송금 vs 이체: The Subtle Difference in Sending Money

송금 (song-geum, songgeum) · 이체 (i-che, iche)

송금 generally refers to sending money to others or outside your bank, while 이체 is mainly used for transferring money within the same bank or between your own accounts.

Comparison of Korean words 송금 and 이체 for money transfer

Word-by-word breakdown

One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.

송금(song-geum, songgeum)

Sending money to someone else, another bank, or overseas

When to use

Sending money to others, Sending money overseas, Transfer outside bank

The nuance

Used mainly when sending money outside your bank or to others, including overseas remittances.

이체(i-che, iche)

Transferring money between accounts within the same bank or between your own accounts

When to use

Transfer between own accounts, Transfer within same bank, Internal bank money movement

The nuance

Used for money movement within the same bank or between your own accounts, generally handled internally by the bank system.

Real-world examples

  • 나는 친구에게 송금했다.

    na-neun chin-gu-e-ge song-geum-haess-da., na neun chin gu e ge song geum haess da.

    Sending money to another person (friend), so '송금' is correct.

  • 나는 내 다른 은행 계좌로 이체했다.

    na-neun nae da-reun eun-haeng gye-jwa-ro i-che-haess-da., na neun nae da reun eun haeng gye jwa ro i che haess da.

    Even if different banks, transferring between own accounts is '이체'.

  • 나는 회사에 이체했다.

    na-neun hoe-sa-e i-che-haess-da., na neun hoe sa e i che haess da.

    Sending money to a company requires '송금'; '이체' is mainly for own account transfers.

  • 은행에서 해외로 이체를 했다.

    eun-haeng-e-seo hae-oe-ro i-che-reul haess-da., eun haeng e seo hae oe ro i che reul haess da.

    Overseas transfers are '송금'; '이체' is limited to domestic bank internal transfers.

  • 내 통장 안에서 이체를 했다.

    nae tong-jang an-e-seo i-che-reul haess-da., nae tong jang an e seo i che reul haess da.

    Moving money between own accounts fits '이체'.

  • 친구에게 이체했다.

    chin-gu-e-ge i-che-haess-da., chin gu e ge i che haess da.

    Friend is another person, so '송금' should be used.

  • 은행 ATM에서 송금했다.

    eun-haeng atme-seo song-geum-haess-da., eun haeng atme seo song geum haess da.

    Sending money to others or other banks via ATM is '송금'.

  • 내 다른 계좌로 송금했다.

    nae da-reun gye-jwa-ro song-geum-haess-da., nae da reun gye jwa ro song geum haess da.

    Transferring between own accounts is '이체'; '송금' is for others.

Quick quiz

  1. Which word is most appropriate when sending money to a friend?

    다음 중 친구에게 돈을 보낼 때 가장 적절한 단어는?(da-eumjungchin-gu-e-gedon-eulbo-naelttaega-jangjeok-jeol-handan-eo-neun?, daeumjungchinguegedoneulbonaelttaegajangjeokjeolhandaneoneun?)
  2. Which word is appropriate for transferring money between your own accounts?

    본인 계좌 간 돈 이동을 표현할 때 적절한 단어는?(bon-ingye-jwagandoni-dong-eulpyo-hyeon-halttaejeok-jeol-handan-eo-neun?, boningyejwagandonidongeulpyohyeonhalttaejeokjeolhandaneoneun?)
  3. Which word is used when sending money overseas?

    해외로 돈을 보낼 때 사용하는 단어는?(hae-oe-rodon-eulbo-naelttaesa-yong-ha-neundan-eo-neun?, haeoerodoneulbonaelttaesayonghaneundaneoneun?)
  4. Which word is appropriate when sending money to another person's account within the same bank?

    같은 은행 내 다른 사람 계좌로 돈을 보낼 때 적절한 표현은?(gat-euneun-haengnaeda-reunsa-ramgye-jwa-rodon-eulbo-naelttaejeok-jeol-hanpyo-hyeon-eun?, gateuneunhaengnaedareunsaramgyejwarodoneulbonaelttaejeokjeolhanpyohyeoneun?)

More comparisons to explore

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