Korean Dictionary
How to say "Sunburn" in Korean
“Sunburn” in Korean is 일광화상 (pronounced "ilgwanghwasang").
일광화상
ilgwanghwasang
Usage & Context
Skin damage caused by UV rays. Sunburn is common in Korea during sunny days. People use sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
Example Sentence
일광화상을 입지 않도록 자외선 차단제를 발라야 해요.
You need to apply sunscreen to avoid sunburn.
How to use 일광화상 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Sunburn” is 일광화상, romanized as ilgwanghwasang.
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 일광화상.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'il', is like 'ill' in 'illness'. 'Gwang' is pronounced like 'gwahng' with a soft 'g' sound, similar to 'guang' in 'Guangzhou'. 'Hwa' is like 'hwa' in 'Hawaii'. The final syllable, 'sang', is like 'sang' in 'sang a song'.
More Example Sentences
After a long day at the beach.
해변에서 너무 오래 놀았더니 일광화상을 입었어요.
I played too long at the beach and got sunburned.
Explaining sensitive skin to sun.
피부가 약해서 조금만 햇볕 쬐어도 일광화상을 입어요.
My skin is sensitive, so I get sunburned even with a little sun exposure.
Giving sun protection advice.
일광화상 예방을 위해 선크림을 꼭 바르세요.
Please apply sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
Cultural Context
Sun protection is a significant aspect of Korean beauty and health culture, often emphasized for preventing skin aging and hyperpigmentation, not just sunburn. While '일광화상' is the formal medical term, many Koreans might casually say '햇볕에 탔다' (haetbyeote tatda - got burned by the sun) or '피부가 탔다' (pibuga tatda - skin got burned/tanned) in everyday conversation. Sunscreen (선크림) is widely used, and it's common to see people carrying umbrellas or wearing long sleeves even in summer to avoid direct sun exposure.
Editorial note
We review entries like 일광화상 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
일광화상을 입었어요.
I got sunburned.
일광화상 조심하세요.
Be careful about sunburn.
피부가 일광화상으로 따가워요.
My skin stings from sunburn.
Related Expressions
선크림
seonkeurim
Sunscreen
햇볕에 타다
haetbyeote tada
To get sunburned/tanned by the sun (more common casual phrase)
자외선
jaoeseon
UV rays
화상
hwasang
Burn (general term)
More Weather Words
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