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Vocabulary
출산하다

A2 verb #4,500 most common 6 min read

출산하다

Top 4,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 출산하다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 출산하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should know that '출산하다' means 'to have a baby.' It is a bit harder than the word '낳다' (nahta), which also means to give birth. You can think of '출산하다' as the word a doctor might use. At this level, focus on the basic sentence: '엄마가 아기를 출산해요' (Mom has a baby). Remember that the mother is the person doing the action. Don't worry about the complex Hanja characters yet; just recognize it in hospital signs or news stories.

At the A2 level, you begin to see '출산하다' in more specific contexts like '출산 휴가' (maternity leave) or '출산 예정일' (due date). You should be able to use it in past tense ('출산했어요') to describe a friend's news. You also need to distinguish it from '태어나다' (to be born). A2 learners often mix these up. Just remember: Mom '출산's, Baby '태어나's. Practice using it with simple particles like ~을/를 for the baby and ~에서 for the hospital.

By B1, you should understand the social implications of '출산하다.' This word is central to the topic of '저출산' (low birth rate), which is a common subject in Korean speaking exams and essays. You should be able to discuss the difficulties of '출산' in modern society, such as the cost of living or career breaks. You should also start using more complex grammar patterns like '출산하느라고 고생했어요' (You went through a lot of trouble giving birth).

At the B2 level, you are expected to use '출산하다' in formal discussions and professional writing. You should know related technical terms like '자연 분만' (natural birth) vs '제왕절개 출산' (C-section birth). You should also understand the nuance between '출산' and '분만.' In a B2 essay about population policy, you would use '출산 장려 정책' (policies to encourage childbirth). Your vocabulary should expand to include the difficulties and joys of the '출산 과정' (childbirth process).

C1 learners should be able to use '출산하다' in academic or sociological contexts. You might analyze how the meaning of '출산' has changed in Korean history or discuss the ethics of surrogate '출산.' You should be comfortable using the word in passive-like constructions or as a nominalized subject in complex sentences. You should also be aware of historical terms like '해산' and how they differ from modern '출산.' Your usage should be precise and context-aware.

At the C2 level, you possess a near-native grasp of '출산하다.' You can use it metaphorically in literature or high-level political discourse. You understand the subtle emotional distance the word creates compared to '낳다.' You can discuss the philosophical aspects of '출산의 권리' (the right to give birth) or the intersection of '출산' and feminist theory in Korea. Your ability to use this word across all registers—from medical journals to poetic prose—is flawless.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

출산하다 in 30 Seconds

Formal verb for 'to give birth' (Hanja-based).
Commonly used in medical, news, and official contexts.
The mother is the subject; the baby is the object.
Used in social terms like 'birth rate' (출산율).

The Korean verb 출산하다 (chulsanhada) is a formal and standard term meaning 'to give birth' or 'to deliver a baby.' It is composed of two Hanja (Chinese characters): 出 (출), meaning 'to go out' or 'to exit,' and 産 (산), meaning 'to produce' or 'to give birth.' Together, they literally describe the act of bringing a new life out into the world. While the native Korean verb 낳다 (nahta) is also very common in daily conversation, 출산하다 is preferred in medical contexts, news reports, government statistics, and formal discussions about demographics or family planning. It carries a sense of officiality and respect for the biological and social process of childbirth.

Register: Formal, Medical, and Administrative. Used frequently in hospitals and news.

병원은 산모가 안전하게 출산할 수 있도록 최선을 다했습니다.

Translation: The hospital did its best so that the mother could give birth safely.

In South Korea, discussions surrounding 출산하다 often intersect with the national concern over the 'low birth rate' (저출산). Because this word is the standard term for the act of childbearing in a societal context, you will see it in headlines regarding government incentives for mothers or the construction of new maternity wards. It is rarely used for animals; for animals, the term 새끼를 낳다 is much more appropriate. Using 출산하다 for a pet might sound overly personified or even humorous depending on the context.

Subject Agreement: The subject is always the mother. If the father is the focus, the verb '얻다' (to gain/get) or '득남/득녀하다' (to have a son/daughter) is used.

첫째 아이를 출산한 후 그녀는 매우 행복해 보였습니다.

Translation: After giving birth to her first child, she looked very happy.

