When talking about colors in Korean, it's really useful to know the basic color words like 분홍색 (bunhongsaek), which means 'pink color'.
You'll often hear Koreans use the word '색' (saek) after the color name, which means 'color'. So, 분홍색 literally means 'pink color'.
You can use this word in sentences like '이 옷은 분홍색이에요' (I oseun bunhongsaegieyo), meaning 'This clothing is pink'. Or '저는 분홍색을 좋아해요' (Jeoneun bunhongsaegeul joahaeyo), meaning 'I like pink'.
It's a common and straightforward word to add to your vocabulary!
When discussing colors in Korean, it's important to understand the nuance between using the color word as a standalone noun and as an adjective modifying another noun. 분홍색 (bunhongsaek) literally translates to "pink color," where 색 (saek) means "color."
If you want to say something *is* pink, you can use the noun form directly, often followed by a copula like 이에요/예요 (ieyo/yeyo). For example, "It's pink" would be 분홍색이에요 (bunhongsaegieyo).
However, if you want to describe a noun as being pink, you typically drop the 색 (saek) and add the adjectival suffix - (eun/neun) or use the form 분홍색의 (bunhongsaegui). So, "pink flower" would be 분홍 꽃 (bunhong kkot) or 분홍색의 꽃 (bunhongsaegui kkot).
While 분홍색 (bunhongsaek) is perfectly correct as a noun, being mindful of these adjectival forms will help you sound more natural when describing items of a particular color.
Alright, let's dive into '분홍색' (bun-hong-saek), which simply means 'pink color' in Korean. This is a super common word you'll hear and use often, especially when talking about clothes, objects, or even describing certain moods. Since it's an A1 level word, you'll encounter it early on in your Korean learning journey.
§ At Work and School
You might not think about colors much in a professional or academic setting, but '분홍색' can pop up. For example, in an office, someone might describe a document, a folder, or a sticky note. In school, it could come up when talking about art supplies, textbooks, or even uniforms.
이 분홍색 파일을 김민지 씨에게 가져다주세요.
Here, '이 분홍색 파일' means 'this pink file'. You can see how '분홍색' acts as an adjective here, modifying '파일' (file). In Korean, color words often function this way directly before the noun.
우리 딸은 분홍색 크레파스를 제일 좋아해요.
This translates to 'My daughter likes the pink crayon the most.' '크레파스' (keu-re-pa-seu) means 'crayon'. So, when you're talking about specific items at school or in an office, '분홍색' is a very useful descriptor.
§ In the News and Media
While you might not hear '분홍색' every day on the main news, it certainly appears in certain contexts. Think about articles or reports on fashion, interior design, or even social events where color themes are relevant. For instance, an article about a charity event might mention a 'pink ribbon' campaign.
그 배우는 시상식에서 아름다운 분홍색 드레스를 입었어요.
This sentence means 'The actress wore a beautiful pink dress at the awards ceremony.' Here, '드레스' (deu-re-seu) is 'dress'. Fashion reports or celebrity news often use color descriptions like this.
유방암 캠페인 심볼은 분홍색 리본입니다.
This translates to 'The symbol for the breast cancer campaign is a pink ribbon.' You can see how '분홍색 리본' (pink ribbon) is a common association in news related to health campaigns.
§ General Conversations and Daily Life
Beyond formal settings, '분홍색' is incredibly common in everyday chats. You'll use it when shopping, describing your favorite things, or talking about gifts. It's a fundamental vocabulary word.
Talking about clothes:
저는 분홍색 티셔츠를 샀어요.
(I bought a pink T-shirt.)
Describing objects:
저 꽃은 아주 예쁜 분홍색이에요.
(That flower is a very pretty pink color.)
Talking about preferences:
저는 분홍색을 제일 좋아해요.
(I like pink the most.)
As you can see, '분홍색' is a versatile word. Practice using it to describe things around you, and you'll find it becoming second nature very quickly. Good job learning another essential Korean word!
Fun Fact
The character '분' (粉) means powder or something powdery, often associated with cosmetics, while '홍' (紅) means red. So, '분홍' literally combines the idea of powdery with red, giving a lighter, pink hue.
Examples by Level
1
이 꽃은 분홍색이에요.
This flower is pink color.
2
분홍색 가방을 좋아해요.
I like a pink bag.
3
제 옷은 분홍색이에요.
My clothes are pink.
4
분홍색 연필 있어요?
Do you have a pink pencil?
5
분홍색 모자가 예뻐요.
The pink hat is pretty.
6
저 분홍색 신발은 제 것이 아니에요.
Those pink shoes are not mine.
7
분홍색 사탕을 먹고 싶어요.
I want to eat pink candy.
8
하늘에 분홍색 구름이 있어요.
There are pink clouds in the sky.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean (한자어)
Original meaning: Red flower color
Chinese
Cultural Context
In Korea, pink is often associated with femininity, sweetness, and youth, similar to Western cultures. It's a popular color in fashion, particularly for women and children, and can be seen in various products from K-pop merchandise to traditional hanbok. While less common than in some other cultures, pink is also occasionally used in certain flower arrangements or gifts to symbolize affection or gentle love.
Test Yourself
54 questions
fill blank
A1
저는 ___ 색깔을 좋아해요. (I like pink color.)
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍
To say 'pink color', you use '분홍색'. If you are directly modifying a noun, you can drop the '색' part and use '분홍'.
fill blank
A1
이 가방은 ___색이에요. (This bag is pink.)
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍
When describing the color of something, you can say '[object]은/는 [color]색이에요.'
fill blank
A1
제 방에 ___색 침대가 있어요. (There is a pink bed in my room.)
