버블티
beobeulti[pʌ̹bɯɭtʰi]
The English phrase "bubble tea" is 버블티 (beobeulti) in Korean.
버블티 refers to the drink consisting of milk tea with tapioca balls. When referring specifically to the tapioca balls themselves, you can use 타피오카 펄.
Meaning: milk tea with tapioca balls (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
beobeulti
Did you know?
- In South Korea, many people refer to the drink simply as 공차 (Gong cha), which is actually the name of a very popular franchise rather than a generic term for the beverage.
- In Korean cafe culture, the texture of the pearls in 버블티 is often described as 쫄깃하다 (jjolgit-hada), a word that specifically describes a bouncy or chewy elasticity.
- The texture of the pearls is often described by Koreans using the word 쫀득쫀득 (jjondeuk jjondeuk), an onomatopoeic expression for a chewy, elastic sensation.
Examples in context
- 버블티 한 잔 주세요.beobeulti han jan juseyo.Please give me one bubble tea.
- 저는 버블티를 정말 좋아해요.jeoneun beobeultireul jeongmal joahaeyo.I really like bubble tea.
- 이 버블티는 아주 달아요.i beobeultineun aju darayo.This bubble tea is very sweet.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to drink at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우 씨, 버블티 마실래요?hyeonu ssi, beobeulti masillaeyo?Hyeonu, do you want to drink bubble tea?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 저도 버블티 좋아요.ne, jeodo beobeulti joayo.Yes, I like bubble tea too.
- 수빈 Su-bin그럼 버블티 두 잔 주문할게요.geureom beobeulti du jan jumunhalgeyo.Then I will order two bubble teas.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo고마워요, 수빈 씨.gomawoyo, subin ssi.Thank you, Subin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bubble tea” translations and entries 버블티, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
