Korean Dictionary
How to say "Tablespoon" in Korean
“Tablespoon” in Korean is 큰술 (pronounced "keun sul").
큰술
keun sul
Usage & Context
Standard measurement unit for liquids and solids. Approximately 15 milliliters. Common in Korean recipes.
Example Sentence
큰술 두 개를 넣어요.
I add two tablespoons.
How to use 큰술 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Tablespoon” is 큰술, romanized as keun sul.
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 큰술.
Pronunciation Guide
큰 (keun) sounds like 'keun' in 'keun-gil', rhyming with 'moon' but with a 'k' sound. 술 (sul) sounds like 'sool' in 'sool-jip', rhyming with 'pool'. Pronounce it as 'KEUN-sool', with both syllables clearly articulated.
More Example Sentences
Giving a simple cooking instruction to someone.
설탕 한 큰술 넣어주세요.
Please add one tablespoon of sugar.
Confirming the correct amount of an ingredient for a dish.
간장 두 큰술이면 충분해요.
Two tablespoons of soy sauce should be enough.
Explaining the ingredient list of a recipe to someone.
이 레시피에는 고춧가루가 세 큰술 들어가요.
This recipe calls for three tablespoons of chili powder.
Cultural Context
'큰술' is a very common measurement unit in Korean recipes, especially for sauces, marinades, and seasonings. It generally corresponds to a standard tablespoon (about 15ml). While written recipes might use abbreviations like 'T' or 'tbsp', '큰술' is the term used verbally. In home cooking, a regular '밥숟가락' (bapsutgarak, rice spoon) is often used as an informal '큰술'.
Editorial note
We review entries like 큰술 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
한 큰술
one tablespoon
두 큰술
two tablespoons
큰술로 재다
to measure by tablespoon
Related Expressions
작은술
jageun sul
teaspoon (antonym)
숟가락
sutgarak
spoon (general term)
밥숟가락
bapsutgarak
rice spoon (often used informally as a tablespoon)
계량스푼
gyeryangsseupun
measuring spoon (general term for both 큰술 and 작은술)
More Cooking Words
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