Korean Dictionary
How to say "Groundwater" in Korean
“Groundwater” in Korean is 지하수 (pronounced "jiha-su").
지하수
jiha-su
Usage & Context
Groundwater is water found beneath the Earth surface in aquifers. Korea relies on groundwater for some drinking water and agricultural use. Groundwater contamination is a growing concern in Korean rural areas.
Example Sentence
지하수 오염은 식수 공급에 위협이 돼요.
Groundwater contamination is a threat to drinking water supply.
How to use 지하수 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Groundwater” is 지하수, romanized as jiha-su.
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 지하수.
Pronunciation Guide
For 지하 (jiha), 'ji' sounds like 'gee' in 'geese'. 'Ha' sounds like 'ha' in 'haha'. For 수 (su), it sounds like 'soo' in 'soup'. The hyphen in 'jiha-su' indicates that it's a compound word, but it's usually pronounced smoothly without a distinct pause.
More Example Sentences
Discussion about rural living conditions or water sources.
시골에서는 아직도 지하수를 식수나 생활용수로 사용하는 가정이 많아요.
In rural areas, many households still use groundwater for drinking and daily life.
News report on environmental issues or industrial pollution.
공장 폐기물로 인한 지하수 오염은 심각한 환경 문제입니다.
Groundwater contamination due to factory waste is a serious environmental problem.
Travel guide or geographical explanation of Jeju Island.
제주도는 화산암 지형 덕분에 풍부한 지하수를 가지고 있습니다.
Jeju Island has abundant groundwater thanks to its volcanic rock terrain.
Cultural Context
'지하수' is a very common term in Korea, especially outside major cities. Many rural homes and even some urban establishments (like spas or certain restaurants) utilize groundwater. While often associated with natural, clean water, there's growing public awareness and concern about '지하수 오염' (groundwater contamination), particularly from agricultural runoff or industrial waste. Some Koreans even have small pumps to draw '지하수' for gardening or other household uses, highlighting its practical importance.
Editorial note
We review entries like 지하수 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
지하수 개발
Groundwater development
지하수 오염
Groundwater contamination
지하수 보호
Groundwater protection
Related Expressions
식수
siksu
Drinking water
상수도
sangsu-do
Piped water supply (tap water)
우물
umul
Well
수질 오염
sujil oyeom
Water pollution
More Environment Words
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