무료
무료 in 30 Sekunden
- 무료 (Muryo) means 'free of charge' and is used for products or services with zero cost.
- It is a Sino-Korean word (無 + 料) often seen in formal signs and advertisements.
- Commonly used with the particle '-로' (무료로) to mean 'for free' as an adverb.
- Must be distinguished from '자유' (liberty) and '공짜' (casual 'free').
The word 무료 (Muryo) is a Sino-Korean noun that literally translates to 'no fee.' It is composed of two Hanja characters: 無 (무), meaning 'nothing' or 'none,' and 料 (료), meaning 'fee' or 'material.' When combined, they describe anything that is provided without charge. This is one of the most essential words for anyone living in or visiting Korea, as it appears on signs, advertisements, and digital platforms constantly.
- Etymology
- Derived from Middle Chinese 'mju ljew'. The concept of 'no fee' is central to modern consumer culture and public welfare in Korea.
- Grammatical Usage
- It functions as a noun but often acts like an adjective when followed by the particle '-의' or when placed directly before another noun (e.g., 무료 입장).
이 공원은 무료로 개방됩니다. (This park is open to the public for free.)
Understanding '무료' is crucial because it distinguishes between paid services (유료) and those that are complimentary. In a cultural context, Koreans value '서비스' (service), which often implies a free addition to a purchase, but '무료' is the formal term for the lack of cost. Whether you are looking for free Wi-Fi (무료 와이파이) or a free sample (무료 샘플), this word is your primary keyword.
박물관은 매주 월요일에 무료입니다. (The museum is free every Monday.)
Using 무료 correctly involves understanding its relationship with particles. Most commonly, you will see it paired with -로 (as/by way of) to form 무료로, which functions as an adverb meaning 'for free.' For example, '무료로 주다' (to give for free).
- Common Patterns
- [Noun] + 무료: 무료 주차 (Free parking), 무료 배송 (Free shipping).
- Sentence Ending
- 무료입니다 (It is free), 무료예요 (It's free - polite).
In marketing, '무료' is often used to attract customers. You might see '1+1 무료' (Buy one get one free) or '무료 시식' (Free tasting). It is important to distinguish this from '공짜', which is more colloquial and sometimes carries a nuance of 'getting something for nothing' in a slightly less formal way.
회원가입을 하시면 무료 쿠폰을 드립니다. (If you sign up, we will give you a free coupon.)
You will encounter 무료 in various everyday scenarios in Korea. At restaurants, '반찬 리필은 무료입니다' (Side dish refills are free) is a common phrase. In public transportation, certain age groups (like seniors over 65) enjoy '지하철 무료 이용' (Free subway use).
이 앱은 무료 버전과 유료 버전이 있습니다. (This app has a free version and a paid version.)
In the digital world, '무료 와이파이' (Free Wi-Fi) is sought after in cafes and public spaces. On television or YouTube, you might hear about '무료 나눔' (Free sharing/giving away), which is a popular trend on second-hand markets like Karrot Market (당근마켓).
A frequent mistake for English speakers is confusing 'free' (no cost) with 'free' (liberty). In Korean, 'liberty' is 자유 (Jayu). You cannot use '무료' to say 'I am free today' or 'Free speech.' For 'I am free today,' use '시간이 있어요' (I have time).
- Incorrect
- 오늘 나는 무료예요 (X) -> 오늘 나는 한가해요 / 시간이 있어요 (O)
Another mistake is overusing '공짜' in formal settings. While '공짜' means the same thing, '무료' is much more professional and appropriate for business or writing.
Comparing 무료 with its synonyms helps clarify its usage boundaries.
- 공짜 (Gongjja)
- Colloquial, used in casual conversation. '공짜로 얻었다' (Got it for free).
- 무상 (Musang)
- Very formal, often used in legal or governmental contexts like '무상 교육' (Free education).
- 서비스 (Service)
- In a restaurant, if the owner gives you a free drink, they call it '서비스'.
How Formal Is It?
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Wichtige Grammatik
-ㄹ 수 있다
-아/어 주다
Noun + 입니다
Beispiele nach Niveau
커피는 무료입니다.
Coffee is free.
Noun + 입니다 (is)
이것은 무료예요?
Is this free?
Polite question ending
무료 와이파이 있어요?
Is there free Wi-Fi?
Noun + 있어요 (is there)
물은 무료입니다.
Water is free.
Topic marker -은
무료 주차.
Free parking.
Compound noun
무료 선물.
Free gift.
Direct noun modification
입장은 무료입니다.
Entrance is free.
Subject -은
무료 샘플이에요.
It's a free sample.
Polite ending -이에요
무료로 드립니다.
We give it for free.
-로 (adverbial particle)
이 앱은 무료로 다운로드할 수 있어요.
You can download this app for free.
-ㄹ 수 있다 (can)
무료 배송 상품입니다.
It is a free shipping product.
Noun modification
아이들은 무료로 입장해요.
