전화 vs 통화
Korean word comparison
Listen to 전화
Listen to 통화
| 전화 | 통화 |
|---|---|
jeon-HWA noun | tonghwa noun |
| telephone; phone call | a phone call; a telephone conversation |
How they differ
통화 focuses on the act or duration of talking on the phone (the conversation or call status) and cannot refer to the physical device; 전화 can mean either a call or more generally 'the telephone' or the action of calling, so 통화 is used when you want to emphasize the conversation itself (e.g., '통화 중').
When to use each
When to use 전화: Prefer 전화 when speaking generally about calling someone or the telephone itself in everyday contexts.
When to use 통화: Prefer 통화 when emphasizing the conversation or the call status, or in set phrases like '통화 중' (on a call).
Side-by-side examples
- 어제 친구에게 전화했어.
(I called my friend yesterday.) - 어제 친구와 통화했어.
(I spoke on the phone with my friend yesterday.)
Register & nuance: Both are neutral; 통화 is slightly more formal/technical and commonly used in fixed expressions, while 전화 is more general and common in daily speech.