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍
To describe a noun with a color, you can put the color before the noun, like '분홍색 침대' or simply '분홍 침대'.
fill blank
A1
그녀는 ___색 모자를 썼어요. (She wore a pink hat.)
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍
'모자' means hat. She wore a pink hat.
fill blank
A1
이 연필은 ___색입니다. (This pencil is pink.)
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍
'연필' means pencil. This pencil is pink.
fill blank
A1
어떤 꽃이 ___색이에요? (Which flower is pink?)
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍
'꽃' means flower. Which flower is pink?
multiple choice
A1
다음 중 '분홍색'은 어떤 색깔입니까?
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍색 (Pink)
'분홍색'은 'pink'를 의미합니다.
multiple choice
A1
친구가 분홍색 드레스를 입었어요. 친구가 입은 드레스는 무슨 색깔입니까?
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍색 (Pink)
질문에 '분홍색 드레스'라고 나와있으므로 정답은 '분홍색'입니다.
multiple choice
A1
다음 중 분홍색 물건을 고르세요.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 벚꽃 (Cherry blossom - often pink)
벚꽃은 보통 분홍색입니다. 사과는 빨간색이나 초록색, 하늘은 파란색, 딸기는 빨간색입니다.
true false
A1
'분홍색'은 한국어로 'pink'를 의미합니다.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: True
'분홍색'은 영어로 'pink color'를 뜻합니다.
true false
A1
하늘은 보통 분홍색입니다.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: False
하늘은 보통 파란색입니다. 분홍색은 아닙니다.
true false
A1
저는 분홍색을 좋아합니다. 이것은 제가 분홍색을 싫어한다는 뜻입니다.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: False
'좋아합니다'는 'like'를 의미하므로, '싫어합니다' (dislike)와는 반대되는 의미입니다.
listening
A1
This bag is pink.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 이 가방은 분홍색이에요.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
listening
A1
Pink flowers are pretty.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍색 꽃이 예뻐요.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
listening
A1
My sweater is pink.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 제 스웨터는 분홍색입니다.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking
A1
Read this aloud:
분홍색 연필이 있어요.
Focus: 분홍색 (bun-hong-saek)
You said:
AI is analyzing your pronunciation...
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking
A1
Read this aloud:
저 분홍색 모자를 사고 싶어요.
Focus: 모자 (mo-ja)
You said:
AI is analyzing your pronunciation...
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking
A1
Read this aloud:
분홍색은 제가 가장 좋아하는 색깔이에요.
Focus: 색깔 (saek-kkal)
You said:
AI is analyzing your pronunciation...
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
listening
A2
This bag is pink.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 이 가방은 분홍색이에요.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
listening
A2
She is wearing a pink dress.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 그녀는 분홍색 드레스를 입고 있어요.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
listening
A2
The pink flower is beautiful.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 분홍색 꽃이 아름다워요.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking
A2
Read this aloud:
이 셔츠는 분홍색입니다.
Focus: 분홍색 (bun-hong-saek)
You said:
AI is analyzing your pronunciation...
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking
A2
Read this aloud:
저는 분홍색을 좋아해요.
Focus: 좋아해요 (jo-a-hae-yo)
You said:
AI is analyzing your pronunciation...
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking
A2
Read this aloud:
분홍색 연필이 어디에 있어요?
Focus: 어디에 있어요 (eo-di-e i-sseo-yo)
You said:
AI is analyzing your pronunciation...
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
multiple choice
C1
다음 중 '분홍색'에 어울리는 자연스러운 문장은?
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 그녀는 분홍색 드레스를 입고 파티에 갔다.
'분홍색'은 주로 옷이나 사물에 색깔을 묘사할 때 사용됩니다. 다른 선택지들은 비현실적이거나 어색합니다.
multiple choice
C1
아래 문장에서 '분홍색'이 가장 적절하게 사용된 곳은?
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 그녀는 정원에서 아름다운 분홍색 꽃을 발견했다.
'분홍색'은 실제 사물의 색깔을 묘사하는 데 가장 자연스럽습니다. 다른 선택지들은 비유적인 표현으로 적절하지 않습니다.
multiple choice
C1
다음 문장 중 '분홍색'의 의미와 가장 관련 없는 것은?
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 그는 분홍색 기분으로 하루를 시작했다.
'분홍색'은 색깔을 나타내지만, '분홍색 기분'과 같은 표현은 일반적으로 사용되지 않습니다. '장밋빛 기분'과 같이 다른 표현이 사용될 수 있습니다.
true false
C1
봄에 피는 벚꽃은 보통 분홍색이다.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: True
벚꽃은 주로 흰색에서 연분홍색을 띠는 꽃입니다. 따라서 '분홍색'이라고 표현하는 것이 맞습니다.
true false
C1
남자 아이에게 분홍색 옷을 사주는 것은 매우 어색하다.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: False
성별에 따라 특정 색깔을 강요하는 것은 현대 사회에서 일반적이지 않습니다. 남자 아이도 분홍색 옷을 입을 수 있습니다.
true false
C1
노을이 질 때 하늘은 항상 분홍색으로 변한다.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: False
노을은 분홍색 외에도 주황색, 붉은색 등 다양한 색깔로 변할 수 있습니다. 항상 분홍색인 것은 아닙니다.
listening
C1
She always enjoys wearing pink clothes.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 그녀는 항상 분홍색 옷을 즐겨 입어요.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
listening
C1
This room is decorated entirely in pink, giving a warm feeling.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer: 이 방은 전체적으로 분홍색으로 꾸며져 있어서 따뜻한 느낌을 줍니다.
Correct!Not quite. Correct answer:
listening
C1
The bouquet I received as a gift was full of beautiful pink roses.
