Korean Dictionary
How to say "Insomnia" in Korean
“Insomnia” in Korean is 불면증 (pronounced "bulmyeonjjeung").
불면증
bulmyeonjjeung
Usage & Context
불면증 is a widespread condition in Korea driven by high stress levels, long work hours, and excessive smartphone use before bedtime. Korean doctors frequently prescribe sleep aids or recommend lifestyle changes for 불면증. Herbal remedies like jujube tea (대추차) are also traditional treatments for mild 불면증.
Example Sentence
불면증 때문에 밤에 잠을 못 자요.
Because of insomnia I cannot sleep at night.
How to use 불면증 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Insomnia” is 불면증, romanized as bulmyeonjjeung.
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 불면증.
Pronunciation Guide
불면증 (bulmyeonjjeung) is pronounced 'bool-myun-jjung'. '불' (bul) sounds like 'bool' in 'bull'. '면' (myeon) sounds like 'myun' in 'myun-mar'. '증' (jjeung) has a tense 'jj' sound, like a double 'j', followed by 'ung', similar to 'jjung-le'.
More Example Sentences
A personal complaint about worsening sleep issues.
밤에 잠이 안 와서 불면증이 심해졌어요.
I can't sleep at night, so my insomnia has gotten worse.
Explaining the consequence of a sleepless night.
불면증 때문에 다음 날 너무 피곤해요.
Because of insomnia, I'm so tired the next day.
Asking for natural remedies or advice for better sleep.
불면증에 좋은 차나 음식이 있을까요?
Are there any good teas or foods for insomnia?
Cultural Context
Insomnia (불면증) is a common complaint in Korea, often attributed to high stress levels, long working hours, and pervasive smartphone use late into the night. Many Koreans try traditional remedies like jujube tea (대추차) or seek medical advice for sleep aids. The 'ppalli-ppalli' (hurry-hurry) culture and intense academic/work pressure contribute to a society that often sacrifices sleep, making 불면증 a widespread issue.
Editorial note
We review entries like 불면증 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
불면증에 시달리다
To suffer from insomnia
만성 불면증
Chronic insomnia
불면증 해소
Relieving insomnia
Related Expressions
수면 부족
sumyeon bujok
Sleep deprivation
잠 못 자다
jam mot jada
Cannot sleep (verb phrase)
수면제
sumyeonje
Sleeping pill
피로
piro
Fatigue, tiredness
More Health & Medical Words
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