Korean Dictionary
How to say "Muscular" in Korean
“Muscular” in Korean is 근육질의 (pronounced "geun-yugzilui").
근육질의
geun-yugzilui
Usage & Context
Describing a body with well-developed muscles. Used in fitness and everyday contexts. Important for describing body types.
Example Sentence
근육질의 몸이 멋있어요.
A muscular body looks cool.
How to use 근육질의 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Muscular” is 근육질의, romanized as geun-yugzilui.
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 근육질의.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '근' (geun) like 'goon' in 'goon-da'. '육' (yuk) sounds like 'yook' in 'yook-yook'. '질' (jil) is like 'jil' in 'Jill'. '의' (ui) is a possessive particle, often softened to sound like 'ee' or 'i'. Together, it's 'geun-yook-jil-ee'.
More Example Sentences
Describing a celebrity's body.
그 배우는 근육질의 몸매를 자랑해요.
That actor boasts a muscular physique.
Sharing a personal fitness achievement.
매일 운동해서 근육질의 팔을 만들었어요.
I exercised every day and made muscular arms.
Describing someone's physical strength in action.
근육질의 남자가 무거운 짐을 쉽게 들었어요.
The muscular man easily lifted the heavy luggage.
Cultural Context
Having a '근육질의 몸' (geun-yugjilui mom - muscular body) is generally admired in Korea, especially for men, as a sign of strength, discipline, and health. K-pop idols and actors often showcase well-defined muscles, contributing to this ideal. While '근육질' specifically refers to having visible muscles, it's distinct from being merely '건장한' (geonjanghan - sturdy, well-built) which might not imply as much muscle definition.
Editorial note
We review entries like 근육질의 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
근육질 몸매
muscular physique
근육질 남자
muscular man
근육질이 되다
to become muscular
Related Expressions
탄탄한
tantanhan
firm, solid (often for a toned body)
건강한
geon-ganghan
healthy (often associated with muscularity)
마른
mareun
thin, skinny (antonym, implies lack of muscle)
몸짱
momjjang
a person with a great body (slang, often implies muscularity/fitness)
More Body Parts Words
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