Korean Dictionary
How to say "Kimjang (Kimchi Making Season)" in Korean
“Kimjang (Kimchi Making Season)” in Korean is 김장 (pronounced "kimjang").
김장
kimjang
Usage & Context
김장 is the annual Korean tradition of making large quantities of kimchi in late autumn to store for winter. It is a communal activity where neighbors and extended family gather to prepare hundreds of heads of cabbage. 김장 was inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013 recognizing its cultural significance.
Example Sentence
11월에 이웃들과 함께 김장을 담갔어요.
I made kimchi together with neighbors in November.
How to use 김장 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Kimjang (Kimchi Making Season)” is 김장, romanized as kimjang.
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 김장.
Pronunciation Guide
김 (kim) sounds like 'kim' in 'kimchi', with a short 'i' sound. 장 (jang) sounds like 'jang' in 'jang-go' (a Korean drum), with the 'a' like 'ah' in 'car' and a soft 'ng' at the end. The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Talking about a family tradition.
우리 가족은 매년 가을에 김장을 해요.
Our family makes kimchi every autumn.
Describing the communal aspect of the event.
김장하는 날은 온 가족이 모여서 잔치 분위기예요.
Kimjang day is a festive atmosphere with the whole family gathered.
Discussing the practicalities or challenges of kimjang.
올해는 배추값이 비싸서 김장하기가 부담스러워요.
This year, the cabbage price is high, so making kimchi is a burden.
Cultural Context
Kimjang is a deeply rooted Korean tradition of making and sharing large quantities of kimchi to last through the winter. It's recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, highlighting its communal spirit and importance in Korean identity. While modern families might buy kimchi or make smaller batches, the tradition of gathering with family and neighbors to make kimjang still holds significant cultural value, especially among older generations and in rural areas.
Editorial note
We review entries like 김장 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
김장하다
To do kimjang
김장 김치
Kimchi made during kimjang
김장철
Kimjang season
Related Expressions
김치 담그다
kimchi damgeuda
To make kimchi
김치
kimchi
Kimchi (the food)
겨우살이
gyeousal-i
Winter preparation
품앗이
pumasi
Traditional communal labor exchange
More Holidays & Festivals Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Kimjang (Kimchi Making Season) and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
