밥 (bap) · 국 (guk) · 반찬 (ban-chan, banchan)
밥 (cooked rice), 국 (soup), and 반찬 (side dishes) each play distinct, non-interchangeable roles in a Korean meal as staple, broth, and side components respectively.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
Cooked rice, the staple food and main component of a Korean meal
When to use
Staple food, Eating rice, Cooking rice, Rice bowl
The nuance
밥 is used strictly for the staple cooked rice itself or situations where rice is the main food; it cannot refer to soup or side dishes.
Soup or broth served alongside food, usually hot and liquid
When to use
Soup dish, Hot soup, Eating soup, Soup bowl
The nuance
국 refers to liquid soup or broth served with meals, distinct from solid rice or side dishes.
Side dishes served with rice, usually various small dishes accompanying the main meal
When to use
Side dishes, Small plate dishes, Eating side dishes, Types of side dishes
The nuance
반찬 are various side dishes eaten with rice, distinct from soup (국) and staple rice (밥).
밥을 먹었어요.
bap-eul meok-eoss-eo-yo., bap eul meok eoss eo yo.
밥 is the staple food, so 'I ate rice' is natural.
국을 먹었어요.
guk-eul meok-eoss-eo-yo., guk eul meok eoss eo yo.
국 refers to soup, so 'I ate soup' is correct.
반찬을 먹었어요.
ban-chan-eul meok-eoss-eo-yo., ban chan eul meok eoss eo yo.
반찬 are side dishes, so 'I ate side dishes' is natural.
밥을 국으로 먹었어요.
bap-eul guk-eu-ro meok-eoss-eo-yo., bap eul guk eu ro meok eoss eo yo.
밥 (rice) and 국 (soup) are different foods; you cannot eat rice as soup.
국을 반찬으로 먹었어요.
guk-eul ban-chan-eu-ro meok-eoss-eo-yo., guk eul ban chan eu ro meok eoss eo yo.
국 is soup, 반찬 are side dishes; soup is not considered 반찬.
반찬을 밥으로 먹었어요.
ban-chan-eul bap-eu-ro meok-eoss-eo-yo., ban chan eul bap eu ro meok eoss eo yo.
반찬 are side dishes, not staple rice; you cannot eat side dishes as 밥.
국을 밥과 같이 먹었어요.
guk-eul bap-gwa gat-i meok-eoss-eo-yo., guk eul bap gwa gat i meok eoss eo yo.
국 is soup eaten with 밥, so 'ate soup with rice' is natural.
밥과 반찬을 같이 먹었어요.
bap-gwa ban-chan-eul gat-i meok-eoss-eo-yo., bap gwa ban chan eul gat i meok eoss eo yo.
밥 and 반찬 are staple and side dishes eaten together, so 'ate rice and side dishes together' is correct.
Which sentence correctly uses '국'?
Which is NOT used as a '반찬'?
Which corresponds to '밥'?
