Korean Dictionary
How to say "Mud" in Korean
“Mud” in Korean is 진흙 (pronounced "Jinheuk").
진흙
Jinheuk
Usage & Context
진흙 (mud) is famously celebrated at the Boryeong Mud Festival, one of Korea's most popular summer festivals attracting millions of visitors. The mud from Boryeong is mineral-rich and used in cosmetics. Mud wrestling and mud slides are highlights of the festival.
Example Sentence
보령 머드 축제에서 진흙 속에서 신나게 놀았어요.
I had a blast playing in the mud at the Boryeong Mud Festival.
How to use 진흙 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Mud” is 진흙, romanized as Jinheuk.
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 진흙.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, "Jin," sounds like "jean" in "jeans." The second syllable, "heuk," is a bit tricky; the "heu" part is like the "hoo" in "hook" but with a slight 'h' sound from the back of the throat, and the 'k' is a soft, unreleased sound. The stress is on the first syllable, "Jin."
More Example Sentences
Describing a rainy day's aftermath.
비가 와서 운동장이 온통 진흙탕이 되었어요.
It rained, so the playground became a complete mud pit.
Observing a child's creative play.
아이가 진흙으로 찰흙 놀이를 하고 있어요.
The child is playing with mud like clay.
Talking about beauty routines.
피부에 좋다고 해서 진흙 팩을 해봤어요.
They say it's good for the skin, so I tried a mud pack.
Cultural Context
"진흙" is famously associated with the Boryeong Mud Festival (보령 머드 축제), a massive annual summer event in South Korea. People from all over the world flock to Boryeong to participate in mud wrestling, mud slides, and other mud-related activities, often slathering themselves in the mineral-rich mud for its purported skin benefits. This festival is a prime example of how Koreans turn a natural element into a fun, communal experience.
Editorial note
We review entries like 진흙 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
진흙 투성이
Covered in mud, muddy mess
진흙 범벅
Smeared with mud, mud-covered
진흙 팩
Mud pack (for skin)
Related Expressions
흙
Heuk
Soil, dirt (general term)
뻘
Ppeol
Mudflat, tidal flat
진흙탕
Jinheuktang
Muddy puddle, mud pit
갯벌
Gaetbeol
Tidal flat (often associated with harvesting seafood)
More Nature Words
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