Korean Dictionary
How to say "Variable" in Korean
“Variable” in Korean is 변수 (pronounced "Byeonsu").
변수
Byeonsu
Usage & Context
A factor that can change in research. Variables are controlled and measured in Korean scientific experiments.
Example Sentence
독립 변수와 종속 변수를 구분해야 한다.
We must distinguish between independent and dependent variables.
How to use 변수 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Variable” is 변수, romanized as Byeonsu.
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 변수.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'byun-soo' — 'byun' starts with a 'b' then glides through 'y' into 'un' (like 'bun' with a 'y' slipped in), and 'soo' rhymes with 'sue.' Two quick syllables.
More Example Sentences
talking about a coding bootcamp lesson
파이썬에서 변수를 선언하는 방법을 배웠어요.
I learned how to declare variables in Python.
reflecting philosophically with a friend over coffee
인생에는 항상 변수가 있기 마련이에요.
There are always unexpected variables in life.
giving coding advice to a junior developer
변수 이름은 의미 있게 지어야 해요.
Variable names should be meaningful.
Cultural Context
변수 is a Sino-Korean word (變數) that pulls double duty in Korean: in academic and programming contexts it strictly means 'variable,' but in everyday conversation it's used metaphorically to mean 'unexpected factor' or 'wild card' — sports commentators love saying '최대 변수' (the biggest variable) about an injured player, and K-drama characters talk about 인생의 변수 (life's variables). In Korea's booming coding education scene (코딩 부트캠프, 생활코딩), 변수 is one of the first technical terms every learner encounters, and loanwords like '배리어블' are almost never used — Koreans stick with 변수.
Editorial note
We review entries like 변수 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
변수를 선언하세요.
Declare a variable.
이건 중요한 변수예요.
This is an important variable.
변수에 값을 할당했어요.
I assigned a value to the variable.
Related Expressions
상수
sang-su
constant (antonym)
독립 변수
dok-rip byeon-su
independent variable
종속 변수
jong-sok byeon-su
dependent variable
함수
ham-su
function (math / programming)
More Science & Research Words
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