfect the wound well to prevent infection.
How to use 감염 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Infection” is 감염, romanized as gamyeom.
Usage tip
When describing symptoms, combine the word with where it hurts, when it started, and how severe it is.
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 감염.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 감 (gam), sounds like 'gam' in 'game' but with a shorter 'a' and a soft 'm' at the end. The second syllable, 염 (yeom), sounds like 'yeom' in 'yum' but with a slightly more open 'eo' sound. The stress is fairly even across both syllables.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
감염됩니다
gamyeomdoepnida
Formal polite conjugation of the verb '감염되다' (to be infected).
Casual (반말)
감염돼
gamyeomdoe
Casual conjugation of the verb '감염되다' (to be infected).
More Example Sentences
A hospital staff meeting discussing safety protocols.
병원 내 감염을 예방하는 것이 중요해요.
It's important to prevent hospital-acquired infections.
Explaining the cause of an illness to a friend.
바이러스 감염으로 고열에 시달렸어요.
I suffered from a high fever due to a viral infection.
Giving first aid advice to someone with a cut.
상처 부위에 감염 증상이 있는지 확인하세요.
Check if there are any signs of infection in the wound area.
Cultural Context
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly heightened public awareness of 감염 prevention in Korea, leading to widespread adoption of mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and social distancing. Korean hospitals maintain robust infection control systems with strict protocols to prevent hospital-acquired 감염. The term '집단 감염' (jipdan gamyeom - cluster infection) became a common phrase during the pandemic, frequently used in news reports.
Editorial note
We review entries like 감염 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
감염되다
to get infected
감염을 예방하다
to prevent infection
감염 위험
risk of infection
Related Expressions
세균
segyun
bacteria
바이러스
baireoseu
virus
예방
yebang
prevention
소독
sodok
disinfection
More Health & Medical Words
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