Korean Dictionary
How to say "Pagoda" in Korean
“Pagoda” in Korean is 탑 (pronounced "Tap").
탑
Tap
Usage & Context
Tall tower structure, often religious. Common in Buddhist temples.
Example Sentence
불국사의 탑은 정말 아름다워요.
The pagoda at Bulguksa Temple is really beautiful.
How to use 탑 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Pagoda” is 탑, romanized as Tap.
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 탑.
Pronunciation Guide
탑 (Tap) is a single syllable. It sounds like the English word 'top', but with a slightly harder 't' and a crisp 'p' sound at the end.
More Example Sentences
Discussing national treasures and historical landmarks.
다보탑과 석가탑은 불국사에 있는 유명한 탑이에요.
Dabotap and Seokgatap are famous pagodas at Bulguksa Temple.
Learning about the materials used in ancient architecture.
옛날 탑들은 돌로 만들어진 경우가 많아요.
Old pagodas are often made of stone.
Describing local public art or landmarks.
우리 동네 공원에 작은 탑 모양의 조형물이 있어요.
There's a small pagoda-shaped sculpture in our neighborhood park.
Cultural Context
In Korea, '탑' (pagoda) is almost exclusively associated with Buddhist temples and holds deep religious and historical significance. These multi-storied structures, often made of stone (석탑, seoktap) or wood (목탑, moktap), frequently house relics of Buddha or revered monks. Famous examples like Dabotap and Seokgatap at Bulguksa Temple are not only architectural marvels but also designated National Treasures, symbolizing centuries of Buddhist faith and artistic craftsmanship. They are central to many temple complexes and often feature in historical documentaries.
Editorial note
We review entries like 탑 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
탑을 쌓다
To build/stack a pagoda (figuratively, to build up something)
오층 석탑
Five-story stone pagoda
탑돌이
A traditional Buddhist ritual of circling a pagoda
Related Expressions
불상
Bulsang
Buddhist statue
석탑
Seoktap
Stone pagoda
목탑
Moktap
Wooden pagoda
사찰
Sachal
Buddhist temple
More Architecture Words
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