Korean Dictionary
How to say "Lightning" in Korean
“Lightning” in Korean is 번개 (pronounced "Beongae").
번개
Beongae
Usage & Context
Electrical discharge during thunderstorms. 번개가 치다 (lightning strikes). 천둥 (thunder) and 번개 (lightning) usually appear together — 천둥번개 means a thunderstorm. Very fast things are compared to 번개처럼 (like lightning). Summer thunderstorms (뇌우) are common in Korea's humid continental climate.
Example Sentence
갑자기 번개가 치더니 천둥이 울렸어요.
Suddenly lightning struck and then thunder rumbled.
How to use 번개 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Lightning” is 번개, romanized as Beongae.
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 번개.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce "Beongae" as "Buhn-gae." The 'ㅓ' (eo) is like the 'o' in 'son', and 'ㅐ' (ae) is like the 'e' in 'bed'. The 'ㅂ' (b) is a soft 'b' sound, and the 'ㄱ' (g) is a soft 'g' sound. The 'ㅇ' (ng) at the end of the first syllable is like the 'ng' in 'sing'.
More Example Sentences
Describing a power outage during a storm.
번개가 번쩍하고 치더니 정전이 됐어요.
Lightning flashed and struck, then there was a power outage.
Describing speed in sports or an event.
번개처럼 빠르게 움직이는 선수가 인상적이었어요.
The player who moved as fast as lightning was impressive.
Expressing fear during a thunderstorm.
밤에 번개 치는 소리를 들으니 무서웠어요.
It was scary hearing the sound of lightning striking at night.
Cultural Context
'번개' is almost always associated with '천둥' (cheondung - thunder), forming the common compound '천둥번개' (cheondungbeongae - thunderstorm). During summer monsoon season (장마철), thunderstorms with vivid lightning and loud thunder are frequent. Koreans often use '번개' metaphorically to describe something extremely fast, like '번개처럼 빠르다' (beongaecheoreom ppareuda - fast as lightning). There's also a casual social gathering called '번개 모임' (beongae moim - lightning meeting), implying an impromptu, quickly arranged get-together, often among online community members.
Editorial note
We review entries like 번개 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
번개처럼
Like lightning, very quickly
번개 모임
Impromptu meeting, "lightning meeting"
번개 맞다
To be struck by lightning (literally); to be very surprised/shocked (figuratively)
Related Expressions
천둥
Cheondung
Thunder
천둥번개
Cheondungbeongae
Thunderstorm
번개가 치다
Beongae-ga chida
Lightning strikes
벼락
Byeorak
Thunderbolt, lightning strike (more intense/destructive)
More Nature Words
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