Korean Dictionary
How to say "Murder" in Korean
“Murder” in Korean is 살인 (pronounced "Sarin").
살인
Sarin
Usage & Context
Unlawfully killing another person with intent. Murder is the most serious crime in South Korea with the harshest penalties.
Example Sentence
살인은 가장 심각한 범죄입니다.
Murder is the most serious crime.
How to use 살인 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Murder” is 살인, romanized as Sarin.
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 살인.
Pronunciation Guide
살 (sal) sounds like 'sal' in 'salary.' 인 (in) sounds like 'in' in 'ink.' The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Reporting a major crime.
잔혹한 살인 사건이 발생하여 온 국민이 충격에 빠졌습니다.
A brutal murder occurred, shocking the entire nation.
Legal proceedings.
그는 살인죄로 기소되어 재판을 받고 있습니다.
He has been indicted for murder and is on trial.
Discussing a film.
영화에서 살인 장면은 매우 사실적으로 묘사되었습니다.
The murder scene in the movie was depicted very realistically.
Cultural Context
'살인' (murder) is universally condemned, but in South Korea, discussions around it often involve intense public debate, especially concerning capital punishment (사형) and the rights of victims' families. High-profile murder cases receive extensive media coverage, and public sentiment can heavily influence legal outcomes or calls for stricter penalties. K-dramas, particularly crime thrillers, frequently explore murder mysteries, often focusing on the psychological aspects of the perpetrator and the investigative process.
Editorial note
We review entries like 살인 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
살인 사건
murder case
살인 혐의
suspicion of murder
살인죄
crime of murder
Related Expressions
살인자
salinja
murderer
살해
salhae
killing, homicide (the act of killing)
살인 미수
salin misu
attempted murder
피해자
pihaeja
victim
More Law & Government Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Murder and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
