Korean Dictionary
How to say "Meat" in Korean
“Meat” in Korean is 고기 (pronounced "Gogi").
고기
Gogi
Usage & Context
The general word for meat in Korean. In compound words: 소고기 (beef, literally cow meat), 돼지고기 (pork, literally pig meat), 닭고기 (chicken, literally chicken meat). Koreans are passionate meat eaters and Korean BBQ (고기구이) is a major part of social dining culture.
Example Sentence
고기를 먹을 때는 상추에 싸서 먹어요.
When eating meat, we wrap it in lettuce leaves.
How to use 고기 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Meat” is 고기, romanized as Gogi.
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 고기.
What learners usually mean by “Meat in Korean”
This query is usually practical: ordering food, reading a menu, or asking whether a dish has meat.
Real usage
고기 means meat in general, but menus often specify beef, pork, chicken, or grilled meat. In restaurants, 고기 can also imply Korean barbecue depending on context.
Avoid this mistake
Do not rely on 고기 alone if you need dietary clarity. Ask what kind of meat it is.
Better pattern
Use 고기 for general meat, 소고기 for beef, 돼지고기 for pork, 닭고기 for chicken, and 고기 들어가요? to ask if a dish contains meat.
restaurant question
이 음식에 고기 들어가요?
Does this dish contain meat?
dietary restriction
돼지고기는 못 먹어요.
I can't eat pork.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'Go', sounds like the 'go' in 'goalkeeper'. The second syllable, 'gi', sounds like 'gee' in 'geese'. The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Suggesting a Korean BBQ outing with friends.
우리 오늘 저녁에 고기 먹으러 갈까?
Shall we go eat meat for dinner tonight?
Asking for cooking advice for a specific cut of meat.
이 고기는 어떻게 요리해야 맛있을까요?
How should I cook this meat to make it delicious?
Explaining dietary preferences to someone.
저는 채식주의자라서 고기를 안 먹어요.
I'm a vegetarian, so I don't eat meat.
Cultural Context
고기 (Gogi) is central to Korean dining culture, especially 고기구이 (gogi-gui), or Korean BBQ. It's a highly social event, often accompanied by soju or beer, where friends and family gather to grill various meats like 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal, pork belly) and 갈비 (galbi, ribs). It's common to wrap the grilled meat in lettuce with ssamjang (a spicy dipping sauce) and garlic.
Editorial note
We test food words inside restaurant-style sentences because learners usually need to order, ask, or describe food, not just memorize the dictionary form.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
고기 먹자!
Let's eat meat!
고기 굽다
To grill meat
고기 반찬
Meat side dish
Related Expressions
소고기
Sogogi
Beef (literally 'cow meat')
돼지고기
Dwaejigogi
Pork (literally 'pig meat')
닭고기
Dakgogi
Chicken (literally 'chicken meat')
생선
Saengseon
Fish (related food category)
Frequently asked questions
How do I correctly pronounce 고기 (gogi) in Korean for a native-like sound?+
The pronunciation of 고기 (gogi) is relatively straightforward. "고" (go) is pronounced like the "go" in "go-getter," with a hard 'g' sound and a short 'o' vowel. "기" (gi) is pronounced like the "gee" in "geese," with a soft 'g' sound and a short 'ee' vowel. The emphasis is typically even on both syllables.
Does the Korean word 고기 solely mean "meat" or does it have other meanings?+
While 고기 (gogi) most commonly refers to "meat" in general, it can sometimes be used more broadly. For instance, in specific contexts like "물고기" (mulgogi), it means "fish," where "물" (mul) means water. However, if used alone, 고기 almost always implies animal flesh, especially in the context of food.
How is 고기 combined with other words to specify different types of meat?+
고기 (gogi) is frequently used as a suffix in compound words to specify the type of meat. For example, "소고기" (sogogi) means beef, combining "소" (so, cow) with "고기." Similarly, "돼지고기" (dwaejigogi) means pork ("돼지" dwaeji, pig), and "닭고기" (dakgogi) means chicken ("닭" dak, chicken). This is a very common pattern.
Is "고기" (gogi) a formal or informal term for meat in everyday Korean conversation?+
"고기" (gogi) is a neutral and universally accepted term for meat, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. You can use it when ordering at a restaurant, discussing meals with friends, or in more formal settings without any issue. It's the standard, go-to word for meat in Korean.
Are there any common misunderstandings or cultural nuances when using "고기" (gogi)?+
A common cultural nuance is that "고기" often implies red meat, especially in the context of Korean BBQ (고기구이, gogigui), where it usually refers to beef or pork. While it technically means any meat, if you just say "고기 먹자" (gogi meokja, "Let's eat meat"), people will likely assume beef or pork, not chicken or fish.
More Food Words
Related Guides
Related Articles
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Meat and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
