Korean Dictionary
How to say "Minute" in Korean
“Minute” in Korean is 분 (pronounced "bun").
분
bun
Usage & Context
The unit of time for minutes, used in measuring durations and telling time. This is commonly used in daily conversations and schedules.
Example Sentence
5분을 기다려요.
I wait for 5 minutes.
How to use 분 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Minute” is 분, romanized as bun.
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 분.
Pronunciation Guide
The word "분" (bun) sounds like "boon" in English, similar to the "boon" in "boon companion." The 'ㅂ' is a soft 'b' sound, and 'ㅜ' is like 'oo' in "moon," followed by 'ㄴ' which is a clear 'n' sound.
More Example Sentences
Waiting for something to start or asking about elapsed time.
지금 몇 분이에요?
How many minutes is it now?
Replying to a friend asking for your estimated time of arrival.
10분 후에 도착할 거예요.
I'll arrive in 10 minutes.
Asking someone to hold on briefly.
잠시만요, 1분만 기다려 주세요.
Just a moment, please wait for 1 minute.
Cultural Context
"분" is used with Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼...) when counting minutes. When telling time, it follows the hour which is expressed with native Korean numbers (e.g., "세 시 오 분" for 3:05). Koreans are generally quite punctual, so saying "몇 분 늦을 것 같아요" (I think I'll be a few minutes late) is a common polite apology if running behind.
Editorial note
We review entries like 분 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
몇 분
how many minutes / what minute
1분 1초
every single second (literally, 1 minute 1 second)
분 단위로
by the minute
Related Expressions
초
cho
second
시간
sigan
hour
분 단위
bun danwi
minute unit / by the minute
분초를 다투다
buncho-reul datuda
to race against time (literally, to dispute minutes and seconds)
More Numbers and Time Words
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