Korean Dictionary
How to say "River" in Korean
“River” in Korean is 강 (pronounced "Gang").
강
Gang
Korean usage reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Last reviewed June 4, 2026.
This page checks meaning, pronunciation, politeness level, and common learner mistakes.
Usage & Context
Korea's major rivers include the Han River (한강), Nakdong River (낙동강), and Geum River (금강). The Han River runs through Seoul and its 한강 공원 (Hangang Park) is a beloved green space for picnics, cycling, and outdoor activities. Eating 치맥 (chicken and beer) by the Han River is a popular Seoul experience.
Example Sentence
한강공원에서 치맥을 먹으면서 야경을 봤어요.
I ate chimaek at Hangang Park while looking at the night view.
How to use 강 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “River” is 강, romanized as Gang.
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 강.
Pronunciation Guide
One syllable: 'gang,' but softer than the English word. The ㄱ sounds somewhere between 'g' and 'k,' and the vowel is a clean 'ah' — so it comes out like 'GAHNG.'
More Example Sentences
Describing your neighborhood to a new friend
우리 집 근처에 작은 강이 흘러요.
A small river runs near our house.
Talking about a weekend activity
강을 따라 자전거를 탔어요.
I rode my bike along the river.
Describing a scene at the riverside
강에서 낚시하는 사람들이 많아요.
There are a lot of people fishing in the river.
Cultural Context
The 한강 (Han River) that cuts through Seoul is basically the city's backyard — its 한강공원 stretches for kilometers with picnic spots, cycling paths, and food-delivery tents where people order 치킨 (fried chicken) directly to the grass. Most big Korean city names have a corresponding river: 부산 has the 낙동강, 대전 has the 금강. Note that 강 refers specifically to large rivers; smaller streams are called 개천 or 하천.
Editorial note
We review entries like 강 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. Last reviewed June 4, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
한강 가자!
Let's go to the Han River!
강이 넓네요.
The river is wide.
강 건너에 있어요.
It's across the river.
Related Expressions
한강
hangang
Han River (Seoul's main river)
강변
gangbyeon
Riverside
강물
gangmul
River water
개천
gaecheon
Stream / small river
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