Korean Dictionary
How to say "Observation" in Korean
“Observation” in Korean is 관찰 (pronounced "Gwanchal").
관찰
Gwanchal
Usage & Context
Careful watching and noting of phenomena. In Korean science education, observation is emphasized as a fundamental skill for understanding nature.
Example Sentence
정확한 관찰이 중요하다.
Accurate observation is important.
How to use 관찰 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Observation” is 관찰, romanized as Gwanchal.
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 관찰.
Pronunciation Guide
관 (gwan) sounds like 'gwan' in 'Gwangju', similar to 'swan' but with a harder 'g'. 찰 (chal) sounds like 'chal' in 'chalk' or 'challah'. The 'ch' is like in 'church'. Stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
A student or scientist sharing a discovery or learning experience in astronomy.
새로운 별의 움직임을 관찰했어요.
I observed the movement of a new star.
A parent or educator discussing child development or psychology.
아이들의 행동을 관찰하는 것이 중요해요.
It's important to observe children's behavior.
Describing someone's hobby or personality trait, perhaps in a casual conversation.
그는 사람들을 관찰하는 것을 좋아한다.
He likes observing people.
Cultural Context
관찰 (gwanchal) is a fundamental concept in Korean science education, emphasized from elementary school as a key skill for understanding the natural world. Beyond science, it's used in a broader sense for carefully watching human behavior, social trends, or nature. It implies a deliberate, focused watching, rather than a casual glance, and is often paired with '실험' (experiment) in scientific contexts.
Editorial note
We review entries like 관찰 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
자연 관찰
nature observation
행동 관찰
behavioral observation
별 관찰
star observation
Related Expressions
관찰하다
gwanchalhada
to observe (verb form)
관측
gwanchuk
observation (often for astronomical/meteorological phenomena)
주시
jusi
close watch, scrutiny
탐구
tamgu
inquiry, exploration
More Science & Research Words
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