돼지(dwae-ji, dwaeji)
Refers to the pig animal or pork meat.
When to use
animal name, pork meat, figurative expression (pig)
The nuance
Use 돼지 when referring to the pig animal or pork meat. It cannot mean cow or beef.
돼지 vs 소: Differences Between Pork and Beef
돼지 (dwae-ji, dwaeji) · 소 (so)
돼지 (dwaeji) and 소 (so) both refer to livestock, but 돼지 means pig/pork, and 소 means cow/beef, indicating different animals and meats.
Word-by-word breakdown
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
소(so)
Refers to the cow animal or beef meat.
When to use
animal name, beef meat, symbolic meaning (cow)
The nuance
Use 소 when referring to the cow animal or beef meat. It does not mean pig or pork.
Real-world examples
돼지는 돼지고기를 생산하는 동물이다.
dwae-ji-neun dwae-ji-go-gi-reul saeng-san-ha-neun dong-mul-i-da., dwae ji neun dwae ji go gi reul saeng san ha neun dong mul i da.
Correctly relates 돼지 to pork production.
소는 소고기 대신 돼지고기를 먹는다.
so-neun so-go-gi dae-sin dwae-ji-go-gi-reul meok-neun-da., so neun so go gi dae sin dwae ji go gi reul meok neun da.
Cows do not eat pork; confuses animal and meat.
저는 소고기보다 돼지고기를 더 좋아해요.
jeo-neun so-go-gi-bo-da dwae-ji-go-gi-reul deo joh-a-hae-yo., jeo neun so go gi bo da dwae ji go gi reul deo joh a hae yo.
Correctly compares pork and beef.
돼지는 소고기에서 나온다.
dwae-ji-neun so-go-gi-e-seo na-on-da., dwae ji neun so go gi e seo na on da.
Pork comes from pigs, not cows.
그 집은 돼지 고기를 전문으로 판매한다.
geu jip-eun dwae-ji go-gi-reul jeon-mun-eu-ro pan-mae-han-da., geu jip eun dwae ji go gi reul jeon mun eu ro pan mae han da.
돼지 고기 properly means pork meat.
소는 돼지고기보다 비싸다.
so-neun dwae-ji-go-gi-bo-da bi-ssa-da., so neun dwae ji go gi bo da bi ssa da.
소 means beef here, and price comparison is correct.
돼지는 소고기보다 크다.
dwae-ji-neun so-go-gi-bo-da keu-da., dwae ji neun so go gi bo da keu da.
Beef is meat, pig is animal; size comparison invalid.
소는 소고기를 먹는 동물이다.
so-neun so-go-gi-reul meok-neun dong-mul-i-da., so neun so go gi reul meok neun dong mul i da.
Cows are herbivores and do not eat beef.
Quick quiz
Which word means pork meat?
돼지와 소 중 돼지고기를 의미하는 단어는?(dwae-ji-wasojungdwae-ji-go-gi-reului-mi-ha-neundan-eo-neun?, dwaejiwasojungdwaejigogireuluimihaneundaneoneun?)Which word means beef meat?
소고기를 의미하는 단어는?(so-go-gi-reului-mi-ha-neundan-eo-neun?, sogogireuluimihaneundaneoneun?)Is the sentence 'Cows eat pork.' correct?
"소는 돼지고기를 먹는다." 문장은 올바른가?("so-neundwae-ji-go-gi-reulmeok-neun-da."mun-jang-eunol-ba-reun-ga?, "soneundwaejigogireulmeokneunda."munjangeunolbareunga?)
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