Understanding and discussing smart home technology is increasingly relevant, especially in tech-savvy Korea. This guide provides the essential Korean vocabulary and phrases needed to talk about smart homes, control devices, and understand related cultural aspects. Learn how to navigate conversations about automated living spaces in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
- Expression: 스마트홈
Pronunciation: seu-ma-teu-hom
Meaning: Smart Home (A direct Konglish adoption of the English term)
Basic Smart Home Vocabulary
- Expression: 인공지능 스피커 (AI 스피커)
Pronunciation: in-gong-ji-neung seu-pi-keo (e-i-a-i seu-pi-keo)
Meaning: Artificial Intelligence Speaker (AI Speaker) - Expression: 스마트 조명
Pronunciation: seu-ma-teu jo-myeong
Meaning: Smart Lighting - Expression: 스마트 플러그
Pronunciation: seu-ma-teu peul-leo-geu
Meaning: Smart Plug - Expression: 스마트 온도조절기
Pronunciation: seu-ma-teu on-do-jo-jeol-gi
Meaning: Smart Thermostat - Expression: 스마트 도어락
Pronunciation: seu-ma-teu do-eo-rak
Meaning: Smart Door Lock - Expression: 로봇 청소기
Pronunciation: ro-bot cheong-so-gi
Meaning: Robot Vacuum Cleaner - Expression: 공기청정기
Pronunciation: gong-gi-cheong-jeong-gi
Meaning: Air Purifier - Expression: 사물인터넷 (IoT)
Pronunciation: sa-mul-in-teo-net (a-i-o-ti)
Meaning: Internet of Things (IoT) - Expression: 음성 인식
Pronunciation: eum-seong in-sik
Meaning: Voice Recognition - Expression: 앱 (애플리케이션)
Pronunciation: aep (ae-peul-li-ke-i-syeon)
Meaning: App (Application) - Expression: 자동화
Pronunciation: ja-dong-hwa
Meaning: Automation - Expression: 원격 제어
Pronunciation: won-gyeok je-eo
Meaning: Remote Control
Controlling Smart Devices
- Expression: 불 켜줘.
Pronunciation: bul kyeo-jwo
Meaning: Turn on the light. (Casual command) - Expression: 조명 꺼주세요.
Pronunciation: jo-myeong kkeo-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please turn off the lights. (Polite command) - Expression: 에어컨 켜줘.
Pronunciation: e-eo-keon kyeo-jwo
Meaning: Turn on the air conditioner. (Casual command) - Expression: 난방 온도 올려줘.
Pronunciation: nan-bang on-do ol-lyeo-jwo
Meaning: Turn up the heating temperature. (Casual command) - Expression: 온도를 24도로 설정해 주세요.
Pronunciation: on-do-reul i-sip-sa-do-ro seol-jeong-hae ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please set the temperature to 24 degrees. (Polite command) - Expression: 음악 재생해줘.
Pronunciation: eu-mak jae-saeng-hae-jwo
Meaning: Play music. (Casual command) - Expression: 다음 곡 틀어줘.
Pronunciation: da-eum gok teu-reo-jwo
Meaning: Play the next song. (Casual command) - Expression: 로봇 청소기 작동시켜.
Pronunciation: ro-bot cheong-so-gi jak-dong-si-kyeo
Meaning: Start the robot vacuum. (Casual command) - Expression: 공기청정기 모드를 바꿔주세요.
Pronunciation: gong-gi-cheong-jeong-gi mo-deu-reul ba-kkwo-ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please change the air purifier mode. (Polite command) - Expression: 현관문 잠가줘.
Pronunciation: hyeon-gwan-mun jam-ga-jwo
Meaning: Lock the front door. (Casual command) - Expression: TV 켜.
Pronunciation: ti-bi kyeo
Meaning: Turn on the TV. (Casual command) - Expression: 모든 기기 꺼줘.
Pronunciation: mo-deun gi-gi kkeo-jwo
Meaning: Turn off all devices. (Casual command)
Discussing Smart Home Features
- Expression: 스마트홈은 정말 편리해요.
Pronunciation: seu-ma-teu-ho-meun jeong-mal pyeol-li-hae-yo
Meaning: Smart homes are really convenient. - Expression: 음성으로 제어할 수 있어서 좋아요.
Pronunciation: eum-seong-eu-ro je-eo-hal su i-sseo-seo jo-a-yo
Meaning: It’s great that I can control it with my voice. - Expression: 원격으로 집 안 상태를 확인할 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: won-gyeok-eu-ro jip an sang-tae-reul hwa-gin-hal su i-sseo-yo
Meaning: I can check the status of my home remotely. - Expression: 에너지를 절약하는 데 도움이 돼요.
Pronunciation: e-neo-ji-reul jeol-yak-ha-neun de do-u-mi dwae-yo
Meaning: It helps save energy. - Expression: 보안 기능이 강화되었어요.
Pronunciation: bo-an gi-neung-i gang-hwa-doe-eo-sseo-yo
Meaning: The security features have been enhanced. - Expression: 다양한 기기들을 연동할 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: da-yang-han gi-gi-deu-reul yeon-dong-hal su i-sseo-yo
Meaning: You can connect various devices together. - Expression: 설정하는 것이 조금 복잡해요.
