Korean Dictionary
How to say "Kitchen Knife" in Korean
“Kitchen Knife” in Korean is 칼 (pronounced "Kal").
칼
Kal
Usage & Context
Kitchen knives are fundamental cooking tools. Korean chefs and home cooks use various types of knives for different cutting techniques.
Example Sentence
칼로 재료를 잘게 썰어요.
I chop ingredients finely with the kitchen knife.
How to use 칼 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Kitchen Knife” is 칼, romanized as Kal.
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 칼.
Pronunciation Guide
"칼" (Kal) is pronounced like the English word "calm" but without the 'm' sound. The 'k' sound is soft, similar to a 'g' but unvoiced, and 'al' is like the 'all' in "ball" but shorter. It's a single, sharp syllable.
More Example Sentences
Warning someone in the kitchen.
칼 조심해! 손 다칠라.
Be careful with the knife! You might cut your hand.
Explaining the use of a specific knife.
이 칼은 과일 깎을 때 쓰면 좋아요.
This knife is good for peeling fruit.
Admiring a chef's culinary expertise.
셰프님은 칼질이 정말 예술이에요.
The chef's knife skills are truly art.
Cultural Context
"칼" is a fundamental tool in Korean cooking. While Western kitchens might feature a wide array of specialized knives, Korean home kitchens often rely on a few versatile knives. There's a strong emphasis on precise knife skills (칼질, kaljil) in Korean cuisine, especially for preparing vegetables for banchan or slicing meat thinly for dishes like bulgogi.
Editorial note
We review entries like 칼 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
칼을 갈다
Sharpen a knife
칼질하다
To cut with a knife (referring to the act of cutting ingredients)
칼에 베이다
To get cut by a knife
Related Expressions
도마
doma
Cutting board
가위
gawi
Scissors (often used in Korean cooking for cutting meat or kimchi)
식칼
sik-kal
Kitchen knife (more specific term)
칼날
kallal
Knife blade
More Home & Furniture Words
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