Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

韓国 (かんこく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

韓かん国こく

か

ん

こ

く

Common word›JLPTN5›Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

1

South Korea; Republic of Korea

abbreviation

Abbreviation of 大韓民国. The standard modern name for the country.

See also: 大韓民国

来らい月げつ、韓かん国こくへ旅りょ行こうに行いきます。

I'm going on a trip to South Korea next month.

韓かん国こくの首しゅ都とはソウルです。

The capital of South Korea is Seoul.

2

Korean Empire (1897-1910)

historical termabbreviation

Historical abbreviation of 大韓帝国. Used only in historical contexts.

See also: 大韓帝国

韓かん国こくは1910年ねんに日本にほんに併へい合ごうされた。
The Korean Empire was annexed by Japan in 1910.

Kanji

韓Korea
国country
國country

Related words

朝ちょう鮮せん
韓国 refers specifically to South Korea in modern political contexts, while 朝鮮 is the broader or historical term for the Korean peninsula as a whole.
韓かん
韓国 is the standard full name for South Korea, while 韓 is a shortened form used mainly inside compounds like 訪韓 or 親韓.
高麗こうらい
韓国 is the modern name for South Korea, while 高麗 is the archaic term used in old Japanese texts for Korea as a whole.
コリア
韓国 specifically means South Korea, while コリア can refer to the whole peninsula or be used as a neutral, non-political term.

Opposites

北きた朝ちょう鮮せん
韓国 refers to South Korea, while 北朝鮮 refers to North Korea, the two Koreas that emerged after division.

Politeness

大だい韓かん民みん国こくpolite 丁寧語sense 1
大韓民国 is the full official name of South Korea used in formal or legal contexts, while 韓国 is the common everyday abbreviation.

Don't confuse with

北きた朝ちょう鮮せん sense 1
韓国 refers to South Korea while 北朝鮮 refers to North Korea, and learners often mix up which is which despite both being 'Korea'.
朝ちょう鮮せん半はん島とう
朝鮮半島 refers to the entire peninsula (both North and South), while 韓国 refers specifically to the country of South Korea.
朝ちょう鮮せん民みん主しゅ

Word family

韓かん国こく学がく
Korean studies; Koreanology
韓かん国こく併へい合ごう
annexation of Korea (by Japan, 1910–1945)
韓かん国こく料りょう理り
Korean food; Korean cooking

Written forms

韓かん国こくUsage100%
Standard modern spelling for South Korea.
韓かん國こくUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
Kyūjitai form; not used in modern Japanese writing.

Etymology

Abbreviation of 大韓民国 (Republic of Korea). The kanji 韓 refers to the ancient Korean state of Han, and 国 means 'country'.

主しゅ

義ぎ

人じん

民みん

共きょう

和わ

国こく

朝鮮民主主義人民共和国 refers to North Korea, whereas 韓国 refers to South Korea, so learners must not mix up the two despite both being 'Korea' in English.

韓国海苔かんこくのり

Korean-style seasoned laver; gim; kim