Children enter for free.
Present tense
무료 쿠폰을 받았어요.
I received a free coupon.
Past tense
주말에는 주차가 무료예요.
Parking is free on weekends.
Time marker -에는
무료 체험을 해보세요.
Please try the free trial.
-아/어 보세요 (try doing)
회원은 무료입니다.
It is free for members.
Topic marker
한 달 동안 무료로 이용할 수 있습니다.
You can use it for free for one month.
Duration + 동안
무료 서비스를 제공하고 있습니다.
We are providing free service.
-고 있다 (progressive)
이것은 무료가 아니라 유료입니다.
This is not free, it is paid.
-가 아니라 (not A but B)
무료로 상담을 받을 수 있는 곳이 있나요?
Is there a place where I can get free counseling?
Relative clause
무료 배송을 받으려면 더 사야 해요.
To get free shipping, you need to buy more.
-려면 (if you want to)
무료 가입 이벤트에 참여하세요.
Participate in the free sign-up event.
Imperative
그 영화는 무료로 볼 수 있어요.
You can watch that movie for free.
Object marker
무료 잡지를 읽고 있어요.
I am reading a free magazine.
Progressive
정부는 무료 급식을 확대하기로 했습니다.
The government decided to expand free meals.
-기로 하다 (decide to)
무료로 배포되는 소프트웨어를 주의하세요.
Be careful with software distributed for free.
Passive relative clause
무료라는 말에 속지 마세요.
Don't be fooled by the word 'free'.
-라는 (called/that says)
그 박물관은 특정 요일에만 무료입니다.
The museum is free only on specific days.
-만 (only)
무료 교육의 기회를 제공해야 합니다.
Opportunities for free education must be provided.
-해야 하다 (must)
무료로 제공되는 정보의 질을 확인하세요.
Check the quality of the information provided for free.
Noun modification
그는 무료 변론을 맡기로 했습니다.
He decided to take on the free defense (pro bono).
Professional context
무료 와이파이의 보안 문제를 고려해야 합니다.
Security issues of free Wi-Fi must be considered.
Complex noun phrase
무상 복지와 무료 서비스의 차이점을 논하시오.
Discuss the difference between free welfare and free services.
Academic command
무료 마케팅 전략은 소비자 심리를 이용합니다.
Free marketing strategies utilize consumer psychology.
Abstract subject
무료로 공개된 논문들을 참고했습니다.
I referred to papers published for free (open access).
Academic context
사회적 약자를 위한 무료 법률 지원이 절실합니다.
Free legal support for the socially vulnerable is desperate.
Formal advocacy
무료라는 명목 하에 개인 정보가 수집됩니다.
Personal information is collected under the guise of being free.
-라는 명목 하에 (under the name of)
이 서비스는 한시적으로 무료로 전환되었습니다.
This service has been temporarily converted to free.
Business formal
무료 이용권의 유효 기간을 확인하십시오.
Please check the validity period of the free pass.
Formal instruction
무료로 배포된 전단지가 길거리에 가득합니다.
The streets are full of flyers distributed for free.
Descriptive formal
무료 경제 모델의 지속 가능성에 대한 의문이 제기됩니다.
Questions are raised about the sustainability of free economic models.
High-level discourse
무료 보편적 복지의 실현 가능성을 검토해야 합니다.
The feasibility of realizing free universal welfare must be reviewed.
Political terminology
무료라는 환상이 가져오는 시장 왜곡을 분석했습니다.
Analyzed the market distortion caused by the illusion of 'free'.
Economic analysis
디지털 콘텐츠의 무료화 경향이 가속화되고 있습니다.
The trend of digital content becoming free is accelerating.
-화 (suffix for -ization)
무료 봉사 활동은 공동체 의식을 함양하는 데 기여합니다.
Free volunteer activities contribute to fostering a sense of community.
Sociological context
그의 무료 변론은 법조계에 큰 반향을 일으켰습니다.
His pro bono defense caused a great sensation in the legal world.
Idiomatic '반향을 일으키다'
무료 배포의 이면에는 정교한 광고 전략이 숨어 있습니다.
Behind free distribution lies a sophisticated advertising strategy.
Metaphorical '이면'
무료로 제공되는 공공재의 가치를 재평가해야 합니다.
The value of public goods provided for free must be re-evaluated.
Philosophical/Economic
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
Leicht verwechselbar
Satzmuster
Wortfamilie
Verwandt
So verwendest du es
무료 is formal; 공짜 is casual.
-
Don't use 무료 for personal availability.
-
Don't use 자유 (freedom) for price.
-
Use 무료 for formal signs.
-
Don't use -로 when modifying a noun directly.
-
While correct, 무료예요 is more natural.
Tipps
Learn the Hanja
Knowing 無 (No) and 料 (Fee) helps you learn other words like 유료 (Paid) and 요금 (Fee).
Banchan is Free
Don't hesitate to ask for more side dishes; they are almost always 무료.
