Korean Dictionary
How to say "Narrow" in Korean
“Narrow” in Korean is 좁은 (pronounced "Jobeun").
좁은
Jobeun
Usage & Context
Jobeun is the Korean word for narrow. Narrow shapes are used in Korean design to create focus and intimacy. They represent concentration and closeness.
Example Sentence
좁은 길이 신비로워요.
The narrow path is mysterious.
How to use 좁은 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Narrow” is 좁은, romanized as Jobeun.
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 좁은.
Pronunciation Guide
'Jo' sounds exactly like the English name 'Joe'. 'Beun' is like 'boon' but with a shorter 'oo' sound, similar to 'buhn'. The 'b' is soft, almost like a 'p' at the end of a syllable.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
좁다
jopda
This is the base dictionary form of the adjective, from which all conjugations are derived. It can be used formally with endings like -습니다/-ㅂ니다 or -어요/-아요.
Casual (반말)
좁다
jopda
This is the plain form of the adjective, often used in casual speech or writing when stating a fact, or in informal settings.
More Example Sentences
Describing a street or passage.
이 골목은 너무 좁아서 차가 못 들어가요.
This alley is too narrow for a car to enter.
Giving an instruction or describing a challenge.
좁은 문으로 들어가야 해.
You have to go through the narrow door.
Criticizing someone's limited mindset.
그는 좁은 시야를 가지고 있어서 답답해요.
He has a narrow perspective, so it's frustrating.
Cultural Context
'좁은' is commonly used for physical spaces like alleys (골목, golmok), rooms, or paths. Historically, many traditional Korean houses and villages featured '좁은' alleys. It can also carry a negative connotation when used metaphorically, such as '좁은 마음' (jobeun maeum, narrow heart/petty mind) or '좁은 생각' (jobeun saenggak, narrow thinking), implying a lack of generosity or open-mindedness.
Editorial note
We review entries like 좁은 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
좁은 길
narrow path/road
좁은 공간
narrow space
좁은 골목
narrow alley
Related Expressions
비좁은
bijobeun
cramped, very narrow
답답한
dapdaphan
stuffy, stifling (often associated with narrow spaces)
넓은
neolbeun
wide (antonym)
작은
jageun
small (related concept, often implies narrowness)
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