Grammatically, 출산하다 functions as a regular hada verb. It can take a direct object (the baby) using the particles ~을/를, or it can be used intransitively when the focus is on the act itself. For example, you can say '아이를 출산하다' (to give birth to a child) or simply '출산하다' (to give birth). It is often paired with temporal markers like '~기 전에' (before) or '~한 후에' (after) to describe the timeline of pregnancy and recovery.

Common Structure: [Mother] + [Baby] + 을/를 + 출산하다. (Example: 민지 씨가 아들을 출산했어요.)

노산의 경우 출산하는 과정이 더 힘들 수 있습니다.

Translation: In the case of advanced maternal age, the process of giving birth can be more difficult.

When using the honorific form, you would say 출산하시다. This is particularly important when speaking to or about elders, doctors, or in formal announcements. In passive or descriptive contexts, the noun form 출산 is combined with other nouns to create compound terms such as '출산 휴가' (maternity leave) or '출산 예정일' (due date). Understanding how to switch between the verb and noun form is key to professional fluency.

그녀는 다음 달에 쌍둥이를 출산할 예정입니다.

Translation: She is scheduled to give birth to twins next month.

You will most commonly encounter 출산하다 in three primary settings: the hospital (산부인과 - OB/GYN), the news, and corporate HR environments. In a hospital, doctors and nurses will use this term to discuss delivery plans, medical risks, and the health of the mother. It is the 'clinical' word for birth. On the news, you will hear it daily in discussions about South Korea's demographic crisis, where the 'birth rate' (출산율) is a major political topic. Finally, in the workplace, employees apply for 출산 휴가 (maternity leave), making the word essential for professional life.

뉴스에서 올해 출산율이 역대 최저라고 보도했습니다.

Translation: The news reported that this year's birth rate is at an all-time low.

Media Context: Documentaries about parenting, news segments on population, and medical dramas (K-Dramas set in hospitals).

Interestingly, even in casual settings, if someone is speaking with a degree of seriousness or distance—such as a mother-in-law talking about her daughter-in-law's upcoming delivery to a neighbor—she might use 출산하다 to sound more polite or refined. However, if she were speaking directly to her daughter-in-law, she might use the more intimate 낳다 or the honorific 순산하다 (to have a smooth/easy birth).

회사 동료가 출산 소식을 전해왔습니다.

Translation: A colleague from work sent news of their childbirth.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 출산하다 (to give birth) with 태어나다 (to be born). In English, the two are closely related, but in Korean, the subject determines the verb. If the mother is the subject, use 출산하다 or 낳다. If the baby is the subject, you MUST use 태어나다. Saying '아기가 출산했어요' would imply the baby itself gave birth to another baby, which is logically impossible!

Incorrect: 아기가 병원에서 출산했어요. (The baby gave birth at the hospital.)
Correct: 어머니가 병원에서 아기를 출산했어요. (The mother gave birth to the baby at the hospital.)

Another mistake is using 출산하다 for animals. While technically understood, it sounds very strange. For dogs, cats, or livestock, use 새끼를 낳다. Additionally, learners sometimes forget that 출산하다 is quite formal. Using it in a very casual, emotional conversation with a close sibling might sound a bit cold or detached. In those cases, the native Korean 낳다 is much better suited to convey the emotional weight of the event.

강아지가 새끼를 낳았어요. (Correct for animals)

Understanding the nuances between 출산하다 and its synonyms will greatly improve your naturalness in Korean. The most common alternative is 낳다, which is the native Korean equivalent. It is used in all registers but is the only one used in very casual speech. Then there is 분만하다, which is even more medical than 출산하다, specifically referring to the physical delivery process in a clinical setting.

출산하다 vs 낳다: 출산하다 is formal/Hanja-based; 낳다 is native/versatile. Use 낳다 for 'giving birth to ideas' (metaphorically) too.
출산하다 vs 분만하다: 출산 covers the whole event (social/biological); 분만 focuses on the medical act of delivery in a hospital.
해산하다 (解産--): An older, traditional term for giving birth, rarely used in modern daily life but seen in historical contexts.

Lastly, for fathers, the verb 득남하다 (to have a son) or 득녀하다 (to have a daughter) is often used in congratulatory messages. If you want to say someone 'became a father,' you would say '아빠가 되다.' Using 출산하다 for a man is a biological impossibility and a linguistic error. Choosing the right word based on the subject and the level of formality is a hallmark of an advanced learner.

그녀는 집에서 자연 분만으로 아이를 낳았습니다.

