A1 noun #5,000 most common 2 min read

운동장

A playground or sports field where people exercise or play games.

undongjang
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

운동장 means a place to play. You go there to run or play soccer. It is usually at a school. If you want to play outside, you go to the 운동장.

This word is used for school yards or sports fields. You can say 'I am at the 운동장' to tell your friends where you are playing. It is a very useful word for daily life.

In Korea, almost every school has a large 운동장. It is the central hub for physical education and social interaction. You might hear people say they are going for a jog at the local 운동장.

The term is versatile. While it primarily refers to school grounds, it can also describe public recreational areas. Understanding the context is key; a 'school 운동장' implies a specific educational setting, whereas a 'public 운동장' suggests a community facility.

Beyond its literal meaning, the 운동장 represents the 'public square' of childhood and youth. It is often used in literature to evoke nostalgia for school days. The term signifies a space for both structured discipline and unstructured freedom.

Etymologically, the term encapsulates the evolution of physical education in Korea. It serves as a linguistic marker of the transition from traditional communal spaces to institutionalized sports facilities. Its usage remains consistent across formal and informal registers.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Noun meaning playground or sports field.
  • Commonly used for school and public facilities.
  • Derived from Sino-Korean roots.
  • Used with location particles like 에서.

The word 운동장 (undongjang) is a fundamental Korean noun that translates to 'playground' or 'sports field'. It is a compound word derived from 운동 (exercise/sports) and 장 (a place or field).

Think of it as the 'go-to' spot for any outdoor physical activity. Whether it is a school yard where children play during break time or a large stadium field where professional athletes compete, 운동장 covers all these bases. It is a very common word you will hear in daily life in Korea.

The word is rooted in Sino-Korean characters (Hanja). 운 (運) means to move, 동 (動) means to act or move, and 장 (場) refers to an open space or site.

Historically, these spaces evolved from simple village commons into the structured school playgrounds we see today. The term reflects a modernization of physical culture in Korea, moving from traditional games played in alleys to organized sports played in designated 운동장 facilities.

You will mostly use 운동장 when talking about schools or public parks. Common verbs associated with it include 뛰다 (to run) or 놀다 (to play).

In a formal context, you might hear it used in news reports regarding school facilities. In casual conversation, it is just the place where you go to get some fresh air or exercise.

While there are few formal idioms, phrases like '운동장을 누비다' (to roam the playground) are common in sports commentary to describe a player who is very active.

Another common usage is '운동장에 모이다' (to gather at the playground), which is standard procedure for school assemblies in Korea.

As a noun, it functions like any other place noun in Korean. You attach particles like 에서 (at/in) to indicate where an action takes place (e.g., 운동장에서 놀아요).

The pronunciation follows standard Korean phonology, with the 'ng' sound transitioning smoothly into the 'j' sound. It is a straightforward word with no complex pluralization rules.

Fun Fact

The '장' suffix is used for many places like '식당' (restaurant).

Pronunciation Guide

UK un-dong-jang

Sounds like 'oon-dong-jang'.

US un-dong-jang

Sounds like 'oon-dong-jang'.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing 'j'
  • Ignoring the nasal 'ng'
  • Incorrect stress

Rhymes With

시장 장장 입장 등장 현장

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Easy to read.

Writing 2/5

Basic noun usage.

Speaking 1/5

Easy to pronounce.

Listening 1/5

Clear sounds.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

학교 운동 놀다

Learn Next

체육관 경기장 운동회

Advanced

다목적 시설 공공 인프라

Grammar to Know

Location particle

에서

Direction particle

으로

Noun compound

학교운동장

Examples by Level

1

운동장에서 놀아요.

Playground-at play.

Location particle.

2

운동장이 커요.

Playground is big.

Adjective ending.

3

운동장에 가요.

To playground go.

Direction particle.

4

운동장이 넓어요.

Playground is wide.

Descriptive verb.

5

운동장에서 뛰어요.

Playground-at run.

Action verb.

6

운동장이 어디예요?

Playground where is?

Question form.

7

운동장으로 오세요.

To playground come.

Polite request.

8

우리 운동장 가요.

We playground go.

Casual suggestion.

1

운동장에서 축구를 합니다.

2

학교 운동장은 아주 넓습니다.

3

운동장에서 친구를 만났어요.

4

운동장 옆에 나무가 있어요.

5

운동장에서 달리기를 해요.

6

운동장으로 공을 가져가요.

7

운동장이 깨끗해요.

8

운동장에서 행사를 해요.

1

운동장에서 체육 수업을 받아요.

2

운동장에 사람들이 많이 모였어요.

3

운동장을 한 바퀴 돌았어요.

4

운동장에서 자전거를 타요.

5

운동장 조명이 밝아요.

6

운동장에서 조깅하는 사람이 많아요.

7

운동장 시설이 잘 되어 있어요.

8

운동장에서 강아지와 놀아요.

1

운동장을 가로질러 뛰어갔어요.

2

운동장에서 열리는 축제에 참가했어요.

3

운동장은 학생들의 소통 공간입니다.

4

운동장 바닥이 흙으로 되어 있어요.

5

운동장에서 지역 주민들이 운동해요.

6

운동장 관리가 잘 안 되고 있어요.

7

운동장에서 배드민턴을 쳤어요.

8

운동장 주변에 벤치가 많아요.

1

운동장은 학교의 상징적인 장소입니다.

2

운동장에서 펼쳐지는 경기가 치열합니다.

3

운동장을 개방하여 주민들에게 편의를 제공합니다.

4

운동장에서의 추억이 떠오릅니다.

