Korean Dictionary
How to say "Rehabilitation" in Korean
“Rehabilitation” in Korean is 재활 (pronounced "jaehwal").
재활
jaehwal
Usage & Context
재활 refers to the process of recovering functional abilities after illness, injury, or surgery. Korean hospitals have dedicated 재활의학과 (rehabilitation medicine departments) offering structured recovery programs. Stroke patients and those recovering from joint surgeries commonly undergo intensive 재활 therapy.
Example Sentence
수술 후 재활 치료를 열심히 받고 있어요.
I am working hard on rehabilitation therapy after surgery.
How to use 재활 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Rehabilitation” is 재활, romanized as jaehwal.
Usage tip
When describing symptoms, combine the word with where it hurts, when it started, and how severe it is.
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 재활.
Pronunciation Guide
재 (jae) sounds like 'jeh' in 'jet'. 활 (hwal) sounds like 'hwal', similar to 'whal' in 'whale' but with a clear 'h' sound. Put it together: 'jeh-hwal', with 'hwal' pronounced quickly after 'jae'.
More Example Sentences
Explaining recovery progress to a friend.
사고 후 재활 치료를 꾸준히 받고 있어요.
I'm consistently receiving rehabilitation therapy after the accident.
A patient sharing their recovery story.
재활 운동을 통해 다시 걸을 수 있게 되었어요.
Through rehabilitation exercises, I was able to walk again.
Recommending a hospital for rehabilitation.
이 병원은 재활 전문 병원으로 유명해요.
This hospital is famous as a specialized rehabilitation hospital.
Cultural Context
Rehabilitation (재활) is a crucial part of recovery in Korea, especially for stroke patients (뇌졸중 환자), accident victims, and those recovering from major surgeries. Many hospitals have dedicated '재활의학과' (jaehwal uihakgwa - rehabilitation medicine department) or specialized rehabilitation centers. There's a strong emphasis on active participation from the patient and often family involvement in the recovery process, with physical therapists (물리치료사) playing a vital role.
Editorial note
We review entries like 재활 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
재활하다
To rehabilitate
재활 기간
Rehabilitation period
재활 센터
Rehabilitation center
Related Expressions
재활 치료
jaehwal chiryo
Rehabilitation therapy
재활 운동
jaehwal undong
Rehabilitation exercises
물리치료
mullichiryo
Physical therapy
작업치료
jakopchiryo
Occupational therapy
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