Korean Dictionary
How to say "Korean sauna" in Korean
“Korean sauna” in Korean is 찜질방 (pronounced "Jjimjilbang").
찜질방
Jjimjilbang
Usage & Context
A uniquely Korean experience — a heated public bathhouse with various temperature rooms, showers, and often sleeping areas. Open 24 hours, it serves as a cheap overnight option. Wear provided shorts and T-shirts inside common areas. Very much a family and social activity.
Example Sentence
찜질방에서 하룻밤 자는 것도 색다른 경험이에요.
Sleeping overnight at a jjimjilbang is also a unique experience.
How to use 찜질방 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Korean sauna” is 찜질방, romanized as Jjimjilbang.
Usage tip
Pair this travel word with polite request endings like -요 so it works in hotels, stations, taxis, and shops.
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 찜질방.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'jjim-jil-bang' — 'jjim' has a tensed 'jj,' 'jil' rhymes with 'jeel,' and 'bang' is 'bahng.' The tensed 'jj' is a held double j.
More Example Sentences
making weekend plans
주말에 찜질방 가자.
Let's go to the jjimjilbang this weekend.
describing the experience
찜질방에서 계란하고 식혜 먹었어요.
I had boiled eggs and sikhye at the jjimjilbang.
asking about budget lodging
찜질방에서 하룻밤 자도 돼요?
Can we sleep a night at the jjimjilbang?
Cultural Context
찜질방 is a quintessentially Korean experience — a 24-hour sauna complex with themed heated rooms (소금방 — salt room, 황토방 — clay room), sleeping halls, and food courts. Families and friends go together in matching 찜질복 (jjimjilbang uniforms). The classic snack is 맥반석 계란 (hot-stone baked eggs) with 식혜 (sweet rice drink).
Editorial note
We review entries like 찜질방 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
찜질방 가요.
I'm going to the jjimjilbang.
찜질방 처음이에요.
It's my first jjimjilbang.
찜질방에서 쉬어요.
I'm relaxing at the jjimjilbang.
Related Expressions
사우나
sauna
sauna
찜질복
jjimjilbok
jjimjilbang uniform
맥반석 계란
maekbanseok gyeran
hot-stone baked eggs
때밀이
ttaemiri
body scrub (at bathhouse)
More Travel Words
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