Korean Dictionary
How to say "Middle School" in Korean
“Middle School” in Korean is 중학교 (pronounced "Junghakgyo").
중학교
Junghakgyo
Usage & Context
Middle school (중학교) in Korea covers grades 7-9 and marks the transition from the relatively relaxed elementary years to more rigorous academic preparation. Students begin taking formal entrance exams and attending multiple 학원 (private academies) after school. Social dynamics and competitive study culture intensify significantly during middle school.
Example Sentence
중학교에서 처음으로 영어를 배웠어요.
I first learned English formally in middle school.
How to use 중학교 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Middle School” is 중학교, romanized as Junghakgyo.
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 중학교.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'Jung', sounds like 'joong' in 'moon' but with a 'j' sound, similar to 'jung' in 'jungle'. 'Hak' is like 'hack'. 'Gyo' sounds like 'gyo' in 'gyoza'. The 'g' in 'hakgyo' often sounds like 'k', making it 'hak-kkyo'.
More Example Sentences
Describing early academic pressure.
중학교 때부터 학원에 다녔어요.
I started going to private academies from middle school.
Talking about a child's age/school transition.
우리 딸은 이제 중학생이 돼요.
Our daughter is becoming a middle school student now.
Nostalgically recalling school days.
중학교 교복이 정말 예뻤어요.
My middle school uniform was really pretty.
Cultural Context
중학교 (junghakgyo) in Korea is a crucial transitional period where academic competition significantly intensifies. Students often begin attending multiple private academies (학원, hagwon) after regular school hours. The pressure to perform well starts here, as middle school grades and activities can influence high school admissions, which in turn affect university prospects. It's a time of growing independence but also increasing academic burden.
Editorial note
We review entries like 중학교 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
중학교에 입학하다
to enter middle school
중학교 동창
middle school alumni/classmate
중학교 시절
middle school days
Related Expressions
초등학교
chodeunghakgyo
elementary school
고등학교
godeunghakgyo
high school
중학생
junghaksaeng
middle school student
학원
hagwon
private academy/cram school
More Education Words
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