Translation: She gave birth to the child via natural delivery at home.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

While 'Chul-san' is the standard modern word, in ancient times, 'Hae-san' (解産) was used, where 'Hae' means 'to loosen' or 'to untie', referring to the body opening up for birth.

Pronunciation Guide

UK tɕʰulsanhada

US tɕʰulsanhada

The stress is relatively even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable 'Chul'.

Rhymes With

계산하다 (gyesanhada - to calculate) 예산하다 (yesanhada - to budget) 결산하다 (gyeolsanhada - to settle accounts) 해산하다 (haesanhada - to disperse/give birth) 파산하다 (pasanhada - to go bankrupt) 동산하다 (dongsanhada - to accumulate) 확산하다 (hwaksanhada - to spread) 합산하다 (hapsanhada - to add up)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'Chul' like 'Chool' (too long).
Forgetting the aspiration on the first 'ch'.
Pronouncing 'san' like 'sun'.
Making the 'h' in 'hada' too silent.
Confusing the pitch with 'chulsan' (noun) which is slightly flatter.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts, especially news and health sections.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct Hanja-based spelling and understanding of formal register.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but choosing between this and '낳다' takes practice.

Listening 2/5

Very common in media; easy to pick out.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

아이 (Child) 엄마 (Mom) 병원 (Hospital) 하다 (To do)

Learn Next

임신 (Pregnancy) 육아 (Childcare) 산모 (Mother) 신생아 (Newborn)

Advanced

분만 (Delivery) 제왕절개 (C-section) 태교 (Prenatal education)

Grammar to Know

~기 전에 (Before doing)

출산하기 전에 아기 옷을 샀어요.

~한 후에 (After doing)

출산한 후에 미역국을 먹었어요.

~ㄹ 예정이다 (Scheduled to)

내일 출산할 예정입니다.

~느라고 (Because of doing - usually negative/effort)

출산하느라고 고생이 많았어요.

~ㄹ 수 있도록 (So that one can)

무사히 출산할 수 있도록 도와주세요.

Examples by Level

엄마가 아기를 출산해요.

Mom gives birth to a baby.

Present tense of 출산하다.

어제 동생이 출산했어요.

My younger sister gave birth yesterday.

Past tense of 출산하다.

아기를 출산하고 싶어요.

I want to give birth to a baby.

~고 싶다 (want to).

누나가 병원에서 출산해요.

My older sister is giving birth at the hospital.

Location particle ~에서.

출산 축하해요!

Congratulations on the birth!

Noun form 출산 + congratulations.

친구의 출산 소식을 들었어요.

I heard the news of my friend's childbirth.

Possessive particle ~의.

언제 출산해요?

When are you giving birth?

Question word 언제 (when).

건강하게 출산하세요.

Please give birth healthily.

Adverb 건강하게 (healthily).

출산 예정일이 언제예요?

When is the due date?

출산 예정일 (due date).

그녀는 병원에서 아들을 출산했습니다.

She gave birth to a son at the hospital.

Formal past tense ~았습니다.

출산 후에는 미역국을 먹어요.

After giving birth, we eat seaweed soup.

Time marker ~후에 (after).

출산하기 전에 준비할 것이 많아요.

There are many things to prepare before giving birth.

Time marker ~기 전에 (before).

아내의 출산을 돕고 싶어요.

I want to help with my wife's childbirth.

Object form 출산을.

그녀는 무사히 출산을 마쳤습니다.

She safely finished the childbirth.

Adverb 무사히 (safely).

출산 휴가를 신청했어요.

I applied for maternity leave.

출산 휴가 (maternity leave).

쌍둥이를 출산하는 것은 힘들어요.

Giving birth to twins is difficult.

Gerund form ~하는 것.

정부는 출산을 장려하기 위해 돈을 줍니다.

The government gives money to encourage childbirth.

Purpose marker ~기 위해.

요즘 젊은이들은 출산을 미루고 있습니다.

Young people these days are delaying childbirth.

Progressive form ~고 있다.

출산율이 낮아지는 원인이 무엇일까요?

What is the cause of the declining birth rate?

출산율 (birth rate).

건강한 출산을 위해 운동을 하세요.

Exercise for a healthy birth.

Noun + 을 위해.

그녀는 노산이었지만 무사히 출산했습니다.

It was an advanced age birth, but she gave birth safely.

