Korean Dictionary
How to say "Refrigerate" in Korean
“Refrigerate” in Korean is 냉장하다 (pronounced "naengjang hada").
냉장하다
naengjang hada
Usage & Context
Storing food at cold temperature for short-term preservation. Essential for food safety. Slows bacterial growth and maintains freshness.
Example Sentence
음식을 냉장해요.
I refrigerate the food.
How to use 냉장하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Refrigerate” is 냉장하다, romanized as naengjang hada.
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 냉장하다.
Pronunciation Guide
냉 (naeng) sounds like 'naing' in 'pain' with an 'ng' sound. 장 (jang) sounds like 'jang' in 'jang-gle'. 하다 (hada) is pronounced 'hah-dah', like 'hahaha' and 'dah' in 'dah-ling'. Combine them: NAING-jang HAH-dah.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
냉장해요
naengjang haeyo
Common polite form used in everyday conversation.
Casual (반말)
냉장해
naengjang hae
Used with close friends, family, or people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Reading food storage instructions on a product.
이 우유는 냉장 보관해야 신선해요.
This milk needs to be refrigerated to stay fresh.
Asking a housemate to put away food.
남은 피자는 냉장고에 냉장해 주세요.
Please refrigerate the leftover pizza in the fridge.
Giving general advice on storing produce.
과일은 신선도를 위해 냉장하는 것이 좋아요.
It's good to refrigerate fruits for freshness.
Cultural Context
Refrigeration is crucial in Korean households. Many homes have a 'kimchi refrigerator' (김치냉장고, gimchi naengjanggo) in addition to a standard fridge. While primarily for kimchi, these specialized refrigerators are also used for other vegetables, fruits, and even meat, offering more precise temperature control. This highlights the importance of fresh ingredients and proper storage in Korean cuisine.
Editorial note
We review entries like 냉장하다 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
냉장 보관
refrigerated storage
냉장 식품
refrigerated food
냉장실
refrigerator compartment
Related Expressions
냉장고
naengjanggo
refrigerator (noun)
냉동하다
naengdong hada
to freeze (related concept, opposite temperature range)
상온 보관
sangon bogwan
room temperature storage (antonym concept)
신선하다
sinseon hada
to be fresh (related adjective)
More Cooking Words
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