Korean Dictionary
How to say "Nap" in Korean
“Nap” in Korean is 낮잠 (pronounced "Natjam").
낮잠
Natjam
Usage & Context
A short daytime sleep. Despite long working hours, Koreans find creative ways to nap — in their cars, at their desks, or in public spaces on transit. Convenience stores and coffee shops have become impromptu nap spots. The concept of a designated nap area is gaining popularity in modern offices.
Example Sentence
점심 먹고 잠깐 낮잠 자면 오후 업무가 훨씬 잘 돼요.
If you take a short nap after lunch, afternoon work goes much better.
How to use 낮잠 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Nap” is 낮잠, romanized as Natjam.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 낮잠.
Pronunciation Guide
낮 (nat) sounds like 'naht' as in 'hot' but with a soft 't' at the end. 잠 (jam) sounds like 'jahm' as in 'jam'. When combined, the 't' sound from 낮 often blends with the 'j' from 잠, making it sound closer to 'Nah-cham' in natural speech.
More Example Sentences
Talking about weekend relaxation with friends.
주말에는 늦잠 자는 게 최고죠.
Sleeping in on weekends is the best, right?
Describing a parent's brief moment of rest.
아기가 낮잠을 자는 동안 엄마는 잠깐 쉬었어요.
While the baby was napping, Mom rested for a bit.
Expressing a personal need for rest after a tiring day.
피곤해서 낮잠을 좀 자야겠어요.
I'm tired, so I should take a nap.
Cultural Context
In Korea, where long working hours and academic pressure are common, taking a '낮잠' is often seen as a necessary recharge rather than a sign of laziness. Many office workers might nap in their cars or at their desks, and some modern companies even provide designated 'nap rooms.' It's a practical way to boost productivity and manage fatigue in a demanding society.
Editorial note
We review entries like 낮잠 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
낮잠 자다
to take a nap
낮잠 시간
nap time
낮잠을 설치다
to have a restless nap (not sleep well)
Related Expressions
늦잠
neujjam
sleeping in (late nap)
선잠
seonjam
light sleep, doze
쪽잠
jjokjam
short nap, catnap
잠들다
jamdeulda
to fall asleep (verb)
More Daily Life Words
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