Korean Dictionary
How to say "Wildfire" in Korean
“Wildfire” in Korean is 산불 (pronounced "sanbul").
산불
sanbul
Usage & Context
Wildfires or 산불 are uncontrolled fires in forested or wild areas. Korea experiences wildfires, particularly in spring when vegetation is dry. Climate change and human activities increase wildfire risk in Korea.
Example Sentence
봄철에 산불이 자주 발생해요.
Wildfires frequently occur in spring.
How to use 산불 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Wildfire” is 산불, romanized as sanbul.
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 산불.
Pronunciation Guide
산불 (sanbul) is pronounced 'sahn-bool'. '산' (san) sounds like 'sahn' as in 'sandy'. '불' (bul) sounds like 'bool' as in 'pool' but with a 'b' sound.
More Example Sentences
A weather report or public safety announcement.
건조한 날씨 때문에 산불 위험이 높아요.
Due to the dry weather, the risk of wildfires is high.
A news report about a disaster response.
산불 진화를 위해 소방관들이 밤샘 작업을 했어요.
Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the wildfire.
Giving advice to friends planning a camping trip.
캠핑 가서 불 조심해야 산불을 예방할 수 있어요.
When camping, you must be careful with fire to prevent wildfires.
Cultural Context
Wildfires (산불) are a significant concern in Korea, especially during the dry spring months (March-May) and sometimes in late autumn. Many of Korea's mountainous regions are susceptible. News reports frequently cover large-scale wildfires, often showing the efforts of firefighters and volunteers. Public campaigns emphasize fire safety, especially regarding outdoor activities like hiking and farming, as human carelessness is a common cause.
Editorial note
We review entries like 산불 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
산불이 나다
a wildfire occurs
산불 진화
wildfire suppression/extinguishment
산불 예방
wildfire prevention
Related Expressions
화재
hwajae
fire (general)
건조주의보
geonjojuibo
dry weather advisory
소방관
sobanggwan
firefighter
산림청
sanlimcheong
Korea Forest Service
More Environment Words
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