Korean Dictionary
How to say "Lunar Calendar" in Korean
“Lunar Calendar” in Korean is 음력 (pronounced "eumnyeok").
음력
eumnyeok
Usage & Context
음력 is the lunar calendar used to determine the dates of major Korean holidays including 설날, 추석, and 단오. Many Korean traditional events and birthdays are calculated by 음력 rather than the solar calendar. Korean grandparents often know their birthday in 음력 rather than 양력 (solar calendar).
Example Sentence
제 생일은 음력으로 8월 15일이에요.
My birthday is the 15th of the 8th month on the lunar calendar.
How to use 음력 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Lunar Calendar” is 음력, romanized as eumnyeok.
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 음력.
Pronunciation Guide
음 (eum) sounds like 'oom' in 'boom' but with a slightly tighter mouth. 력 (nyeok) starts with 'nyuh' like in 'new' but with a 'y' sound, followed by 'k' like in 'kick'. Together, it's 'oom-nyuhk'.
More Example Sentences
Discussing a family tradition for birthdays.
저희 할머니는 음력 생신을 쇠세요.
My grandmother celebrates her birthday by the lunar calendar.
Explaining the date of a major holiday.
올해 추석은 음력 8월 15일입니다.
This year's Chuseok is August 15th on the lunar calendar.
A personal comment on the difficulty of using the lunar calendar.
음력으로 날짜를 계산하는 게 좀 헷갈려요.
It's a bit confusing to calculate dates by the lunar calendar.
Cultural Context
The lunar calendar, 음력, is deeply ingrained in Korean culture, especially for traditional holidays like Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Harvest Festival). Many older Koreans still celebrate their birthdays according to 음력, and it's crucial for traditional rituals like 제사 (ancestral rites). While daily life follows the solar calendar (양력), understanding 음력 is key to appreciating Korean customs and traditions.
Editorial note
We review entries like 음력 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
음력 설날
Lunar New Year's Day
음력으로 계산하다
To calculate by the lunar calendar
음력 생일
Lunar birthday
Related Expressions
양력
yangnyeok
Solar calendar
달력
dallyeok
Calendar
절기
jeolgi
24 seasonal divisions
윤달
yundal
Intercalary month
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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