Korean Dictionary
How to say "Spine" in Korean
“Spine” in Korean is 척추 (pronounced "cheokchu").
척추
cheokchu
Usage & Context
The column of bones running down the back. Used in medical and anatomical discussions. Important for discussing back health.
Example Sentence
척추가 아파요.
My spine hurts.
How to use 척추 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Spine” is 척추, romanized as cheokchu.
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 척추.
Pronunciation Guide
"척추" (cheokchu) is pronounced with "cheok" sounding like "choke" but with a sharper 'ch' and a short 'eo' vowel like 'uh' in "butter," followed by a hard 'k' sound. "Chu" is like "choo" in "choo-choo train," with a slightly aspirated 'ch' sound.
More Example Sentences
Discussing general health and well-being.
척추 건강이 중요해요.
Spinal health is important.
Sharing a medical diagnosis with someone.
척추측만증 진단을 받았어요.
I was diagnosed with scoliosis.
Recommending exercises for back health.
요가나 필라테스가 척추에 좋아요.
Yoga or Pilates is good for the spine.
Cultural Context
"척추" is a more formal and medical term for the spine. While people might colloquially say "등뼈" (deungppyeo) for backbone, "척추" is used in medical contexts, health discussions, and when referring to specific spinal conditions. Awareness of spinal health is quite high in Korea, with many people seeking treatments like chiropractic care or specialized exercises to maintain it.
Editorial note
We review entries like 척추 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
척추에 무리가 가다
To strain one's spine.
척추를 곧게 펴다
To straighten one's spine.
척추 전문의
Spinal specialist (doctor).
Related Expressions
등뼈
deungppyeo
backbone (colloquial)
척추뼈
cheokchuppyeo
vertebra (literally 'spine bone')
디스크
diseukeu
disc (referring to a herniated disc, common medical term)
척추교정
cheokchugyojeong
spinal correction/adjustment
More Body Parts Words
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