Korean Dictionary
How to say "Teaspoon" in Korean
“Teaspoon” in Korean is 작은술 (pronounced "jageun sul").
작은술
jageun sul
Usage & Context
Smaller measurement unit for precise quantities. Approximately 5 milliliters. Used for spices and seasonings.
Example Sentence
작은술 한 개를 넣어요.
I add one teaspoon.
How to use 작은술 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Teaspoon” is 작은술, romanized as jageun 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 작은술.
Pronunciation Guide
작은 (jageun) sounds like 'jah-geun', with 'jah' like 'jar' and 'geun' like 'gun'. 술 (sul) sounds like 'sool' in 'sool-jip', rhyming with 'pool'. Pronounce it as 'JAH-geun-sool', with all syllables clearly articulated.
More Example Sentences
Giving a precise instruction for a small amount of seasoning.
소금은 작은술 반만 넣으세요.
Only add half a teaspoon of salt.
Giving a cooking tip for handling potent ingredients.
향신료는 작은술로 계량하는 게 좋아요.
It's good to measure spices with a teaspoon.
Explaining the dosage for medication.
이 약은 하루에 작은술 하나씩 먹어야 해요.
You need to take one teaspoon of this medicine per day.
Cultural Context
'작은술' is the standard term for a teaspoon (approximately 5ml) in Korean recipes, used for smaller quantities of potent ingredients like salt, pepper, or specific spices. While '작은술' is formal, in casual conversation or even some recipes, you might hear the direct loanword '티스푼' (tiseupun) being used interchangeably.
Editorial note
We review entries like 작은술 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 작은술
one teaspoon
작은술로 재다
to measure by teaspoon
작은술 반
half a teaspoon
Related Expressions
큰술
keun sul
tablespoon (antonym)
티스푼
tiseupun
teaspoon (loanword)
커피스푼
keopiseupun
coffee spoon (often used informally as a teaspoon)
꼬집
kkojip
pinch (an informal, very small measurement)
More Cooking Words
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