Pronunciation: seol-jeong-ha-neun geo-si jo-geum bok-jap-hae-yo
Meaning: Setting it up is a bit complicated. - Expression: 어떤 스마트홈 기기를 사용하세요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon seu-ma-teu-hom gi-gi-reul sa-yong-ha-se-yo?
Meaning: Which smart home devices do you use? - Expression: 이 AI 스피커는 기능이 많아요.
Pronunciation: i e-i-a-i seu-pi-keo-neun gi-neung-i ma-na-yo
Meaning: This AI speaker has many functions. - Expression: 앱으로 모든 것을 제어해요.
Pronunciation: aep-eu-ro mo-deun geo-seul je-eo-hae-yo
Meaning: I control everything with the app. - Expression: 집에 도착하기 전에 난방을 켤 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: ji-be do-chak-ha-gi jeo-ne nan-bang-eul kyeol su i-sseo-yo
Meaning: I can turn on the heating before I arrive home. - Expression: 삶의 질이 향상되는 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: sal-me ji-ri hyang-sang-doe-neun geot ga-ta-yo
Meaning: I feel like the quality of life improves.
Korean Culture Notes
- High Adoption Rate: South Korea has one of the highest adoption rates for smart home technology globally, driven by its advanced internet infrastructure and consumer interest in new tech.
- Apartment Integration: Many new apartment complexes in Korea come pre-equipped with built-in smart home features, such as smart lighting, thermostats, and security systems, often controlled via a central wall pad or app.
- Brand Ecosystems: Major Korean tech companies like Samsung (SmartThings) and LG (ThinQ), along with telecom companies like KT and SKT, offer comprehensive smart home ecosystems, encouraging brand loyalty.
- Voice Assistants: AI speakers using Korean voice assistants (like Kakao Mini, Naver Clova, SKT NUGU, KT GiGA Genie) are very popular for controlling smart devices and accessing information.
- Security & Privacy: While convenience is valued, there are ongoing discussions and concerns about data privacy and security vulnerabilities associated with interconnected smart home devices, similar to global trends.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two friends are discussing Minjun’s new smart home setup.
Roles:
* A: Minjun (민준) – Recently set up a smart home.
* B: Jiwon (지원) – Curious about smart homes.
- Expression: A: 지원아, 우리 집 스마트홈으로 바꿨어!
Pronunciation: ji-won-a, u-ri jip seu-ma-teu-ho-meu-ro ba-kkwo-sseo!
Meaning: Jiwon, I changed my home to a smart home! - Expression: B: 와, 정말? 어때? 편리해?
Pronunciation: wa, jeong-mal? eo-ttae? pyeol-li-hae?
Meaning: Wow, really? How is it? Is it convenient? - Expression: A: 응, 엄청 편리해. 특히 음성으로 조명이나 에어컨 켤 때 좋아. “불 켜줘!” 하면 바로 켜져.
Pronunciation: eung, eom-cheong pyeol-li-hae. teu-ki eum-seong-eu-ro jo-myeong-i-na e-eo-keon kyeol ttae jo-a. “bul kyeo-jwo!” ha-myeon ba-ro kyeo-jyeo.
Meaning: Yes, it’s extremely convenient. It’s especially great when turning on lights or the AC with voice commands. If I say “Turn on the light!”, it turns on immediately. - Expression: B: 신기하다! 어떤 기기들 설치했어? AI 스피커도 있어?
Pronunciation: sin-gi-ha-da! eo-tteon gi-gi-deul seol-chi-hae-sseo? e-i-a-i seu-pi-keo-do i-sseo?
Meaning: That’s fascinating! What devices did you install? Do you have an AI speaker too? - Expression: A: 그럼! AI 스피커랑 스마트 조명, 스마트 플러그, 로봇 청소기 정도 설치했어. 앱으로 원격 제어도 돼.
Pronunciation: geu-reom! e-i-a-i seu-pi-keo-rang seu-ma-teu jo-myeong, seu-ma-teu peul-leo-geu, ro-bot cheong-so-gi jeong-do seol-chi-hae-sseo. aep-eu-ro won-gyeok je-eo-do dwae.
Meaning: Of course! I installed an AI speaker, smart lights, smart plugs, and a robot vacuum cleaner. I can also control them remotely with the app. - Expression: B: 우와, 부럽다! 나도 스마트홈 한번 알아봐야겠다. 에너지 절약에도 도움이 돼?
Pronunciation: u-wa, bu-reop-da! na-do seu-ma-teu-hom han-beon a-ra-bwa-ya-get-da. e-neo-ji jeol-yak-e-do do-u-mi dwae?
Meaning: Wow, I’m envious! I should look into smart homes too. Does it help save energy? - Expression: A: 응, 외출할 때 자동으로 꺼지게 설정할 수 있어서 그런 것 같아.
Pronunciation: eung, oe-chul-hal ttae ja-dong-eu-ro kkeo-ji-ge seol-jeong-hal su i-sseo-seo geu-reon geot ga-ta.
Meaning: Yes, I think so because I can set it to turn off automatically when I go out.
Practice Tips
Now you have a good foundation for discussing smart homes in Korean~! Try using these phrases when talking to Korean friends about technology or even practice commanding your own devices if they support Korean language settings! Labeling devices around your home with their Korean names can also be helpful. Watching Korean tech reviews on YouTube about 스마트홈 devices is another great way to hear these words in context. Keep practicing! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!)
