Korean Dictionary
How to say "Pedestrian" in Korean
“Pedestrian” in Korean is 보행자 (pronounced "bohaengja").
보행자
bohaengja
Usage & Context
보행자 rights and safety are heavily emphasized in Korean traffic law. Korean drivers must yield to 보행자 at crosswalks and in school zones. Recent Korean traffic law reforms have strengthened penalties for drivers who endanger 보행자 in pedestrian-priority zones.
Example Sentence
보행자 우선 구역에서는 천천히 운전하세요.
Drive slowly in pedestrian priority zones.
How to use 보행자 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Pedestrian” is 보행자, romanized as bohaengja.
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 보행자.
Pronunciation Guide
보 (bo) sounds like 'bo' in 'boat'. 행 (haeng) sounds like 'heng' in 'hang' but with a softer 'h' and the 'ae' like 'a' in 'cat'. 자 (ja) sounds like 'ja' in 'jar'. Combine: 'bo-heng-ja'. Stress is relatively even.
More Example Sentences
Observing traffic signals.
보행자 신호등이 초록불로 바뀌었어요.
The pedestrian traffic light turned green.
Warning someone about a busy street.
이 길은 보행자가 많으니 조심하세요.
There are many pedestrians on this road, so be careful.
Emphasizing traffic rules.
보행자 안전을 위해 속도를 줄여야 합니다.
You must reduce your speed for pedestrian safety.
Cultural Context
Pedestrian safety has become a major focus in Korea, with recent laws like the '민식이법' (Min-sik's Law) strengthening protections for children in school zones. It's common to see '보행자 우선' (pedestrian priority) signs in certain areas. While drivers are generally expected to yield, pedestrians also need to be cautious, especially in busy urban areas where scooters and motorcycles might share sidewalks or crosswalks. Jaywalking (무단횡단) is illegal and can result in fines.
Editorial note
We review entries like 보행자 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
보행자 보호
pedestrian protection
보행자 주의
pedestrian caution
보행자 전용
pedestrian-only (zone)
Related Expressions
횡단보도
hoengdanbodo
crosswalk
보행자 우선
bohaengja useon
pedestrian priority
무단횡단
mudanhoengdan
jaywalking
운전자
unjeonja
driver (antonym)
More Transportation Words
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