Whether youβre practicing choreography, attending dance classes in Korea, or just love K-pop and want to talk about dance in Korean, this guide will teach you the most important Korean dance vocabulary and expressions.
From styles and movements to commands and compliments, youβll gain the words and phrases you need to understand, follow, and talk about dance in Korean.
πΊ Basic Dance Vocabulary in Korean
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| μΆ€ | chum | Dance |
| λμ€ | daen-seu | Dance (loanword) |
| μ무 | an-mu | Choreography |
| μλ¬΄κ° | an-mu-ga | Choreographer |
| 무λ | mu-dae | Stage |
| μμ | eum-ak | Music |
| λ¦¬λ¬ | ri-deum | Rhythm |
| λ°μ | bak-ja | Beat / Tempo |
| μ°μ΅ | yeon-seup | Practice / Training |
| μ°μ΅μ€ | yeon-seup-sil | Practice room |
| μ°μ΅μ | yeon-seup-saeng | Trainee (esp. K-pop) |
π©° Types & Styles of Dance in Korean
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| λ°λ | bal-le | Ballet |
| νλλ¬΄μ© | hyeon-dae-mu-yong | Contemporary dance |
| νν© | hip-hap | Hip-hop |
| λΈλ μ΄ν¬λμ€ | beu-re-i-keu-daen-seu | Breakdancing |
| νν | pap-pin | Popping |
| λ½νΉ | rak-king | Locking |
| μ¬μ¦λμ€ | jae-jeu-daen-seu | Jazz dance |
| μ€νΈλ¦Ώλμ€ | seu-teu-rit-daen-seu | Street dance |
| 컀λ²λμ€ | keo-beo-daen-seu | Cover dance (K-pop) |
| μλ‘λμ€ | sol-lo-daen-seu | Solo dance |
| κ·Έλ£Ήλμ€ | geu-rup-daen-seu | Group dance |
| ν리μ€νμΌ | peu-ri-seu-ta-il | Freestyle |
πββοΈ Dance Actions & Movements
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| μμ§μ΄λ€ | um-ji-gi-da | To move |
| νμ νλ€ | hoe-jeon-ha-da | To spin / turn |
| μ ννλ€ | jeom-peu-ha-da | To jump |
| λλ€ | dol-da | To turn / spin |
| μμ΄λ€ | su-gi-da | To bend (down) |
| μΌμ΄λλ€ | i-reo-na-da | To stand up |
| κ±·λ€ | geot-da | To walk |
| λ°λ€ | ttwi-da | To run / jump |
| μμ μ¬λ¦¬λ€ | son-eul ol-li-da | Raise your hand |
| νμ λ»λ€ | pal-eul ppeot-da | Stretch your arm |
π£οΈ Common Dance Class Phrases
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| μ€λΉ! | jun-bi! | Get ready! |
| μμ! | si-jak! | Start! |
| λ©μΆ°! | meom-chwo! | Stop! |
| λ€μ ν΄λ³΄μΈμ | da-si hae-bo-se-yo | Try again |
| μ²μ²ν ν΄μ | cheon-cheon-hi hae-yo | Do it slowly |
| λΉ λ₯΄κ² ν΄μ | ppa-reu-ge hae-yo | Do it fast |
| λ°μ λ§μΆ°μ | bak-ja mat-chwo-yo | Stay on beat |
| μμ μ λ§μΆ°μ | eum-ak-e mat-chwo-yo | Match the music |
| μ무 μΈμ°μΈμ | an-mu oe-u-se-yo | Memorize the choreography |
| λμμ΄ μλ»μ | dong-jak-i ye-ppeo-yo | The move looks pretty |
| μνμ΄μ! | jal-hae-sseo-yo! | Good job! |
| λͺΈμ λ μ¨μ | mom-eul deo sseo-yo | Use your body more |
π€ Dance and K-pop Related Phrases
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 컀λ²λμ€λ₯Ό μ°μ΅νκ³ μμ΄μ | keo-beo-daen-seu-reul yeon-seup-ha-go i-sseo-yo | Iβm practicing a cover dance |
| μ΄ μΆ€ λ무 λ©μμ΄μ | i chum neo-mu meot-i-sseo-yo | This dance is so cool |
| λκ° μ무λ₯Ό μ§°μ΄μ? | nu-ga an-mu-reul jja-sseo-yo? | Who made this choreography? |
| μ무λ₯Ό λ°λΌνκΈ° μ΄λ €μμ | an-mu-reul tta-ra-ha-gi eo-ryeo-wo-yo | It’s hard to follow the choreography |
| μ λ νν©μ μ’μν΄μ | jeo-neun hip-hap-eul jo-a-hae-yo | I like hip-hop |
| λμ€νμμ λ€λ μ | daen-seu-hak-won-e da-nyeo-yo | I go to a dance academy |
π¬ Practice Time!
1οΈβ£ How do you say βchoreographerβ in Korean?
2οΈβ£ Whatβs the Korean word for βstageβ?
3οΈβ£ Translate βLetβs dance togetherβ into Korean!
Leave your answers in the comments and test your vocab! πΊ
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