Korean · Body & Health
"Cold (illness)" in Korean: 감기
감기gamgi
Cold (illness) in Korean is 감기 (gamgi). 감기 is the common cold; 춥다 is feeling cold and is not the illness noun.
Describing a symptom
감기가 있어요.gamgiga isseoyo.
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How to pronounce 감기
Say it
gamgi
/kamki/
감기 (gamgi) has 2 Hangul syllables. 감기 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
"Cold (illness)" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 감기gamgi | Cold (illness) Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 감기 증상gamgi jeungsang | cold symptom A useful combination with 감기. | A useful combination with 감기. |
| 감기를gamgireul | Cold (illness) (as an object) Use 를 when 감기 is the object of an action. | Use 를 when 감기 is the object of an action. |
How to use 감기 in real life
- 1Describing a symptom
감기가 있어요.
gamgiga isseoyo.
I have cold.
감기가 marks 감기 as the subject.
- 2At an appointment
감기가 언제 시작됐어요?
gamgiga eonje sijakdwaesseoyo?
When did the cold start?
감기가 marks 감기 as the subject.
- 3Giving an update
감기가 좀 나아졌어요.
gamgiga jom naajyeosseoyo.
The cold has improved a little.
감기가 marks 감기 as the subject.
Mistakes English speakers make with 감기
Incorrect: 감기이 있어요.
Correct: 감기가 있어요.
When practicing cold (illness), use the correct particle or copula after 감기; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 감기이에요.
Correct: 감기예요.
When practicing cold (illness), when identifying something as 감기, use 감기예요. The vowel-final noun takes 예요 directly.
Good to know
감기 is the common cold; 춥다 is feeling cold and is not the illness noun. The combination 감기 증상 (gamgi jeungsang) means cold symptom.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led body and health study exercise: two sentences with 감기
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
감기가 있어요.
gamgiga isseoyo.
I have cold.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
감기가 언제 시작됐어요?
gamgiga eonje sijakdwaesseoyo?
When did the cold start?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Cold (illness)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cold (illness)" in Korean
What does 감기 mean in Korean?
Cold (illness) in Korean is 감기 (gamgi). 감기 is the common cold; 춥다 is feeling cold and is not the illness noun.
How do I use 감기 증상?
감기 증상 (gamgi jeungsang) means cold symptom. 감기 is the common cold; 춥다 is feeling cold and is not the illness noun.
Which object particle goes after 감기?
The object form is 감기를 because 감기 ends in a vowel.
How is 감기 pronounced?
감기 (gamgi) has 2 Hangul syllables. 감기 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
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