Korean Dictionary
How to say "Seaweed Soup (Birthday Soup)" in Korean
“Seaweed Soup (Birthday Soup)” in Korean is 미역국 (pronounced "miyeokguk").
미역국
miyeokguk
Usage & Context
미역국 is a nutritious Korean seaweed soup traditionally eaten on birthdays as Korean mothers eat it after childbirth for its health benefits. Eating 미역국 on your birthday is a deeply ingrained Korean custom connecting individuals to their mother's sacrifice. Interestingly failing an exam in Korea is colloquially described as 미역국을 먹었다 referencing the slippery seaweed.
Example Sentence
한국에서는 생일에 미역국을 꼭 먹어요.
In Korea you always eat seaweed soup on your birthday.
How to use 미역국 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Seaweed Soup (Birthday Soup)” is 미역국, romanized as miyeokguk.
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 미역국.
Pronunciation Guide
'미역' (miyeok) sounds like 'mee-yuk', with 'mi' like 'me' and 'yeok' like 'yuk' in 'yucky'. '국' (guk) is pronounced like 'gook'. The 'k' sound at the end of 'miyeok' blends slightly into the 'g' of 'guk', making it sound like 'mee-yuk-gook'.
More Example Sentences
A child receiving a traditional birthday meal from their mother.
엄마가 아침에 미역국을 끓여주셨어요.
Mom cooked seaweed soup for me this morning.
Sharing a common belief about miyeokguk.
생일에 미역국을 먹으면 건강해진대요.
They say eating seaweed soup on your birthday makes you healthy.
Using the idiom for failing an exam.
시험에 떨어져서 미역국 먹었다고 농담했어요.
I joked that I 'ate seaweed soup' because I failed the exam.
Cultural Context
미역국 (miyeokguk) is much more than just seaweed soup; it's a symbol of gratitude and health in Korea. Traditionally, mothers eat it for weeks after childbirth for its nutritional benefits, especially for recovery and milk production. Therefore, eating 미역국 on one's birthday is a way to honor one's mother and remember the pain and sacrifice of childbirth. It's a deeply ingrained custom, and not eating it on your birthday might even feel a bit odd to many Koreans. The idiom '미역국을 먹다' (to eat miyeokguk) colloquially means to fail an exam or a venture, referencing the slippery nature of seaweed.
Editorial note
We review entries like 미역국 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
생일 미역국 먹었어?
Did you eat seaweed soup for your birthday?
미역국 끓이는 법 알아?
Do you know how to cook seaweed soup?
오늘 미역국이 너무 맛있네.
The seaweed soup is so delicious today.
Related Expressions
생일
saengil
Birthday
국
guk
Soup
미역
miyeok
Seaweed
산모
sanmo
New mother
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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