Understanding specific food terms is crucial when exploring Korean cuisine. This guide focuses on the term 육계 (Yukgye), explaining what it means and providing essential vocabulary and phrases for buying and ordering chicken in Korea. Knowing this term helps differentiate types of chicken commonly found in Korean markets and restaurants.
Table Of Content
Core Term: Yukgye
-
Expression: 육계
Pronunciation: yuk-gye
Meaning: Broiler chicken (specifically raised for meat production, common for fried chicken and general consumption)
Understanding Yukgye and Related Terms
While 닭고기 (dakgogi) is the general term for chicken meat, 육계 (Yukgye) refers specifically to broiler chickens, which are younger and more tender, commonly used for dishes like fried chicken. This contrasts with 토종닭 (Tojongdak), Korean native chickens, often preferred for soups due to their richer flavor and firmer texture.
-
Expression: 닭고기
Pronunciation: dak-go-gi
Meaning: Chicken meat (general term) -
Expression: 토종닭
Pronunciation: to-jong-dak
Meaning: Korean native chicken (often older, firmer, more flavorful, used in traditional soups) -
Expression: 삼계탕용 닭
Pronunciation: sam-gye-tang-yong dak
Meaning: Chicken specifically for Samgyetang (usually small, young chicken) -
Expression: 치킨용 닭
Pronunciation: chi-kin-yong dak
Meaning: Chicken specifically for fried chicken (usually Yukgye) -
Expression: 닭가슴살
Pronunciation: dak-ga-seum-sal
Meaning: Chicken breast -
Expression: 닭다리
Pronunciation: dak-da-ri
Meaning: Chicken leg/drumstick -
Expression: 닭날개
Pronunciation: dak-nal-gae
Meaning: Chicken wing -
Expression: 생닭
Pronunciation: saeng-dak
Meaning: Raw chicken -
Expression: 냉동 닭
Pronunciation: naeng-dong dak
Meaning: Frozen chicken -
Expression: 닭 한 마리
Pronunciation: dak han ma-ri
Meaning: One whole chicken -
Expression: 닭 반 마리
Pronunciation: dak ban ma-ri
Meaning: Half a chicken
Ordering Chicken Dishes
Use these phrases when ordering chicken at restaurants in Korea.
-
Expression: 치킨 한 마리 주세요.
Pronunciation: chi-kin han ma-ri ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me one whole fried chicken. -
Expression: 양념치킨 반, 후라이드치킨 반 주세요.
Pronunciation: yang-nyeom-chi-kin ban, hu-ra-i-deu-chi-kin ban ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me half seasoned chicken, half fried chicken. -
Expression: 닭볶음탕 하나 주세요.
Pronunciation: dak-bokk-eum-tang ha-na ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me one spicy braised chicken stew. -
Expression: 삼계탕 있나요?
Pronunciation: sam-gye-tang it-na-yo?
Meaning: Do you have ginseng chicken soup? -
Expression: 이 치킨은 육계로 만든 건가요?
Pronunciation: i chi-kin-eun yuk-gye-ro man-deun geon-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is this fried chicken made with broiler chicken? -
Expression: 닭다리만 주문할 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: dak-da-ri-man ju-mun-hal su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I order only chicken legs? -
Expression: 뼈 없는 치킨으로 주세요.
Pronunciation: ppyeo eom-neun chi-kin-eu-ro ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me boneless chicken. -
Expression: 덜 맵게 해주세요.
Pronunciation: deol maep-ge hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please make it less spicy. -
Expression: 포장해 주세요.
Pronunciation: po-jang-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please pack it to go. / Please wrap it up. -
Expression: 배달 되나요?
Pronunciation: bae-dal doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Do you deliver? -
Expression: 닭갈비 2인분 주세요.
Pronunciation: dak-gal-bi i-in-bun ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give us two servings of spicy stir-fried chicken.
Buying Chicken at the Market
Here are useful phrases for purchasing chicken at a butcher shop or supermarket.
-
Expression: 육계 한 마리 주세요.
Pronunciation: yuk-gye han ma-ri ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me one broiler chicken. -
Expression: 닭가슴살 500그램 주세요.
Pronunciation: dak-ga-seum-sal o-baek-geu-raem ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me 500 grams of chicken breast. -
Expression: 이 닭 신선한가요?
Pronunciation: i dak sin-seon-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is this chicken fresh? -
Expression: 토종닭은 어디에 있나요?
Pronunciation: to-jong-dak-eun eo-di-e it-na-yo?
Meaning: Where are the Korean native chickens? -
Expression: 닭볶음탕용으로 잘라주세요.
Pronunciation: dak-bokk-eum-tang-yong-eu-ro jal-la-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please cut it for spicy braised chicken stew. -
Expression: 삼계탕용 닭 있나요?
Pronunciation: sam-gye-tang-yong dak it-na-yo?
Meaning: Do you have chicken for Samgyetang? -
Expression: 껍질은 벗겨주세요.
Pronunciation: kkeop-jil-eun beot-gyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please remove the skin. -
Expression: 냉장 닭고기예요, 냉동 닭고기예요?
Pronunciation: naeng-jang dak-go-gi-ye-yo, naeng-dong dak-go-gi-ye-yo?
Meaning: Is this refrigerated chicken or frozen chicken? -
Expression: 유통기한이 언제까지예요?
Pronunciation: yu-tong-gi-han-i eon-je-kka-ji-ye-yo?
