Korean Dictionary
How to say "Traffic Light" in Korean
“Traffic Light” in Korean is 신호등 (pronounced "sinhodeung").
신호등
sinhodeung
Usage & Context
신호등 regulate traffic at intersections throughout Korean cities. Korean 신호등 often include LED countdown timers for both pedestrian and vehicle signals. Some Korean 신호등 have audio signals for visually impaired pedestrians.
Example Sentence
신호등이 초록불로 바뀌면 건너세요.
Cross when the traffic light turns green.
How to use 신호등 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Traffic Light” is 신호등, romanized as sinhodeung.
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 신호등.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'sin-ho-deung' — 'sin' like 'seen', 'ho' like 'hoh', 'deung' rhymes with 'dung' with unrounded u. Flows smoothly.
More Example Sentences
at intersection
신호등이 빨간불이에요.
The traffic light is red.
reminding a child
신호등 보고 건너세요.
Check the traffic light and cross.
reporting an issue
신호등이 고장났어요.
The traffic light is broken.
Cultural Context
신호등 in Korea often have LED countdown timers showing seconds remaining, helping pedestrians judge if they can cross in time. Smart 신호등 that detect pedestrians are expanding. Running a '빨간불' (red light) is strictly enforced with CCTV, and fines are automatic. Korean drivers treat '파란불' (green) cautiously because taxis and motorcyclists may still come through.
Editorial note
We review entries like 신호등 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
신호등이 바뀌었어요.
The traffic light changed.
신호등 지켜요.
Obey the traffic light.
신호등에서 기다려요.
Wait at the traffic light.
Related Expressions
빨간불
ppalganbul
red light
파란불
paranbul
green light (literally 'blue light')
노란불
noranbul
yellow light
신호 위반
sinho wiban
traffic signal violation
More Transportation Words
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