Korean Dictionary
How to say "Textbook" in Korean
“Textbook” in Korean is 교과서 (pronounced "Gyogwaseo").
교과서
Gyogwaseo
Usage & Context
Textbooks (교과서) in Korea are issued by the Ministry of Education and used throughout the country for standardized learning. Korean textbooks are comprehensive and regularly updated to reflect new academic standards. Students carry heavy bags filled with textbooks and supplementary workbooks, a common sight at Korean bus stops and subway stations.
Example Sentence
교과서 10페이지를 펴세요.
Please open your textbook to page 10.
How to use 교과서 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Textbook” is 교과서, romanized as Gyogwaseo.
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 교과서.
Pronunciation Guide
교과서 (Gyogwaseo) is pronounced like "gyo-gwa-suh." The '교' (gyo) sounds like 'g' + 'yo'. The '과' (gwa) is like 'gwa' in "guava." The '서' (seo) is like 'suh' in "surf" (without the 'r' sound).
More Example Sentences
A student complaining about their workload.
수학 교과서 숙제가 너무 많아요.
There's too much math textbook homework.
Starting a new academic term.
새 학년이라 새 교과서를 받았어요.
It's a new school year, so I received new textbooks.
Giving study advice to a student.
교과서 내용을 잘 이해해야 시험을 잘 볼 수 있어요.
You need to understand the textbook content well to do well on the exam.
Cultural Context
Korean textbooks are standardized nationwide by the Ministry of Education, ensuring a consistent curriculum. Students often carry heavy backpacks filled not only with textbooks but also '참고서' (chamgoseo - reference books/study guides) and '문제집' (munjejip - problem books). The phrase '교과서적이다' (gyogwaseojeogida) means 'textbook-like' or 'by the book,' often implying something is too rigid or theoretical.
Editorial note
We review entries like 교과서 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
교과서 펴세요.
Please open your textbook.
교과서에 나와 있어요.
It's in the textbook.
교과서 내용
textbook content
Related Expressions
참고서
chamgoseo
reference book, study guide
문제집
munjejip
problem book, workbook
공책
gongchaek
notebook
수업
sueop
class, lesson
More Education Words
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