“Star” in Korean – Different ways to use this word

In this article, we’ll learn how to say “star” in Korean. When you first hear the word “star,” does your gaze instinctively go up to see whether they’re in the sky?

“Star” is a beautiful, simple, and short word, indeed – in Korean, as well. However, when you think about it, it’s also a surprisingly varied term to learn. After all, it means so much more than the stars you see in the skies at night time.

In today’s lesson, we will go over all the most common Korean words for stars and other related vocabulary. Once you’re through it, you’ll have learned more wonderful vocabulary and can talk about stars in their different translation!

How to say “star” in Korean

The basic word for “star” in Korean is 별 (byeol). You will use this when you refer to stars as astronomical objects. It will also feature heavily in vocabulary related to stars.

One other space vocabulary to learn is the word “meteor” in Korean, which is 별똥별 (byeolttongbyeol). If you noticed, 별 (byeol) is also included in the word for “meteor” in Korean. Of course, it makes more sense when you think of meteors as shooting or falling stars. Another term used to refer to a meteor, shooting star, or falling star is 유성 (yuseong).

Sentence examples:

망원경으로 어떤 별들을 볼 수 있나요? (mangwongyeongeuro eotteon byeoldeureul bol su innayo?)

What stars can you see on your telescope?

별들이 아름답게 빛나는 밤하늘을 보세요. (byeoldeuri areumdapge binnaneun bamhaneureul boseyo.)

Look at the night sky, beautifully lit by stars.

Other ways to use “star” in Korean

As we’ve already stressed a few times above, there are a few different ways you can use the Korean term for “star” – and why not in other languages, as well.

On its most basic level, perhaps, a star is an astronomical object we see in the sky every night. But as has already been discussed, a famous celebrity is also considered a star, and an asterisk – or * for short – is star-shaped. And indeed, you can also simply refer to the shape of a star, as well.

“Asterisk” in Korean

Another word for “star” in Korean is 별표 (byeolpyo) which specifically talks about “asterisk” in Korean. As you can clearly see, 별 (byeol), is included right at the start of the word.

암호에는 별표와 같은 기호가 포함되어야 해요. (amhoeneun byeolpyowa gateun gihoga pohamdoeeoya haeyo.)

The password must contain a sign like an asterisk.

“Star” in terms of rating

Stars are a common way to review the quality of a TV show, movie, restaurant, hotel, and so on.

In these cases, a scale of up to 5 stars is used, with 0.5 stars being the worst and 5 stars being the best. When doing so, you may say 5성급 영화 (5seonggeup yeonghwa). 영화 (yeonghwa) refers to “movie,” so you may change that term with restaurants, tours, hotels, and other words when applicable.

“Star” in terms of famous celebrities

You can also talk about a famous actor or actress starring in a movie. In this instance, the correct phrases to use are -에서 주역을 맡다 (-eseo juyeogeul matda) and 주인공을 맡다 (juingongeul matda).

In both sentences, just add the name of the celebrity in front of the phrase. However, it may look more clear if you include the name of the movie, as well. Check the below sample sentences for an example.

A different term will be used when you are talking about stars in this sense. In these instances, the Korean word used to say “star” is 스타 (seuta). As you can notice, it is a Konglish word for referring to a celebrity in Korean. You can also use other, more traditionally Korean, words to refer to celebrities in Korean.

Sentence examples:

이 세대에서 가장 빛나는 스타는 누구일까요? (i sedaeeseo gajang binnaneun seutaneun nuguilkkayo?)

Who is the biggest shining star of this generation?

레오나르도 디카프리오와 케이트 윈슬렛은 타이타닉에서 주역을 맡았었어요. (reonareudo dikapeuriowa keiteu winseulleseun taitanigeseo juyeogeul matasseosseoyo.)

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet starred in Titanic.

Vocabulary related to “star” in Korean

Below you can find more words that are in some fashion related to the “star.”

Wrap Up

And there you go! Were you surprised by how many ways to use “star” in Korean are there? We’ve got objects up in the solar system, like shooting stars and humans right here on Earth with us, in the form of famous celebrities. If you’d like, do show us some of your own sample sentences below in the comments! We hope you had fun!

Now, let’s learn Korean vocabulary in relation to Korean nature next!