Korean Dictionary
How to say "Steel" in Korean
“Steel” in Korean is 철강 (pronounced "Cheolggang").
철강
Cheolggang
Usage & Context
Strong metal alloy used in construction. Essential for high-rise buildings.
Example Sentence
철강은 건축에 필수적인 재료예요.
Steel is an essential material in construction.
How to use 철강 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Steel” is 철강, romanized as Cheolggang.
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 철강.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'cheol-gang' — 'cheol' rhymes with 'cholm' (soft 'ch'), and 'gang' rhymes with 'gong' but with an 'a'. Note the 철 just means 'iron' while 철강 specifically means 'steel' (iron alloy).
Formal & Casual Forms
Casual (반말)
철
cheol
철 is the general word for iron or metal — in everyday conversation Koreans often just say 철 when referring to steel, though technically 철강 is more precise.
More Example Sentences
Discussing major Korean corporations
포스코는 한국의 대표적인 철강 회사예요.
POSCO is Korea's leading steel company.
Reading financial news together
철강 가격이 계속 오르고 있어요.
Steel prices keep rising.
Tour guide explaining an engineering landmark
이 다리는 철강 구조물이에요.
This bridge is a steel structure.
Cultural Context
철강 is a backbone industry of South Korea's economic success — POSCO (포스코), the country's largest steelmaker, was founded in 1968 and became a symbol of the post-war industrialization called the 'Miracle on the Han River'. The Korean steel industry is globally competitive, particularly in shipbuilding and automotive sectors. In daily conversation, Koreans may use just '철' (iron) for everyday objects and save 철강 for industrial or construction contexts.
Editorial note
We review entries like 철강 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
철강 산업이 중요해요.
The steel industry is important.
철강으로 만든 거예요.
It's made of steel.
철강 수출이 늘었어요.
Steel exports have increased.
Related Expressions
철
cheol
iron / metal (general)
철근
cheolgeun
rebar
스테인리스
seuteinriseu
stainless steel
금속
geumsok
metal
More Architecture Words
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