Korean Dictionary
How to say "Pulse" in Korean
“Pulse” in Korean is 맥박 (pronounced "maekbak").
맥박
maekbak
Usage & Context
The beating of the heart felt in the arteries. Used in medical and health discussions. Important for discussing heart health.
Example Sentence
맥박이 빨라요.
My pulse is fast.
How to use 맥박 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Pulse” is 맥박, romanized as maekbak.
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 맥박.
Pronunciation Guide
'Maekbak' is pronounced like 'meck-bahk'. 'Maek' sounds like 'make' but with a slightly shorter 'a' sound, followed by a 'k'. 'Bak' sounds like 'bock' (as in 'bock beer') with a 'b' sound, an 'a' like in 'father', and a final 'k' sound.
More Example Sentences
Explaining a physiological response to physical activity.
운동 후에는 맥박이 빨라져요.
Your pulse quickens after exercise.
In a medical examination setting.
간호사가 환자의 맥박을 짚었어요.
The nurse checked the patient's pulse.
Describing a physical sensation due to extreme nervousness.
너무 긴장해서 맥박이 쿵쾅거렸어요.
My pulse was pounding because I was so nervous.
Cultural Context
Checking one's pulse is a common way to assess health or stress levels. In historical K-dramas, traditional Korean doctors (한의사, hanuisa) often perform a detailed pulse diagnosis as a primary method for understanding a patient's condition. The expression '맥이 뛰다' (for one's pulse to beat) is commonly used, and '맥이 끊기다' can metaphorically mean losing momentum or connection.
Editorial note
We review entries like 맥박 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
맥박이 빠르다
pulse is fast
맥박이 느리다
pulse is slow
맥박을 재다
to measure one's pulse
Related Expressions
심장 박동
simjang bakdong
heartbeat
혈압
hyeorap
blood pressure
맥이 뛰다
maegi ttwida
for the pulse to beat
맥을 짚다
maegeul jiptta
to take/check a pulse
More Body Parts Words
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