Korean Dictionary
How to say "Obesity" in Korean
“Obesity” in Korean is 비만 (pronounced "biman").
비만
biman
Usage & Context
비만 is a growing public health concern in Korea where the government runs national anti-obesity campaigns. Korea has a lower BMI threshold for 비만 compared to Western standards and health risks are monitored accordingly. Korean schools measure student BMI annually and provide guidance on preventing 비만.
Example Sentence
비만은 당뇨병과 고혈압의 주요 원인 중 하나예요.
Obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes and high blood pressure.
How to use 비만 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Obesity” is 비만, romanized as biman.
Usage tip
When describing symptoms, combine the word with where it hurts, when it started, and how severe it is.
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 비만.
Pronunciation Guide
For '비' (bi), it's like the English word 'bee'. For '만' (man), it sounds like 'mahn', similar to the 'mon' in 'money' but with a slightly more open 'a' sound, like 'ah'. The stress is fairly even on both syllables.
More Example Sentences
A news report discussing public health issues.
소아 비만이 심각한 사회 문제로 떠오르고 있어요.
Childhood obesity is emerging as a serious social problem.
A doctor explaining health risks to a patient.
비만은 심장 질환의 위험을 높일 수 있습니다.
Obesity can increase the risk of heart disease.
A health expert giving advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
규칙적인 운동은 비만 예방에 필수적이에요.
Regular exercise is essential for obesity prevention.
Cultural Context
In Korea, '비만' is a significant health concern, and there's a strong emphasis on maintaining a healthy weight, often influenced by societal beauty standards. Government-led campaigns and health programs frequently address '비만' prevention. It's common for schools to conduct annual BMI checks for students, and many people actively seek '다이어트' (diet) solutions, from specialized clinics to various health foods and supplements, to manage or prevent '비만'.
Editorial note
We review entries like 비만 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
비만 예방
obesity prevention
비만 클리닉
obesity clinic
비만 관리
obesity management
Related Expressions
과체중
gwachejung
overweight
체중 감량
chejung gamnyang
weight loss
성인병
seonginbyeong
adult diseases (lifestyle diseases)
건강 관리
geon-gang gwalli
health management
More Health & Medical Words
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