What does 혼밥 (honbap) mean?
- 혼밥honbap
Eating alone
Casual: friends and people younger than you
혼밥 (honbap) means eating a meal by yourself. It is a newer, casual word that became popular as more people in Korea live and eat alone.
Where it comes from
It is short for 혼자 ("alone") + 밥 ("rice, meal").
How to use 혼밥
Korean meals are traditionally shared, and eating alone in a restaurant used to feel awkward. Today 혼밥 is common, and many places have counter seats or single portions for solo diners.
People use it in a light, neutral way: 혼밥해요 simply means "I'm eating alone". It can sound a little lonely or a little proud, depending on tone.
It is informal, but widely understood and used in news and on menus.
Examples
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Answering a friend who asks about lunch
Recommending a restaurant
Asking a friend
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 혼밥하다 | To eat alone | Verb form. |
| 혼술 | Drinking alone | Made the same way from 혼자 + 술. |
| 혼밥족 | People who eat alone | 족 means a group or "tribe" of people. |
Questions learners ask
Is honbap sad?
Not necessarily. Many people enjoy eating alone, and the word is used in a neutral or even positive way.
What is the difference between honbap and honsul?
혼밥 is eating a meal alone. 혼술 is drinking alcohol alone.