5

운동장 조성을 위한 예산이 통과되었습니다.

6

운동장에서의 활동은 건강에 좋습니다.

7

운동장을 중심으로 학교 건물이 배치되었습니다.

8

운동장에서의 훈련이 힘듭니다.

1

운동장은 공동체 의식을 고취하는 공간입니다.

2

운동장에서의 일상은 많은 이들에게 향수를 불러일으킵니다.

3

운동장 부지를 다목적 공간으로 활용할 계획입니다.

4

운동장에서의 행사는 성황리에 마무리되었습니다.

5

운동장 시설 확충이 시급한 상황입니다.

6

운동장에서의 경기는 공정하게 진행되었습니다.

7

운동장은 단순한 공간을 넘어선 의미를 가집니다.

8

운동장에서의 경험은 성장에 큰 도움이 됩니다.

Common Collocations

운동장을 뛰다
학교 운동장
운동장을 돌다
운동장에 모이다
운동장을 개방하다
운동장 시설
운동장 옆
운동장을 청소하다
운동장에서 놀다
운동장 조명

Idioms & Expressions

"운동장을 누비다"

To be very active in a field

그 선수는 운동장을 누비며 뛰었어요.

neutral

"운동장만 하다"

To be as big as a playground

그 집 거실은 운동장만 해요.

casual

"운동장에 서다"

To stand on the field

긴장하며 운동장에 섰습니다.

formal

"운동장을 박차고 나가다"

To run off the field

그는 화가 나서 운동장을 박차고 나갔어요.

literary

"운동장에 그림자를 드리우다"

To cast a shadow on the field

나무가 운동장에 그림자를 드리웠어요.

literary

"운동장을 메우다"

To fill the playground

사람들이 운동장을 메웠어요.

neutral

Easily Confused

운동장 vs 체육관

Both are for exercise.

Indoor vs Outdoor.

체육관 (indoor) vs 운동장 (outdoor).

운동장 vs 공원

Both are outside.

Park vs Sports field.

공원 (relax) vs 운동장 (sports).

운동장 vs 놀이터

Both are for playing.

Playground equipment vs Field.

놀이터 (slides) vs 운동장 (soccer).

운동장 vs 경기장

Both are for sports.

Professional vs General.

경기장 (pro) vs 운동장 (school).

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + 운동장에서 + verb

아이들이 운동장에서 놀아요.

A2

Noun + 은/는 + 운동장 + 이다

여기는 학교 운동장입니다.

A2

운동장 + 으로 + 가다

운동장으로 가세요.

B2

운동장 + 조성이 + 되다

운동장 조성이 완료되었습니다.

B1

운동장에서 + 열리는 + Noun

운동장에서 열리는 경기를 봐요.

Word Family

Nouns

운동 Exercise

Verbs

운동하다 To exercise

Related

체육관 Indoor equivalent

How to Use It

frequency

9

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral Casual

Common Mistakes

Using '공원' for a school yard → 운동장
Schools have playgrounds, not parks.
Misspelling as 운등장 → 운동장
Spelling check.
Using '운동장' for a gym → 체육관
Gyms are indoor facilities.
Confusing '운동장' with '운동회' → 운동장 (place) vs 운동회 (event)
One is a place, one is a sports day event.
Using particles incorrectly → 운동장에서
Need location particle.

Tips

💡

Break it down

Un-dong (exercise) + Jang (place).

💡

Context

Used for outdoor sports.

🌍

School life

Central to Korean school life.

💡

Particles

Use 에서 for location of action.

💡

Flow

Connect the sounds.

💡

Don't confuse

Not an indoor gym.

💡

Hanja

Rooted in Chinese characters.

💡

Visualize

Draw a field.

💡

Common verb

Use with 뛰다.

🌍

Assemblies

Morning assemblies happen here.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Un-dong (exercise) + Jang (place).

Visual Association

A large field with kids running.

Word Web

School Exercise Sports Play

Challenge

Describe your school playground.

Word Origin

Sino-Korean

Original meaning: Exercise place

Cultural Context

None.

Equivalent to 'playground' or 'sports field'.

Often seen in K-dramas during school scenes.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At School

  • 운동장에서 놀아요
  • 운동장 조례
  • 운동장 청소

Sports

  • 운동장에서 뛰어요
  • 운동장 경기
  • 운동장 훈련

Public Parks

  • 운동장에서 산책해요
  • 운동장 시설
  • 운동장 이용

Events

  • 운동장에서 행사
  • 운동장 축제
  • 운동장 모임

Conversation Starters

"오늘 운동장에서 놀까요?"

"학교 운동장이 정말 넓네요."

"운동장에서 어떤 운동을 좋아하세요?"

"운동장에서 친구를 만난 적 있어요?"

"운동장 시설이 잘 되어 있나요?"

Journal Prompts

Describe your favorite playground.

What do you do at the school field?

Why are sports fields important?

Write about a memory from a playground.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, it can be public.

No, use 체육관.

운동장에서.

It is neutral.

No.

Yes.

No.

Place.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

나는 ___에서 축구를 해요.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 운동장

Soccer is played on a field.

multiple choice A2

What is the meaning of 운동장?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Playground

Correct definition.

true false B1

운동장 is an indoor facility.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It is an outdoor facility.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Matching words.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Correct structure.

fill blank A2

학교 ___이 아주 넓어요.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 운동장

Fields are wide.

multiple choice B1

Which verb fits with 운동장?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 뛰다

You run on a field.

true false B2

운동장 is a type of building.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It is an open space.

match pairs C1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Distinguishing facilities.

sentence order C2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Formal sentence structure.

Score: /10

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