Korean Dictionary
How to say "Table Tennis" in Korean
“Table Tennis” in Korean is 탁구 (pronounced "takgu").
탁구
takgu
Usage & Context
Table tennis has a strong tradition in Korea with many Olympic medals. The sport is widely played in schools and recreational centers throughout the country.
Example Sentence
탁구 대회에 참가했어요.
I participated in a table tennis tournament.
How to use 탁구 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Table Tennis” is 탁구, romanized as takgu.
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 탁구.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'tak-gu' — 'tak' like 'tock' with unreleased k, 'gu' like 'goo'. Two quick syllables.
Formal & Casual Forms
Casual (반말)
핑퐁
pingpong
casual English loanword used playfully, especially among younger people
More Example Sentences
office break activity
점심시간에 탁구 한 판 쳐요.
Let's play a game of table tennis during lunch.
after playing for the first time
탁구가 의외로 격한 스포츠예요.
Table tennis is surprisingly intense.
sharing a childhood memory
학교 탁구부에 있었어요.
I was in the school table tennis club.
Cultural Context
탁구 has a long tradition in Korea and a major diplomatic moment at the 1991 World Championships where North and South Korea fielded a joint team. Community centers (주민센터) and workplaces often have 탁구 tables for recreational use. The verb used is '치다' (to hit/play).
Editorial note
We review entries like 탁구 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
탁구 칠래요?
Want to play table tennis?
탁구 잘 치시네요.
You're good at table tennis.
탁구 한 게임만 해요.
Let's just play one game of table tennis.
Related Expressions
탁구채
takgu-chae
table tennis paddle
탁구공
takgugong
ping pong ball
핑퐁
pingpong
ping pong (loanword)
랠리
raelli
rally
More Sports Words
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