Contrastive marker ~지만.

출산의 고통은 말로 표현하기 어렵습니다.

The pain of childbirth is hard to express in words.

Noun of Noun 출산의 고통.

첫 아이를 출산했을 때의 감동을 잊을 수 없어요.

I can't forget the emotion of when I gave birth to my first child.

Relativizer ~했을 때.

출산 가방을 미리 싸 두어야 해요.

You need to pack your hospital bag in advance.

Auxiliary verb ~어 두다 (do in advance).

저출산 문제는 국가적인 위기로 간주됩니다.

The low birth rate problem is considered a national crisis.

Passive voice 간주됩니다.

출산 시 발생하는 의료 사고에 주의해야 합니다.

Care must be taken regarding medical accidents occurring during childbirth.

Time marker 시 (at the time of).

맞벌이 부부에게는 출산이 큰 부담이 될 수 있습니다.

Childbirth can be a big burden for dual-income couples.

Dative marker ~에게는.

그녀는 자연 분만으로 출산하기를 원했습니다.

She wanted to give birth via natural delivery.

Method marker ~으로.

출산 직후에는 충분한 휴식이 필요합니다.

Sufficient rest is needed immediately after childbirth.

Adverb 직후 (immediately after).

회사는 출산한 직원에게 축하금을 지급했습니다.

The company paid a congratulatory bonus to the employee who gave birth.

Relativizer ~한 (who did).

출산 인프라가 부족한 지역이 늘고 있습니다.

Regions lacking childbirth infrastructure are increasing.

출산 인프라 (childbirth infrastructure).

고령 출산의 위험성에 대해 설명해 주시겠습니까?

Could you explain the risks of advanced age childbirth?

Polite request ~해 주시겠습니까?

출산은 개인의 선택이지만 사회적 영향이 큽니다.

Childbirth is an individual choice, but its social impact is large.

Contrastive conjunction ~이지만.

가부장적 문화가 출산 기피 현상을 심화시킵니다.

Patriarchal culture intensifies the phenomenon of avoiding childbirth.

Causative verb 심화시키다.

출산에 따른 경력 단절 문제는 해결해야 할 과제입니다.

The problem of career breaks following childbirth is a task that must be solved.

Noun-modifying phrase ~에 따른.

비혼 출산에 대한 사회적 인식이 변화하고 있습니다.

Social perceptions of non-marital childbirth are changing.

About marker ~에 대한.

정부는 출산 장려금의 실효성을 재검토해야 합니다.

The government must re-examine the effectiveness of childbirth subsidies.

Necessity marker ~해야 합니다.

출산의 의료화는 여성의 주체성을 약화시킬 수 있습니다.

The medicalization of childbirth can weaken women's autonomy.

Nominalized subject 출산의 의료화.

난임 부부들이 출산의 기쁨을 누릴 수 있도록 도와야 합니다.

We must help infertile couples so they can enjoy the joy of childbirth.

Intentional marker ~도록.

출산 정책은 단순히 돈을 주는 것을 넘어선 비전이 필요합니다.

Childbirth policy needs a vision that goes beyond simply giving money.

Beyond marker ~을 넘어선.

출산의 숭고함은 생명의 신비 그 자체에 기인합니다.

The sublimity of childbirth stems from the mystery of life itself.

Formal verb 기인하다 (to stem from).

현대 사회에서 출산은 더 이상 필수가 아닌 선택의 영역으로 편입되었습니다.

In modern society, childbirth has been incorporated into the realm of choice rather than necessity.

Passive form 편입되었습니다.

출산율의 급격한 저하는 국가 존립 자체를 위협하는 요소입니다.

A sharp drop in the birth rate is a factor threatening the very existence of the nation.

Emphatic marker 자체 (itself).

인류학적 관점에서 출산은 공동체의 연속성을 보장하는 핵심 기제입니다.

From an anthropological perspective, childbirth is a key mechanism ensuring the continuity of the community.

Noun-modifying phrase ~하는 핵심 기제.

출산 과정에서의 진통은 생명 탄생의 필연적 서사입니다.

Labor during the childbirth process is an inevitable narrative of the birth of life.

Abstract noun 서사 (narrative).

원치 않는 출산을 강요하는 것은 인권 침해에 해당합니다.

Forcing unwanted childbirth amounts to a human rights violation.

Verb 해당하다 (to correspond to/amount to).

