Korean Dictionary
How to say "Key" in Korean
“Key” in Korean is 열쇠 (pronounced "yeolswae").
열쇠
yeolswae
Usage & Context
A key is used to open locks. The term 열쇠 is commonly used in Korean daily life. Many Koreans use electronic keys or keycards in modern apartments.
Example Sentence
열쇠로 문을 열어요.
I open the door with a key.
How to use 열쇠 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Key” is 열쇠, romanized as yeolswae.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 열쇠.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce 'yeol' like 'yul' in 'yule'. 'swae' is like 'sweh' in 'sweat', but with a slightly softer 's' sound.
More Example Sentences
Searching for car keys before leaving.
차 열쇠를 어디에 뒀지?
Where did I put my car key?
Talking about moving into a new home.
새 집 열쇠를 받았어요.
I received the key to my new house.
Explaining a common predicament.
열쇠를 잃어버려서 문을 못 열었어요.
I lost my key, so I couldn't open the door.
Cultural Context
While '열쇠' refers to traditional physical keys, many modern Korean apartments and offices use digital door locks (도어락, doeorak) or key cards (카드키, kadeuki) instead. You might still use a physical '열쇠' for older homes, mailboxes, or storage units. The loanword '키' (ki) is also commonly used, especially for car keys or electronic keys.
Editorial note
We review entries like 열쇠 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
열쇠를 잃어버리다
to lose a key
열쇠로 문을 열다
to open a door with a key
열쇠 꾸러미
a bunch of keys, keyring
Related Expressions
키
ki
key (loanword, often for car/electronic keys)
자물쇠
jamulswae
lock
도어락
doeorak
digital door lock
카드키
kadeuki
key card
More Daily Life Words
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