Korean Dictionary
How to say "Medium Heat" in Korean
“Medium Heat” in Korean is 중불 (pronounced "jungbul").
중불
jungbul
Usage & Context
Moderate heat setting for balanced cooking. Most versatile heat level. Used for most everyday cooking.
Example Sentence
중불로 요리해요.
I cook on medium heat.
How to use 중불 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Medium Heat” is 중불, romanized as jungbul.
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 중불.
Pronunciation Guide
For 중불 (jung-bul), '중' is like 'joong' in "jungle" but with an 'oo' sound like in "moon," and the 'ㅇ' is an 'ng' sound. '불' is like 'bool' in "pool" but with a 'b.'
More Example Sentences
General cooking advice for stir-frying.
대부분의 볶음 요리는 중불에서 시작하는 게 좋아요.
Most stir-fried dishes are good to start on medium heat.
Grilling instruction for meat.
고기를 구울 때는 중불에서 앞뒤로 노릇하게 익혀요.
When grilling meat, cook it on medium heat until golden brown on both sides.
Pan preparation instruction before cooking.
팬에 기름을 두르고 중불로 예열해주세요.
Pour oil into the pan and preheat it on medium heat.
Cultural Context
'중불' is arguably the most versatile and frequently used heat level in Korean home cooking. It's the go-to for stir-frying (볶음), pan-frying (부침), and general cooking where you need consistent heat without burning or slow simmering. Many everyday Korean dishes, from kimchi fried rice to various jeon (pancakes), rely on mastering '중불' for optimal texture and flavor. It represents a balanced approach to cooking.
Editorial note
We review entries like 중불 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
중불로 볶다
To stir-fry on medium heat
중불에서 익히다
To cook on medium heat
중불로 가열하다
To heat on medium heat
Related Expressions
약불
yakbul
Low heat
강불
gangbul
High heat
중간 불
junggan bul
Middle fire/heat (descriptive phrase, same meaning)
적당한 불
jeokdanghan bul
Appropriate/moderate heat
More Cooking Words
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