Meaning: What is the expiration date? -
Expression: 국내산 닭고기 맞아요?
Pronunciation: gung-nae-san dak-go-gi ma-ja-yo?
Meaning: Is this domestic (Korean) chicken? -
Expression: 이거 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is this?
Korean Culture Notes
Chicken holds a special place in Korean food culture. Understanding terms like 육계 (Yukgye) is helpful, but knowing the cultural context adds another layer of appreciation.
Chimaek (치맥): This popular portmanteau combines “chicken” (치킨 chikin) and “beer” (맥주 maekju). Enjoying fried chicken (often made from 육계) with beer is a widespread social activity, especially popular for gatherings, watching sports, or simply relaxing in the evening. Delivery chicken culture is huge in Korea, making Chimaek easily accessible.
Samgyetang (삼계탕) on Boknal (복날): Ginseng chicken soup, Samgyetang, is traditionally eaten during the three hottest days of summer, known as Boknal. Koreans believe eating this nourishing soup helps replenish energy and combat the summer heat (“fighting heat with heat”). While smaller chickens are preferred for Samgyetang, understanding the difference between these and larger 육계 is useful.
Preference for Parts: While whole chickens are common, specific parts like drumsticks (닭다리 dakdari) and wings (닭날개 daknalgae) are highly popular, especially for fried chicken. Many restaurants offer options to order only specific parts.
Yukgye vs. Tojongdak: As mentioned, 육계 (Yukgye) are broiler chickens favored for tender meat in dishes like fried chicken or 닭갈비 (Dakgalbi). 토종닭 (Tojongdak), native Korean chickens, are often larger, have a firmer texture, and a deeper flavor, making them ideal for long-simmered soups like 백숙 (Baeksuk) or richer versions of 닭볶음탕 (Dakbokkeumtang).
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A customer (A) is at a Korean butcher shop wanting to buy chicken for making Samgyetang at home and asks the butcher (B) about the different types of chicken available.
-
Expression: A: 안녕하세요. 삼계탕 끓이려고 하는데, 어떤 닭이 좋아요?
Pronunciation: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. sam-gye-tang kkeu-ri-ryeo-go ha-neun-de, eo-tteon dak-i jo-a-yo?
Meaning: A: Hello. I’m planning to make Samgyetang, which chicken is good for it? -
Expression: B: 아, 삼계탕용으로는 이 작은 영계가 좋아요. 육계는 좀 크고 살이 많아서 튀김이나 볶음용으로 더 많이 나가요.
Pronunciation: a, sam-gye-tang-yong-eu-ro-neun i jak-eun yeong-gye-ga jo-a-yo. yuk-gye-neun jom keu-go sal-i man-a-seo twi-gim-i-na bokk-eum-yong-eu-ro deo man-i na-ga-yo.
Meaning: B: Ah, for Samgyetang, this small young chicken (yeonggye) is good. Broiler chickens (Yukgye) are a bit bigger and have more meat, so they are more popular for frying or stir-frying. -
Expression: A: 영계랑 육계가 다른 거예요? 그럼 육계는 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: yeong-gye-rang yuk-gye-ga da-reun geo-ye-yo? geu-reom yuk-gye-neun mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: A: Are young chickens (yeonggye) and broiler chickens (Yukgye) different? Then what is Yukgye? -
Expression: B: 네, 육계는 고기 생산을 위해 빨리 키운 닭이에요. 살이 부드럽죠. 영계는 삼계탕용으로 많이 쓰는 어린 닭이고요. 토종닭은 더 오래 키워서 육질이 쫄깃하고 국물 맛이 깊어요.
Pronunciation: ne, yuk-gye-neun go-gi saeng-san-eul wi-hae ppal-li ki-un dak-i-e-yo. sal-i bu-deu-reop-jyo. yeong-gye-neun sam-gye-tang-yong-eu-ro man-i sseu-neun eo-rin dak-i-go-yo. to-jong-dak-eun deo o-rae ki-wo-seo yuk-jil-i jjol-git-ha-go gung-mul mat-i gip-eo-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, Yukgye are chickens raised quickly for meat production. The meat is tender. Yeonggye are young chickens often used for Samgyetang. Tojongdak (native chickens) are raised longer, so their meat is chewier and the broth flavor is deeper. -
Expression: A: 아하, 그렇군요. 그럼 삼계탕용 영계 두 마리 주세요.
Pronunciation: a-ha, geu-reot-gun-yo. geu-reom sam-gye-tang-yong yeong-gye du ma-ri ju-se-yo.
Meaning: A: Aha, I see. Then please give me two young chickens for Samgyetang. -
Expression: B: 네, 알겠습니다. 금방 준비해 드릴게요.
Pronunciation: ne, al-get-seum-ni-da. geum-bang jun-bi-hae deu-ril-ge-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, understood. I’ll prepare them for you right away.
Practice Tips
Now you know about 육계 (Yukgye) and related chicken terms! The best way to master these is through practice~ Try visiting a Korean market or butcher (정육점 – jeong-yuk-jeom) and identify the different types of chicken. When ordering fried chicken or other chicken dishes, try asking what kind of chicken is used!
You can also watch Korean cooking shows or videos (요리 방송 – yori bangsong) online. Pay attention to when they mention 육계, 토종닭, or specific parts like 닭가슴살 or 닭다리. Consistent exposure will help these terms stick. Good luck with your Korean studies! 화이팅!
