Korean Dictionary
How to say "Miyeok Guk" in Korean
“Miyeok Guk” in Korean is 미역국 (pronounced "miyeok guk").
미역국
miyeok guk
Usage & Context
Miyeok guk is a Korean seaweed soup made with beef and wakame seaweed. It is traditionally eaten on birthdays and by mothers after childbirth for its health-restorative properties.
Example Sentence
생일에 미역국을 먹는 것은 한국의 전통이다.
Eating miyeok guk on your birthday is a Korean tradition.
How to use 미역국 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Miyeok Guk” is 미역국, romanized as miyeok guk.
Usage tip
Use this word with ordering phrases, taste descriptions, and polite requests when speaking in a restaurant.
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 미역국.
Pronunciation Guide
The word 미역국 is pronounced 'MEE-yuck GOOK'. '미' sounds like 'me' in English. '역' is like 'yuck' but with a softer 'y' and a 'k' at the end. '국' is similar to 'gook' but with a softer 'g' and a short 'oo' sound like in 'book'.
More Example Sentences
A child's memory of a birthday tradition.
엄마가 생일 아침에 미역국을 끓여주셨어요.
Mom cooked miyeok guk for my birthday breakfast.
Discussing postpartum care and traditional remedies.
출산 후에는 몸조리에 미역국이 최고예요.
After childbirth, miyeok guk is the best for recovery.
Explaining variations in miyeok guk ingredients.
미역국은 소고기나 조개로 맛을 내기도 해요.
Miyeok guk can be flavored with beef or clams.
Cultural Context
Miyeok guk is deeply ingrained in Korean culture, primarily known as a birthday soup. It symbolizes gratitude to one's mother, as it's the same soup mothers traditionally eat after childbirth for recovery and to promote milk production. Eating it on your birthday is a way to remember and appreciate your mother's pain and effort in giving birth. It's also believed to bring good luck and health.
Editorial note
We test food and dining words like 미역국 inside ordering situations, because the natural Korean phrase often includes a polite request ending.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
미역국 끓이다
to cook/boil miyeok guk
미역국 먹다
to eat miyeok guk
생일 미역국
birthday miyeok guk
Related Expressions
미역
miyeok
seaweed (the main ingredient)
국
guk
soup (general term)
생일
saengil
birthday
산모
sanmo
new mother
More Korean Food & Dining Words
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