Korean Dictionary
How to say "Steamer" in Korean
“Steamer” in Korean is 찜기 (pronounced "jjimgi").
찜기
jjimgi
Usage & Context
Cooking vessel for steaming food. Essential for healthy cooking. Preserves nutrients and natural flavors.
Example Sentence
찜기에서 만두를 찌다.
I steam dumplings in a steamer.
How to use 찜기 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Steamer” is 찜기, romanized as jjimgi.
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 찜기.
Pronunciation Guide
찜 (jjim) sounds like 'jim' but with a stronger, tense 'j' sound, almost like 'jjim' in 'jjamppong'. The 'i' is like the 'i' in 'sit'. 기 (gi) sounds like 'gee' in 'geese' but with a soft 'g' sound. Together: 'jjim-gee'.
More Example Sentences
Explaining the versatility of a kitchen appliance.
이 찜기로는 떡도 찔 수 있어요.
You can steam rice cakes (tteok) with this steamer too.
Giving cooking instructions for a dish.
찜기에 물을 붓고 만두를 올려주세요.
Pour water into the steamer and place the dumplings on top.
Talking about a home-cooked snack.
엄마가 찜기에 고구마를 쪄주셨어.
Mom steamed sweet potatoes for me in the steamer.
Cultural Context
Steaming (찌다, jjida) is a very common and healthy cooking method in Korea. A '찜기' is essential for many traditional dishes like '만두' (mandu - dumplings), '떡' (tteok - rice cakes), and various steamed vegetables or fish. There are different types, from simple metal inserts for pots to multi-tiered bamboo steamers and electric steamers. The term '찜' also refers to a category of Korean dishes that are steamed or braised until tender, such as '갈비찜' (galbijjim - braised short ribs).
Editorial note
We review entries like 찜기 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
찜기에 찌다
To steam in a steamer
만두 찜기
Dumpling steamer
전기 찜기
Electric steamer
Related Expressions
찌다
jjida
To steam (verb)
찜
jjim
Steamed dish (noun)
찜통
jjimtong
Steamer pot (often larger)
찜 요리
jjim yori
Steamed cuisine/dish
More Cooking Words
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