Korean Dictionary
How to say "Midnight" in Korean
“Midnight” in Korean is 자정 (pronounced "jajeong").
자정
jajeong
Usage & Context
The word for midnight, the middle of the night at 12 AM. This is commonly used in time expressions and late-night activities.
Example Sentence
자정이 되었어요.
It became midnight.
How to use 자정 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Midnight” is 자정, romanized as jajeong.
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 자정.
Pronunciation Guide
To pronounce '자정' (jajeong), 'ja' sounds like 'jah' in 'jar'. 'Jeong' sounds like 'jung' in 'jungle', with the 'eo' vowel similar to the 'aw' in 'saw' but shorter, followed by a soft 'ng' sound. The stress is fairly even across both syllables.
More Example Sentences
Waiting for something to happen at a specific time.
자정까지 기다려야 해요.
I have to wait until midnight.
Describing working late into the night.
자정 넘어서까지 일했어요.
I worked past midnight.
Requesting quiet hours in a shared space.
자정부터는 조용히 해주세요.
Please be quiet from midnight.
Cultural Context
While '자정' is the formal term for midnight, in daily conversation, Koreans often just say '밤 12시' (bam yeol-du-si), meaning '12 o'clock at night.' '자정' is more common in formal announcements, news, or when precision is needed, such as in train schedules or legal documents. You might hear it in K-dramas when characters are being dramatic about a deadline or a specific time.
Editorial note
We review entries like 자정 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
자정 뉴스
Midnight news
자정까지
Until midnight
자정 무렵
Around midnight
Related Expressions
밤 12시
bam yeol-du-si
12 AM (more common colloquial term)
심야
simya
Late night / Deep night (broader period around midnight)
오전
ojeon
AM / Morning (related to time divisions)
정오
jeongoh
Noon (opposite of midnight)
More Numbers and Time Words
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