Korean Dictionary
How to say "Instant noodles" in Korean
“Instant noodles” in Korean is 라면 (pronounced "Ramyeon").
라면
Ramyeon
Usage & Context
Korean instant noodles, a staple comfort food. Korean ramyeon brands like Shin Ramyun are famous worldwide for their spicy flavor. There's even a cultural trope of 라면 먹고 갈래요? (Want to eat ramen before you go?) used as a subtle romantic invitation.
Example Sentence
배고픈데 라면 끓여 먹을까요?
I'm hungry, shall we cook some ramyeon?
How to use 라면 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Instant noodles” is 라면, romanized as Ramyeon.
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 라면.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'Ra', sounds like the 'ra' in 'radar'. The second syllable, 'myeon', sounds like 'myun' or 'myon', similar to 'yon' in 'beyond' but starting with a soft 'm' sound.
More Example Sentences
Late-night snack craving.
밤에 출출할 때 라면이 최고죠!
When you're a bit hungry at night, ramyeon is the best!
Cooking tips.
라면에 김치랑 계란 넣으면 더 맛있어요.
It's even tastier if you add kimchi and an egg to ramyeon.
Traveler's essential.
해외여행 갈 때 한국 라면 꼭 챙겨가요.
When I travel abroad, I always make sure to bring Korean ramyeon.
Cultural Context
Ramyeon is more than just instant noodles in Korea; it's a cultural icon, a go-to comfort food, and even a social activity. The phrase '라면 먹고 갈래요?' (Want to eat ramyeon before you go?) is a famous K-drama trope, subtly implying a romantic invitation, similar to 'Netflix and chill.' Many Koreans have their own 'secret recipe' for making ramyeon, adding ingredients like eggs, green onions, cheese, or tteok (rice cakes).
Editorial note
We review entries like 라면 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
라면 끓여줄게.
I'll cook ramyeon for you.
라면 먹고 갈래?
Want to eat ramyeon before you go? (Romantic implication)
해장 라면.
Hangover ramyeon (ramyeon eaten to cure a hangover).
Related Expressions
컵라면
Keopramyeon
Cup noodles
봉지라면
Bongjiramyeon
Packet noodles
짜파게티
Jjapagetti
Instant black bean noodles (a popular ramyeon type)
라면사리
Ramyeonsari
Instant noodle pack (without soup base, often added to stews)
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