Korean Dictionary
How to say "Rice" in Korean
“Rice” in Korean is 밥 (pronounced "Bap").
밥
Bap
Usage & Context
In Korean, '밥' means both rice and meal. '밥 먹었어?' (Have you eaten rice?) is a common way to greet someone and show you care about them.
Example Sentence
밥 먹었어요?
Have you eaten? (Literally: Have you had rice?)
How to use 밥 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Rice” is 밥, romanized as Bap.
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 밥.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'bap' — a single syllable with a crisp 'b,' a short 'ah' vowel, and an unreleased 'p' at the end (almost like a held breath).
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
진지
jinji
Honorific term for rice / a meal, used for elderly relatives
More Example Sentences
a common Korean greeting
밥 먹었어요?
Have you eaten? (lit. 'did you eat rice?')
at a Korean BBQ restaurant
밥 한 공기 더 주세요.
One more bowl of rice, please.
at a home-cooked meal
밥이 너무 맛있어요.
The rice is so delicious.
Cultural Context
밥 means both 'rice' and 'a meal' — 밥 먹었어요? ('have you eaten?') is one of the most common greetings in Korea, showing care rather than asking about actual food. Elders use 진지 instead of 밥 as an honorific. The phrase 밥 한번 먹자 ('let's eat sometime') is the Korean equivalent of 'we should grab lunch.'
Editorial note
We review entries like 밥 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
밥 먹었어요?
Have you eaten?
밥 먹자.
Let's eat.
밥 한 공기 주세요.
One bowl of rice, please.
Related Expressions
쌀
ssal
uncooked rice grain
공기밥
gonggibap
bowl of rice (side order)
진지
jinji
meal / rice (honorific)
볶음밥
bokkeumbap
fried rice
Frequently asked questions
How do I correctly pronounce the Korean word '밥' (Bap) for beginners?+
The pronunciation of '밥' (Bap) involves three parts. The initial 'ㅂ' sounds like a soft 'b' at the beginning of a word. The 'ㅏ' is a clear 'ah' sound, like in 'father'. The final 'ㅂ' (batchim) is a voiceless, unreleased 'p' sound, where your lips close but you don't release air. It's not a strong 'p' like in 'park'. Practice saying 'bah-p' with a gentle, clipped ending.
Does '밥' exclusively refer to cooked rice, or does it have other meanings?+
'밥' (Bap) primarily means cooked rice, but it also broadly refers to a 'meal' or 'food' in general, especially one centered around rice. For instance, '밥 먹었어?' (Bap meogeosseo?), meaning 'Have you eaten?', is a common Korean greeting, reflecting that a meal is a fundamental part of daily life and social care. It's often used interchangeably with '식사' (shiksa) for meal.
Is using '밥' considered formal or informal when talking about food?+
'밥' (Bap) is generally considered an informal to standard term. It's perfectly appropriate for everyday conversations among family and friends. For more formal contexts, such as addressing elders or in business settings, you might opt for '식사' (shiksa) when referring to a meal, or use more honorific forms of verbs. However, '밥' itself isn't impolite, just less formal than its counterparts.
What are some common Korean phrases or idioms that incorporate '밥'?+
Beyond its basic meaning, '밥' (Bap) appears in many common Korean phrases. '집밥' (jipbap) means 'home-cooked meal'. '밥값' (bapgap) refers to the 'cost of a meal'. '밥하다' (baphada) means 'to cook a meal'. Another common one is '밥 한 끼' (bap han kki), meaning 'one meal', often used when referring to a simple, humble meal. These show its central role in Korean culture.
What mistakes do learners often make when using or understanding '밥'?+
One common mistake is not fully grasping that '밥' (Bap) means both 'cooked rice' and 'meal'. Learners might only associate it with rice grains. Another error is misinterpreting '밥 먹었어?' (Bap meogeosseo?) as a literal question about eating, rather than a caring greeting. Also, some struggle with the final 'ㅂ' pronunciation, making it a strong, released 'p' sound instead of the unreleased, clipped sound, which can sound unnatural to native speakers.
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