Korean Dictionary
How to say "Suneung (College Entrance Exam)" in Korean
“Suneung (College Entrance Exam)” in Korean is 수능 (pronounced "Suneung").
수능
Suneung
Usage & Context
The 수능 (수학능력시험, Suneung) is South Korea's most important and high-stakes exam, taken by high school seniors each November. The country virtually comes to a standstill on exam day — flights are grounded during the listening section, and parents pray at temples for their children's success. A student's entire academic career is often judged by this single exam score.
Example Sentence
수능은 한국 학생들에게 매우 중요한 시험이에요.
The Suneung is a very important exam for Korean students.
How to use 수능 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Suneung (College Entrance Exam)” is 수능, romanized as Suneung.
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 수능.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 수 (su), sounds like "soo" in "soon." The second syllable, 능 (neung), sounds like "nung" in "lung," but with an 'n' sound at the beginning. Pronounce it smoothly as "soo-nung."
More Example Sentences
Observing students' intense study habits before the exam.
수능이 얼마 안 남아서 학생들이 밤샘 공부를 해요.
Suneung is not far off, so students are studying all night.
Giving advice for Suneung day logistics to ensure punctuality.
수능 날에는 교통 통제가 심해서 일찍 출발해야 해요.
On Suneung day, traffic control is strict, so you need to leave early.
Explaining the high stakes and stress associated with the Suneung exam.
수능 점수로 대학이 결정되기 때문에 부담이 커요.
Because universities are decided by Suneung scores, the pressure is immense.
Cultural Context
The '수능' is arguably the most significant single event in a Korean student's life, dictating their university prospects and often their future career path. The entire nation mobilizes to support students on '수능' day, with businesses opening late, public transport increasing, and even flights being delayed to ensure no distractions during the listening portion. It's a day of immense pressure and collective hope, often depicted in K-dramas.
Editorial note
We review entries like 수능 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
수능을 보다
to take the Suneung exam
수능 점수
Suneung score
수능 준비
Suneung preparation
Related Expressions
입시
ipsi
university entrance exam (general term)
고3
go-sam
high school senior (literally 'third year of high school')
재수생
jaesusaeng
student retaking the Suneung
수능 대박
suneung daebak
"Suneung jackpot" (a wish for great success on the exam)
More Education Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Suneung (College Entrance Exam) and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
