Korean Dictionary
How to say "Generation" in Korean
“Generation” in Korean is 세대 (pronounced "sedae").
세대
sedae
Usage & Context
K-pop is divided into generations (1st through 4th and beyond) based on eras of dominant acts. Understanding 세대 helps explain shifts in K-pop's style, distribution, and global reach.
Example Sentence
현재 4세대 케이팝이 전 세계에서 주목받고 있다.
Currently, 4th generation K-pop is gaining worldwide attention.
How to use 세대 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Generation” is 세대, romanized as sedae.
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 세대.
Pronunciation Guide
세대 (se-dae) sounds like 'seh-day,' with 'seh' as in 'set' and 'day' as in 'daylight.' The 's' sound is soft, similar to 's' in 'see.'
More Example Sentences
Discussing current trends in the K-pop industry.
요즘 4세대 아이돌 그룹들이 전 세계적으로 인기가 많아요.
These days, 4th generation idol groups are very popular worldwide.
A fan reminiscing about their early K-pop experiences.
저는 2세대 케이팝을 들으면서 자랐어요.
I grew up listening to 2nd generation K-pop.
Analyzing the evolution of K-pop music over time.
각 세대마다 케이팝 음악 스타일과 트렌드가 달랐어요.
Each generation had different K-pop music styles and trends.
Cultural Context
In K-pop, '세대' (generation) is a widely used term to categorize idol groups based on their debut era and the prevailing trends of that period. Typically, K-pop is divided into 1st (mid-90s to early 2000s), 2nd (mid-2000s to early 2010s), 3rd (mid-2010s to late 2010s), and 4th generation (late 2010s to present). Each generation is associated with distinct musical styles, marketing strategies, and global reach. Fans often identify strongly with the generation they grew up with, and discussions about '세대' are common in K-pop communities.
Editorial note
We review entries like 세대 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
다음 세대
Next generation
우리 세대
Our generation
세대 차이
Generation gap
Related Expressions
1세대 아이돌
il-sedae aidol
1st generation idol
2세대 아이돌
i-sedae aidol
2nd generation idol
시대
sidae
era, period
트렌드
teurendeu
trend
More Korean Pop Culture Words
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