출산 친화적 환경 조성을 위해 기업의 문화적 변혁이 선행되어야 합니다.

To create a childbirth-friendly environment, a cultural transformation of companies must come first.

Passive verb 선행되어야 하다 (must be preceded).

대리 출산을 둘러싼 윤리적 딜레마는 법적 정비가 시급한 분야입니다.

Ethical dilemmas surrounding surrogate birth are an area where legal overhaul is urgent.

Grammar ~을 둘러싼 (surrounding).

Common Collocations

출산 예정일

출산 휴가

저출산 문제

출산 장려금

출산율 저하

출산 가방

출산 경험

출산 고통

자연 출산

출산 소식

Common Phrases

출산 축하드려요

— Congratulations on the birth. Used when someone has just had a baby.

순산하셨다니 정말 기쁘네요. 출산 축하드려요!

출산의 기쁨

— The joy of childbirth. Refers to the emotional peak of having a child.

힘든 과정이었지만 출산의 기쁨은 컸습니다.

출산 준비물

— Baby essentials needed for birth. Things like diapers and clothes.

출산 준비물을 리스트로 만들었어요.

출산 후 조리

— Postpartum care. The recovery period after giving birth.

출산 후 조리가 건강에 가장 중요합니다.

출산 택일

— Choosing a birth date. Sometimes done for C-sections based on fortune-telling.

부모님은 좋은 날을 골라 출산 택일을 하셨다.

출산 정책

— Childbirth policy. Government plans to support families.

효과적인 출산 정책이 필요합니다.

출산 파티

— Baby shower (modern/borrowed concept). A party celebrating the upcoming birth.

친구들과 작은 출산 파티를 열었어요.

출산 용품

— Childbirth/Baby supplies. Broad term for everything a newborn needs.

출산 용품 할인 매장에 갔어요.

출산 도우미

— Postpartum helper. Someone who helps the mother after birth.

출산 도우미 서비스를 신청했습니다.

출산 연령

— Childbearing age. The age at which a woman gives birth.

평균 출산 연령이 높아지고 있습니다.

Often Confused With

출산하다 vs 태어나다

Subject is the baby (to be born). 출산하다's subject is the mother (to give birth).

출산하다 vs 유산하다

To have a miscarriage. Opposite outcome of pregnancy.

출산하다 vs 해산하다

Can mean to give birth (archaic) or to disperse a crowd (modern). Context is key.

Idioms & Expressions

"산고를 겪다"

— To go through the pains of childbirth. Often used metaphorically for a difficult creative process.

이 소설은 작가가 3년간 산고를 겪으며 쓴 작품이다.

Literary/Metaphorical

"옥동자를 출산하다"

— To give birth to a beautiful and healthy son (traditional).

할머니는 며느리가 옥동자를 출산하기를 바라셨다.

Traditional

"순산하시길 빕니다"

— I pray you have a smooth and easy birth. A standard well-wish.

몸조리 잘 하시고 무사히 순산하시길 빕니다.

Polite

"배 아파 낳은 자식"

— A child one gave birth to with labor pain (emphasizing the biological bond).

내 배 아파 낳은 자식인데 어떻게 미워하겠니?

Native/Emotional

"금지옥엽 같은 아이"

— A child as precious as gold and jade (often used after a difficult birth).

어렵게 출산한 금지옥엽 같은 아이입니다.

Idiomatic

"아이 울음소리가 들리다"

— To hear a baby's cry (idiom for a birth happening in a house).

드디어 이 집에도 아이 울음소리가 들리는군요.

Traditional

"탯줄을 끊다"

— To cut the umbilical cord (metaphor for becoming independent).

출산 때 아빠가 직접 탯줄을 끊었습니다.

Literal/Metaphorical

"삼신할머니가 점지하다"

— The birth grandmother (deity) designated the child (traditional belief about birth).

출산한 아이를 보니 삼신할머니가 예쁜 아이를 점지해 주셨네요.

Folklore

"미역국을 먹다"

— To eat seaweed soup (signifies having given birth or having a birthday).

출산한 아내를 위해 미역국을 끓였어요.

Cultural

"해산의 달이 차다"

— The month of childbirth has arrived (the pregnancy is full-term).

어느덧 해산의 달이 차서 병원에 갔습니다.

Archaic

Easily Confused

출산하다 vs 낳다

Both mean 'to give birth'.

