Korean Dictionary
How to say "Mountain" in Korean
“Mountain” in Korean is 산 (pronounced "san").
산
san
Usage & Context
Mountains cover about 70% of Korea geographic area. Famous Korean mountains include Hallasan, Seoraksan, and Bukhansan. Mountain hiking is a beloved Korean outdoor activity.
Example Sentence
한국에는 아름다운 산이 많아요.
There are many beautiful mountains in Korea.
How to use 산 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Mountain” is 산, romanized as san.
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 산.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'san'. Single syllable — rhymes with English 'sahn' with a slightly open 'a' vowel. Simple and clipped.
More Example Sentences
hiking weekend
주말에 산에 갔다 왔어요.
I went to the mountain this weekend.
after a hike
산이 높아서 힘들었어요.
The mountain was high and it was tough.
seasonal beauty
가을 산은 단풍이 예뻐요.
Autumn mountains are beautiful with fall foliage.
Cultural Context
70% of Korea is mountainous, making 산 central to Korean life and identity. Mountain climbing (등산) is extremely popular with older generations — seeing groups of retirees in full hiking gear on subways is a common Seoul sight. Each major mountain (북한산, 설악산, 한라산) has its own passionate following. '산 좋아해요?' is a very normal small-talk question.
Editorial note
We review entries like 산 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
산 타러 가자.
Let's go hiking.
산에서 내려왔어요.
I came down from the mountain.
산 공기가 맑아요.
The mountain air is clean.
Related Expressions
등산
deungsan
mountain climbing, hiking
정상
jeongsang
summit
단풍
danpung
autumn leaves
산림
sallim
forest
More Environment Words
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