Korean Dictionary
How to say "Korean comics" in Korean
“Korean comics” in Korean is 만화 (pronounced "Manhwa").
만화
Manhwa
Usage & Context
Korean comics or cartoons. 만화책 (comic book), 만화 영화 (animated film). Korea has a rich comic tradition that evolved into today's webtoon format. The Korean animation industry produces distinctive content separate from Japanese anime. 만화방 (comic book cafes) are nostalgic hangouts for older generations.
Example Sentence
어렸을 때 만화책 읽는 걸 정말 좋아했어요.
I really loved reading comic books when I was young.
How to use 만화 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Korean comics” is 만화, romanized as Manhwa.
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 만화.
Pronunciation Guide
The word '만화' (manhwa) is pronounced 'mahn-hwah'. '만' (man) sounds like 'mahn' as in 'man-go'. '화' (hwa) sounds like 'hwah' as in 'hwah-sah'.
More Example Sentences
Recalling a nostalgic activity from childhood.
옛날에는 만화방에서 만화책을 많이 봤어요.
In the past, I read a lot of comic books at comic book cafes.
Describing children's entertainment preferences.
아이들이 만화 영화 보는 걸 정말 좋아해요.
Children really love watching animated films.
Praising the qualities of Korean comics.
한국 만화는 그림체가 독특하고 이야기가 좋아요.
Korean comics have a unique art style and good stories.
Cultural Context
만화 (manhwa) refers to Korean comics or cartoons, distinct from Japanese manga. Korea has a rich tradition of manhwa, which evolved significantly with the advent of digital platforms, giving rise to webtoons. While webtoons are the dominant modern form, traditional 만화책 (manhwachaek, comic books) and 만화 영화 (manhwa yeonghwa, animated films) are still popular. 만화방 (manhwabang), or comic book cafes, were once popular hangouts and hold a nostalgic place for older generations, offering a cozy space to read comics and often enjoy snacks.
Editorial note
We review entries like 만화 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
만화방
comic book cafe
만화 캐릭터
comic character
만화 그리다
to draw comics
Related Expressions
웹툰
weptun
webtoon (modern digital form of manhwa)
만화책
manhwachaek
comic book
만화 영화
manhwa yeonghwa
animated film/cartoon
애니메이션
aenimeisyeon
animation (loanword, often used interchangeably with 만화 영화)
More Culture Words
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