낳다 is native/informal/versatile. 출산하다 is Sino-Korean/formal/clinical.

개는 새끼를 낳는다 (O) / 개는 새끼를 출산한다 (X - awkward).

출산하다 vs 태어나다

Related to the event of birth.

태어나다 focuses on the baby's arrival. 출산하다 focuses on the mother's labor.

나는 1990년에 태어났다.

출산하다 vs 분만하다

Both medical/formal.

분만하다 is strictly the medical act of delivery. 출산하다 is the broader social/biological act.

분만실 (Delivery room).

출산하다 vs 임신하다

Part of the same process.

임신하다 is 'to be pregnant'. 출산하다 is the end of that pregnancy.

임신 9개월 후에 출산합니다.

출산하다 vs 수유하다

Happens after birth.

수유하다 means 'to breastfeed/feed'.

출산 후 바로 수유를 시작했다.

Sentence Patterns

S + 아기를 출산해요.

언니가 아기를 출산해요.

S + [Time]에 출산했어요.

어제 새벽에 출산했어요.

S + [Reason] 때문에 출산을 미뤄요.

돈 때문에 출산을 미뤄요.

S + 출산할 수 있도록 도와요.

남편이 출산할 수 있도록 도와요.

출산에 따른 [Noun] 문제.

출산에 따른 경력 단절 문제.

출산을 장려하는 [Noun].

출산을 장려하는 정부 정책.

출산의 [Abstract Noun]성.

출산의 숭고함과 신비성.

[Clause] 출산은 [Clause].

비혼 상태에서의 출산은 사회적 논란이 됩니다.

Word Family

Nouns

출산 Childbirth/Delivery

출산율 Birth rate

출산력 Fertility

출산물 Offspring (rarely used for humans)

Verbs

출산하다 To give birth

출산시키다 To make/help someone give birth

Adjectives

출산적인 Related to childbirth (rare)

임신 (Pregnancy)

분만 (Delivery)

산모 (Mother/Woman in labor)

신생아 (Newborn)

육아 (Childcare)

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in formal/official Korean; high in general conversation.

Common Mistakes

아기가 출산했어요. → 아기가 태어났어요.
The baby is the subject, so you must use 'to be born' (태어나다), not 'to give birth' (출산하다).
강아지가 출산했어요. → 강아지가 새끼를 낳았어요.
'출산하다' is generally reserved for humans. For animals, '낳다' is much more natural.
출산하는 예정일 → 출산 예정일
This is a fixed compound noun. You don't need the '~하는' modifier.
그는 아들을 출산했다. → 그는 아들을 얻었다.
A man ('그') cannot biologically give birth. Use '얻다' (gained) or '득남했다' instead.
출산하러 가요 (to a friend) → 애 낳으러 가요.
In very casual speech, '출산하다' can sound a bit too clinical. '낳다' is warmer.

Tips

Seaweed Soup Ritual

After someone '출산하다', they almost always eat Miyeok-guk. It's high in iodine and calcium, which is great for recovery. Mentioning this to a Korean friend who just gave birth shows great cultural knowledge.

Subject-Object Clarity

Always remember: Mother + 가/이 + (Baby + 을/를) + 출산하다. Never make the baby the subject of this verb.

Hospital Signs

When you visit a hospital, look for '산부인과' (OB/GYN). You will see '출산' and '분만' everywhere on the signs and brochures.

Birth Rate Context

If you are taking the TOPIK exam, learn '저출산' (low birth rate) and '고령화' (aging population). They are almost always paired together in essays.

Wishing for Smooth Birth

If a colleague is pregnant, say '무사히 출산하시길 빌어요' (I pray you give birth safely). It’s a very polite and kind thing to say.

Noun vs Verb

Use '출산' as a noun for compound words like '출산 가방' (hospital bag). Don't say '출산하는 가방'.

Chul-San Exit

Think of 'Chul' as the 'Exit' from the womb. If you know 'Chul-gu' (Exit), you already know half of this word!

Royal Births

In historical dramas (Sageuk), they often use '해산' or '옥동자를 낳다'. Modern '출산하다' didn't become common until later.

Don't Pressure

Asking '언제 출산할 거예요?' to a married woman can be seen as pressure. Only ask if you know they are already pregnant.

The 'San' Character

The character 産 (San) is also in 'San-eop' (Industry) and 'San-mul' (Product). It always relates to creating something new.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of an 'Exit' (Chul) sign at a 'San-d' (San) beach where a baby is arriving. Chul-San-Hada!

