전화 vs 휴대전화
Korean word comparison
Listen to 전화
Listen to 휴대전화
| 전화 | 휴대전화 |
|---|---|
jeon-HWA noun | hyudaejeonhwa noun |
| telephone; phone call | mobile phone; cell phone |
How they differ
휴대전화 denotes a mobile/cellular phone specifically, while 전화 can refer to a call or telephones in general; 휴대전화 makes the mobility and device-type explicit.
When to use each
When to use 전화: Prefer 전화 when talking about calling someone or the telephone in a general sense.
When to use 휴대전화: Prefer 휴대전화 when you need to specify a mobile phone (e.g., rules about phones, lost phone notices, or formal contexts).
Side-by-side examples
- 그에게 전화해.
(Call him.) - 회의 중에는 휴대전화를 꺼 주세요.
(Please turn off your mobile phone during the meeting.)
Register & nuance: 휴대전화 is neutral and somewhat more formal/technical; in casual speech Koreans often say 핸드폰 or 폰 instead.