Korean Dictionary
How to say "Lunch break" in Korean
“Lunch break” in Korean is 점심시간 (pronounced "Jeomsimisigan").
점심시간
Jeomsimisigan
Usage & Context
The midday break from work, typically one hour in Korea (usually noon-1 PM). Koreans take lunch seriously and often go out with colleagues. The social aspect of lunchtime is important for team bonding. Many workplaces near 식당 (restaurants) or food courts get very crowded at this time.
Example Sentence
점심시간에 같이 나가요. 뭐 먹을까요?
Let's go out together during lunch break. What shall we eat?
How to use 점심시간 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Lunch break” is 점심시간, romanized as Jeomsimisigan.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 점심시간.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '점심시간' as "Jeom-shim-si-gan". 'Jeom' is like 'juhm' in 'jumbo'. 'shim' is like 'shim' in 'shimmy'. 'si' is like 'see'. 'gan' is like 'gone'.
More Example Sentences
Someone describing a social lunch outing with coworkers.
점심시간에 회사 동료들이랑 맛집에 갔어요.
I went to a famous restaurant with my colleagues during lunch break.
Someone complaining about the brevity of their lunch break.
점심시간이 너무 짧아서 밥 먹고 나면 바로 일해야 해요.
Lunch break is too short, so after eating, I have to work right away.
Someone describing their preferred way to spend a lunch break.
점심시간에 잠깐 산책하면서 바람 쐬는 걸 좋아해요.
I like to take a short walk and get some fresh air during lunch break.
Cultural Context
In Korea, the lunch break (점심시간) is typically one hour, often from noon to 1 PM. It's a significant social time where colleagues frequently eat together, fostering team bonding. Restaurants and food courts near workplaces become incredibly crowded during this hour, reflecting the importance Koreans place on a proper midday meal. Many companies even have designated lunch spots or cafeterias.
Editorial note
We review entries like 점심시간 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
점심시간이다
It's lunch break.
점심시간에 뭐 할까?
What shall we do during lunch break?
점심시간을 이용하다
To make use of lunch break
Related Expressions
점심
Jeomsim
Lunch (the meal itself)
휴식 시간
Hyusik sigan
Break time (general term)
퇴근 시간
Toegeun sigan
Quitting time / End of work day
출근 시간
Chulgeun sigan
Start of work day
More Daily Life Words
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