Visual Association

Imagine a hospital door opening (Chul) and a doctor handing over a baby (San).

Word Web

아기 (Baby) 병원 (Hospital) 엄마 (Mom) 의사 (Doctor) 진통 (Labor pain) 기쁨 (Joy) 가족 (Family) 생명 (Life)

Challenge

Try to write a sentence using '출산하다' and '축하하다' together to congratulate a friend.

Word Origin

Derived from the Hanja characters 出 (Chul) and 産 (San).

Original meaning: 出 means 'to come out' or 'to emerge'. 産 means 'to produce', 'to yield', or 'to give birth'. Together, they mean 'to produce by coming out'.

Sino-Korean (Hanja-eo).

Cultural Context

Be sensitive when using this word around people struggling with infertility. Avoid asking 'When will you 출산?' directly.

In English, 'to give birth' is used in almost all contexts. In Korean, you must choose between the native '낳다' and the formal '출산하다'.

The movie 'The Return of Superman' (TV show) often features the '출산' stories of celebrities. News headlines about the '0.7 birth rate' in Korea consistently use the word '출산율'. Korean medical dramas like 'Hospital Playlist' frequently use '출산' and '분만' interchangeably in surgery scenes.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Hospital/Medical

출산 예정일이 언제인가요?
자연 출산을 원하시나요?
무사히 출산했습니다.
출산 후 관리가 필요합니다.

Work/Office

출산 휴가를 가고 싶습니다.
출산 휴가는 3개월입니다.
출산 후 복직할 예정입니다.
동료의 출산 선물을 준비해요.

News/Society

저출산 문제가 심각합니다.
출산율을 높여야 합니다.
출산 장려 정책을 발표했습니다.
출산 가구에 혜택을 줍니다.

Family/Friends

출산 축하해!
언제 출산해?
순산하길 빌게.
출산하고 몸조리 잘해.

Government/Legal

출산 신고를 해야 합니다.
출산 급여를 신청하세요.
출산 지원금 대상입니다.
출산 관련 법규를 확인하세요.

Conversation Starters

"출산 예정일이 언제인지 여쭤봐도 될까요? (May I ask when your due date is?)"

"출산 선물로 뭐가 좋을까요? (What would be a good gift for a birth?)"

"요즘 한국의 저출산 문제에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요? (What do you think about the low birth rate in Korea lately?)"

"출산 휴가는 보통 얼마나 되나요? (How long is maternity leave usually?)"

"첫 아이를 출산했을 때 기분이 어떠셨어요? (How did you feel when you gave birth to your first child?)"

Journal Prompts

친구가 아이를 출산했다는 소식을 들었을 때의 기분을 써 보세요. (Write about how you felt when you heard news of a friend's childbirth.)

한국의 저출산 문제를 해결하기 위한 아이디어를 적어 보세요. (Write down ideas to solve Korea's low birth rate problem.)

출산 후 가장 중요한 것은 무엇이라고 생각합니까? (What do you think is the most important thing after childbirth?)

미래에 아이를 출산하고 싶은지, 그 이유는 무엇인지 써 보세요. (Write about whether you want to have a child in the future and why.)

출산과 관련된 한국의 문화(미역국 등)에 대해 아는 대로 써 보세요. (Write what you know about Korean culture related to childbirth.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, biologically a man cannot give birth. He would say '아내를 출산시켰다' (helped wife give birth) or '아이를 얻었다' (gained a child).

Neither is better; they differ in formality. Use '낳다' with friends and '출산하다' in a report or to a doctor.

It means 'low birth rate.' It is one of the most common words in Korean news today.

It is '제왕절개 출산' (Je-wang-jeol-gae Chul-san).

It is the 'Expected Date of Confinement' or simply the 'due date' of the pregnancy.

Yes, '출산' is the noun form. You add '하다' to make it a verb.

It sounds very formal. '새끼를 낳다' is much more natural for animals.

It means an 'easy or smooth birth' (Sun = smooth/favorable). It is used as a wish: '순산하세요!'

In some historical or technical contexts, 'San' (産) relates to production (like 'San-eop' - industry), but 'Chul-san' specifically means giving birth.

Yes, it is a standard Sino-Korean term used across the peninsula, though native terms like '해산' might still appear in dialects.