흑백
heukbaek
The Korean phrase for "black and white" is 흑백 (heukbaek).
When you want to describe a situation or a distinction that is "clear-cut" or "black and white," it is common to use the phrase 흑백이 분명하다, which literally means "the black and white are distinct."
Meaning: clear cut (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The suffix -색 means color.
How do you pronounce it?
heukbaek
Did you know?
- Korean has multiple words for 'white', but 백 is used specifically for formal or conceptual 'whiteness' like in 흑백, whereas 하얀 is used for the visual color of an object.
- While English uses 'black and white' to mean clear-cut, Koreans often use the term 흑백논리 (black and white logic) to criticize someone for being too narrow-minded.
- In traditional Korean ink wash painting, the artistic focus on 흑백 is intended to capture the essence of a subject rather than its literal colors.
Examples in context
- 이 사진은 흑백이다.The picture is in black and white.This sentence is useful for saying a picture is in black and white using 흑백.Tatoeba #11105173 by intertime, translation #1640955 by Spamster
- 세상일이 흑백으로 나누어지지는 않는다.sesang-iri heukbaek-euro nanueojijineun anneunda.The affairs of the world cannot be divided into black and white.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dohyun and Subin are discussing a complex social issue.
- 도현 Do-hyeon이 문제는 너무 복잡해.i munje-neun neomu bokjap-hae.This issue is too complex.
- 수빈 Su-bin맞아, 흑백 논리로 생각하면 안 돼.maja, heukbaek nonn리로 saenggak-hamyeon an dwae.Right, we shouldn't think in black and white terms.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그럼 어떻게 해결해야 할까?geureom eotteoke haegyeol-haeya halkka?Then how should we solve it?
- 수빈 Su-bin다양한 의견을 들어봐야겠어.dayang-han uigyeon-eul deureobwayagesseo.We should listen to various opinions.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