Look for 1+1
1+1 signs mean one is 무료 when you buy one.
Free Wi-Fi
Most public places in Korea offer 무료 와이파이.
Adverbial Form
Remember to add -로 to make it 'for free' (무료로).
Politeness
Always use 무료입니다 with strangers.
Ads
You will hear '무료' constantly in Korean YouTube ads.
Formal Reports
Always use 무료 or 무상 in academic or business writing.
Signs
Look for the characters 無料 in old signs or traditional contexts.
Gifts
When giving a gift, don't call it 무료; call it a 선물 (gift).
Einprägen
Wortherkunft
Sino-Korean
Kultureller Kontext
Water in restaurants is typically 무료 and self-service.
Seniors over 65 travel 무료.
Refills are almost always 무료 in Korea.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Gesprächseinstiege
"이거 무료예요?"
"무료 주차장이 어디에 있어요?"
"무료 체험 기간이 언제까지예요?"
Tagebuch-Impulse
오늘 무료로 얻은 것이 있나요?
무료 서비스가 왜 중요하다고 생각하세요?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 Fragen무료 is formal and Sino-Korean, while 공짜 is native and casual. Use 무료 in writing and formal speech.
No, for that use '시간이 있어요' or '한가해요'.
It is a noun that can function like an adjective when modifying other nouns.
The opposite is 유료 (Yuryo), which means 'paid'.
Use '무료로' (Muryo-ro).
No, liberty is '자유' (Jayu).
In a restaurant context, yes, it usually means a free gift from the owner.
It means 'Free Shipping'.
No, it only applies to costs and fees.
Yes, it is a standard word in both North and South Korea.
Teste dich selbst 190 Fragen
Write 'Coffee is free' in Korean.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write 'Is this free?' in Korean.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write 'Free parking' in Korean.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write 'I got it for free' using 무료로.
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Write 'Free shipping' in Korean.
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Write 'Children are free' in Korean.
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Write 'Free Wi-Fi' in Korean.
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Write 'Free trial' in Korean.
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Write 'Free coupon' in Korean.
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Write 'Entrance is free' in Korean.
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Write 'Free counseling' in Korean.
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Write 'Free education' in Korean.
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Write 'Free meals' in Korean.
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Write 'Free lecture' in Korean.
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Write 'Free gift' in Korean.
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Write 'Free app' in Korean.
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Write 'Free magazine' in Korean.
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Write 'Free ticket' in Korean.
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Write 'Free sample' in Korean.
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Write 'Free download' in Korean.
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Say 'It is free' in polite Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
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Ask 'Is this free?' in polite Korean.
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Du hast gesagt:
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Say 'Free parking' in Korean.
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Du hast gesagt:
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Say 'I gave it for free' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
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Say 'Free shipping' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
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Say 'Free Wi-Fi' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
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Say 'Free sample' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free trial' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free gift' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Entrance is free' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free counseling' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free education' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free meals' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free lecture' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free ticket' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free app' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free magazine' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free download' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Free check-up' in Korean.
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Du hast gesagt:
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Say 'Free volunteer' in Korean.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
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Listen: '무료 주차 가능합니다.' What is possible?
Listen: '입장은 무료입니다.' What is free?
Listen: '무료 와이파이를 사용하세요.' What should you use?
Listen: '무료 배송 상품입니다.' What kind of product is it?
Listen: '무료 체험을 해보세요.' What should you try?
Listen: '무료 쿠폰을 드립니다.' What is being given?
Listen: '무료 상담을 받으세요.' What should you get?
Listen: '무료 급식 시간입니다.' What time is it?
Listen: '무료 강연이 열립니다.' What is being held?
Listen: '무료 진료를 안내합니다.' What are they announcing?
Listen: '무료 나눔 이벤트.' What event is it?
Listen: '무료 교육을 신청하세요.' What should you apply for?
Listen: '무료 잡지를 보세요.' What should you look at?
Listen: '무료 앱을 설치하세요.' What should you install?
Listen: '무료 입장권입니다.' What is this?
/ 190 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
무료 is the standard, formal way to say 'free' in Korean. Use it when discussing prices, shopping, or public services. Example: '무료 주차' (Free parking) is a common sign you will see in Korea.
- 무료 (Muryo) means 'free of charge' and is used for products or services with zero cost.
- It is a Sino-Korean word (無 + 料) often seen in formal signs and advertisements.
- Commonly used with the particle '-로' (무료로) to mean 'for free' as an adverb.
- Must be distinguished from '자유' (liberty) and '공짜' (casual 'free').
Learn the Hanja
Knowing 無 (No) and 料 (Fee) helps you learn other words like 유료 (Paid) and 요금 (Fee).
Banchan is Free
Don't hesitate to ask for more side dishes; they are almost always 무료.
Look for 1+1
1+1 signs mean one is 무료 when you buy one.
Free Wi-Fi
Most public places in Korea offer 무료 와이파이.
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