Korean Dictionary
How to say "Ceremonial Food Offering" in Korean
“Ceremonial Food Offering” in Korean is 제물 (pronounced "jemul").
제물
jemul
Usage & Context
제물 refers to the ritual food offerings prepared and placed on the 제상 during Korean ancestral rites. The selection and preparation of 제물 follows traditional protocols specifying which foods are appropriate and how they should be arranged. Families invest significant time and resources into preparing 제물 to show respect and devotion to ancestors.
Example Sentence
제물로 올릴 음식을 정성껏 준비했어요.
I carefully prepared the food offerings to be placed on the ritual table.
How to use 제물 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Ceremonial Food Offering” is 제물, romanized as jemul.
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 제물.
Pronunciation Guide
'제물' (jemul) is pronounced 'jeh-mool'. 'Je' sounds like 'jeh' in 'jet', and 'mul' sounds like 'mool' in 'pool'. The two syllables are distinct and have even stress.
More Example Sentences
Describing the meticulous preparation for an ancestral rite.
조상님께 올릴 제물을 정성껏 준비했어요.
I carefully prepared the offerings to be presented to our ancestors.
Discussing the specific items to be included in the offering.
제물로 어떤 음식을 올려야 할지 고민 중이에요.
I'm thinking about what kind of food to offer as jesa food.
Explaining the traditional protocol for setting up the jesa table.
제물을 차리는 순서가 정해져 있어요.
There's a set order for arranging the ceremonial food offerings.
Cultural Context
제물 (jemul) refers specifically to the food offerings prepared for ancestral rites (제사, jesa) in Korea. These offerings are not just any food; they are carefully selected, prepared, and arranged on a ritual table (제상, jesang) according to strict traditional protocols. The types of food, their placement, and even the direction they face are significant, reflecting deep respect and devotion to ancestors. Preparing 제물 is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, often involving the entire family, and is considered a crucial part of honoring one's lineage. While less common in modern urban life, many families still uphold this tradition, especially during major holidays like Chuseok and Seollal.
Editorial note
We review entries like 제물 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
제물 준비해야지.
I need to prepare the ceremonial food offerings.
제물 놓는 법이 따로 있어.
There's a specific way to place the ceremonial food offerings.
제물은 정성껏 만들어야 해.
The ceremonial food offerings must be made with sincerity.
Related Expressions
제사
jesa
Ancestral rite
제상
jesang
Ritual table for ancestral rites
공물
gongmul
Tribute, offering (general)
희생
huisaeng
Sacrifice
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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