Korean Dictionary
How to say "Recycling" in Korean
“Recycling” in Korean is 재활용 (pronounced "jaehwallyong").
재활용
jaehwallyong
Usage & Context
Recycling or 재활용 is mandatory in South Korea and taken very seriously. Korea has one of the highest recycling rates in the world. Separating waste into recyclables, organics, and trash is required by law.
Example Sentence
재활용을 잘 분리해서 버려야 해요.
You need to separate recyclables properly before throwing them away.
How to use 재활용 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Recycling” is 재활용, romanized as jaehwallyong.
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 재활용.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'jae-hwa-ryong'. Three syllables with clear breaks: 'jae' (like 'jay'), 'hwa' (one syllable gliding), 'ryong' (soft 'ng' ending).
More Example Sentences
apartment rules
재활용 쓰레기는 분리 배출해야 해요.
Recyclable trash must be separated.
news discussion
플라스틱 재활용률이 낮대요.
They say plastic recycling rates are low.
product description
재활용 가능한 소재로 만들었어요.
It's made from recyclable materials.
Cultural Context
Korea has one of the strictest recycling regimes globally — mandatory 분리수거 (separation of recycling) since 1995, with separate bins for paper, plastic, glass, cans, food waste, and general trash. Fines apply if you get it wrong. This makes 재활용 a daily-life vocabulary word. Apartments often have a specific 분리수거일 (separation day).
Editorial note
We review entries like 재활용 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
재활용 꼭 하세요.
Please make sure to recycle.
이거 재활용 되나요?
Is this recyclable?
분리수거 날이 언제예요?
When is the recycling day?
Related Expressions
분리수거
bullisugeo
separate waste collection
쓰레기
sseuregi
trash
플라스틱
peullaseutik
plastic
친환경
chinhwangyeong
eco-friendly
More Environment Words
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