Korean Dictionary
How to say "Raw" in Korean
“Raw” in Korean is 생것 (pronounced "saenggeot").
생것
saenggeot
Usage & Context
Food that is uncooked or in its natural state. Raw preparations are important in Korean cuisine, such as raw fish and vegetables. They're often served with dipping sauces.
Example Sentence
생것을 먹어요.
We eat raw food.
How to use 생것 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Raw” is 생것, romanized as saenggeot.
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 생것.
Pronunciation Guide
Say "saeng-geot" like "sang-gut." "Saeng" is similar to 'sang' in 'sang a song'. "Geot" is like 'gut' in 'gut feeling', but with a softer 'g' sound.
More Example Sentences
Advising on how to eat raw fish
이 회는 생것으로 먹어야 신선해요.
This sashimi should be eaten raw to be fresh.
Stating a personal food preference
나는 익힌 것보다 생것을 더 좋아해.
I prefer raw food over cooked food.
Giving a general caution about food safety
생것은 조심해서 먹어야 해요.
You have to be careful when eating raw food.
Cultural Context
Eating raw food (생것) is common in Korea, especially hoe (회, raw fish/sashimi) and various raw vegetables in ssam (쌈, wraps). While '생것' refers to raw items in general, specific raw dishes often have their own names, like yukhoe (육회, raw beef tartare) or saengsaeng-i (생생이, very fresh, often used for live seafood). Freshness is paramount when consuming raw ingredients.
Editorial note
We review entries like 생것 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
생것으로 먹다
To eat raw
생것을 좋아하다
To like raw food
생것 조심
Be careful with raw food (a warning)
Related Expressions
날것
nalgeot
Raw thing (synonym, often for raw meat/fish)
익힌 것
ikhin geot
Cooked thing (antonym)
신선하다
sinseonhada
To be fresh (related concept)
회
hoe
Raw fish/sashimi (specific type of raw food)
More Food Words
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