韓国語（かんこくご、kankokugo）
- korean

The Japanese word 韓国語, read かんこくご, means "Korean language". It refers to the official language spoken in South Korea and North Korea, as well as by Korean diaspora communities around the world. It encompasses the language itself, including its grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. It also refers to the study or learning of the Korean language.

⚫︎ 韓国語を勉強しています。 Translation: I am studying Korean. ⚫︎ 韓国語の先生はとても親切です。 Translation: My Korean language teacher is very kind. ⚫︎ 韓国語の歌が好きです。 Translation: I like Korean songs.

You use 韓国語 when discussing the Korean language, learning about it, or referring to anything related to it. It's used in various contexts, such as: ⚫︎ Describing your language studies. ⚫︎ Talking about Korean culture (e.g., dramas, music, food). ⚫︎ Asking someone if they speak Korean. ⚫︎ Specifying the language in a translation or language exchange.

韓国語 is written with: ⚫︎ Kanji: 韓国語 ⚫︎ Hiragana (reading): かんこくご ⚫︎ The kanji 韓国 means "Korea" and 語 means "language". The word does not usually have other written forms. The okurigana is standard.

There are no direct synonyms for "Korean language" in Japanese.

There aren't specific antonyms, but you could use the names of other languages, like 日本語 (Japanese language), to contrast it. Or, in the context of learning, you could contrast it with 未習得の言語 (a language not yet learned).

私は来年、韓国語の試験を受けます。 ・Translation: I will take the Korean language test next year. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses the intention to take an exam related to the Korean language.

韓国語のドラマは面白いです。 ・Translation: Korean dramas are interesting. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses an interest in Korean dramas, and relates to the Korean language through the use of the content within the dramas, where the language is spoken.

The word 韓国語 is a compound word: ⚫︎ 韓国 (Kankoku) is the Japanese name for Korea, derived from Chinese characters. ⚫︎ 語 (go) means "language" or "word". Therefore, 韓国語 literally translates to "Korean language".