Dictionary — Entry No. 0698
계란
gyeran · noun
계란
gyeran
[GYEH-ran]
nounbeginner
Meaning
계란 means ‘egg’ (specifically chicken egg) in Korean — a Sino-Korean word (鷄卵) used alongside the pure Korean word 달걀 (dalgyal). Eggs are central to Korean cooking, appearing in 계란말이 (rolled omelette), 계란찜 (steamed egg), 계란빵 (egg bread), and as toppings on bibimbap.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
계란빵 — a sweet bread bun with a whole egg baked inside — is one of Seoul’s most beloved street foods, sold by vendors across the city and appearing in nostalgic K-Drama scenes. In ‘Reply 1988’ (응답하라 1988), neighborhood kids share 계란빵 as a cheap after-school snack, perfectly capturing 1980s Seoul street food culture. BTS’s Jimin has cited 계란찜 (steamed egg) as one of his favorite comfort foods in multiple interviews.
Example Sentences
계란 프라이 해줄게.
Gyeran peurai haejulge.
I’ll make you a fried egg. (an everyday offer of care — cooking for someone is a quiet expression of affection in Korean culture)
계란말이 맛있게 만들었어요.
Gyeranmari masitge mandeureosseoyo.
I made the rolled omelette deliciously. (계란말이 is a K-Drama lunchbox staple and a classic gesture of homemade care)
냉장고에 계란 있어?
Naengjanggo-e gyeran isseo?
Are there eggs in the fridge? (natural, conversational — the kind of line heard constantly in K-Drama kitchen scenes)
⚠️ Don’t use gyeran when…
계란 and 달걀 both mean ‘egg’ and are interchangeable — 계란 appears more on menus and in cooking contexts, while 달걀 is the pure Korean word. The 계 in 계란 is pronounced ‘gye’ (like ‘gyeh’), not ‘kay’ — a common mispronunciation that confuses Korean listeners.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988) — 계란빵 is shared among the neighborhood kids as a beloved street snack, symbolizing the simple, warm pleasures of childhood in 1980s Seoul.
- K-Pop: BTS — Home
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.