Korean Dictionary
How to say "Metal Movable Type" in Korean
“Metal Movable Type” in Korean is 금속 활자 (pronounced "geumsok hwalja").
금속 활자
geumsok hwalja
Usage & Context
Korea developed metal movable type printing in the 13th century, predating Gutenberg by about 200 years. This invention revolutionized book production and knowledge dissemination. The Jikji, printed with metal type in 1377, is the world oldest surviving metal movable type printed book.
Example Sentence
한국은 세계 최초로 금속 활자를 발명했어요.
Korea invented metal movable type first in the world.
How to use 금속 활자 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Metal Movable Type” is 금속 활자, romanized as geumsok hwalja.
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 금속 활자.
Pronunciation Guide
The first part, "Geum-sok," sounds like 'goom-soke', with 'goom' rhyming with 'room' and 'soke' rhyming with 'poke'. The second part, "Hwal-ja," is pronounced 'hwahl-jah', where 'hwahl' sounds like 'whal' in 'whale' (but with a slightly more pronounced 'h') and 'jah' as in 'jar'.
More Example Sentences
During a history class or educational presentation.
한국은 세계 최초로 금속 활자를 발명했습니다.
Korea invented metal movable type first in the world.
Explaining a historical artifact or cultural heritage.
직지는 금속 활자로 인쇄된 가장 오래된 책입니다.
Jikji is the oldest book printed with metal movable type.
Discussing the historical impact of an invention.
금속 활자 덕분에 지식 보급이 빨라졌어요.
Thanks to metal movable type, knowledge dissemination became faster.
Cultural Context
Korea's invention of metal movable type (금속 활자) in the 13th century, predating Gutenberg by over 200 years, is a source of immense national pride. The Jikji (직지), printed in 1377, is recognized by UNESCO as the world's oldest surviving book printed with metal movable type. This innovation highlights Korea's advanced scientific and cultural achievements during the Goryeo Dynasty and its significant contribution to human civilization, often emphasized in Korean education and cultural discourse.
Editorial note
We review entries like 금속 활자 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
금속 활자 인쇄
metal movable type printing
세계 최초 금속 활자
world's first metal movable type
금속 활자본
book printed with metal movable type
Related Expressions
직지
jikji
Jikji (specific book)
인쇄술
insaesul
printing technology
목판 인쇄
mokpan inswae
woodblock printing (earlier method)
발명
balmyeong
invention
More Korean History Words
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