Korean Dictionary
How to say "Traditional Korean Medicine (History)" in Korean
“Traditional Korean Medicine (History)” in Korean is 한의학 (pronounced "hanuihak").
한의학
hanuihak
Usage & Context
Traditional Korean Medicine (한의학) has a history going back thousands of years. The Dongui Bogam, compiled by Heo Jun in 1613, is a landmark Korean medical encyclopedia. Korean traditional medicine integrates Chinese medical traditions with indigenous Korean knowledge.
Example Sentence
동의보감은 조선 시대의 중요한 의학 서적이에요.
Dongui Bogam is an important medical book of the Joseon era.
How to use 한의학 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Traditional Korean Medicine (History)” is 한의학, romanized as hanuihak.
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 한의학.
Pronunciation Guide
'Han' sounds like 'hahn' (as in 'John'). 'Ui' is a tricky vowel, like saying 'wee' but with your lips slightly rounded as if to say 'oo.' 'Hak' sounds like 'hack.' The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on 'han.'
More Example Sentences
Describing a common practice for minor ailments.
감기에 걸리면 한의원에서 한약을 지어 먹기도 해요.
If I catch a cold, I sometimes get traditional Korean medicine from a hanuiwon (clinic) and take it.
Discussing a perceived benefit of hanuihak.
한의학은 체질 개선에 좋다고 알려져 있어요.
Traditional Korean medicine is known to be good for improving one's constitution.
Referring to a famous historical drama about a traditional doctor.
드라마 허준을 보면 한의학의 역사와 치료법을 엿볼 수 있어요.
If you watch the drama Heo Jun, you can get a glimpse into the history and treatments of traditional Korean medicine.
Cultural Context
Hanuihak, or Traditional Korean Medicine, is a holistic medical system that has been practiced for centuries, often alongside Western medicine. It emphasizes balancing the body's energy (기, gi) and constitution (체질, chejil) through herbal remedies (한약, hanyak), acupuncture (침, chim), and moxibustion (뜸, tteum). Many Koreans visit 한의원 (hanuiwon, traditional Korean clinics) for chronic conditions, pain management, or general wellness, seeing it as complementary to modern medicine. The Dongui Bogam, a medical encyclopedia from the Joseon era, is a foundational text in hanuihak.
Editorial note
We review entries like 한의학 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
한의학 박사
Doctor of Traditional Korean Medicine (Ph.D.)
한의학 치료
Traditional Korean medicine treatment
한의학 연구
Research in Traditional Korean Medicine
Related Expressions
한의사
hanuisa
Traditional Korean medicine doctor
한약
hanyak
Traditional Korean herbal medicine
침술
chimsul
Acupuncture
양의학
yanguihak
Western medicine (contrast)
More Korean History Words
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