잎
ip[ip̚]
The Korean word for leaf is 잎 (ip).
잎 refers to the part of a plant. You can use it in various contexts, such as describing 떨어진 잎 (fallen leaves), 단풍잎 (maple leaves) or 잎채소 (leafy greens).
Meaning: part of a plant (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 잎 is the standard term, 잎새 is a variation used specifically in poetic or literary contexts to describe a leaf.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 잎새 serves as a poetic or literary variation of the standard 잎.
How do you pronounce it?
ip
Did you know?
- The word for April in the old native Korean calendar is 잎새달, which literally translates to 'leaf month' because it is the season when new leaves sprout.
- The earliest record of the word 잎 appears in the 1447 text 용비어천가, where it was spelled as 닢〮 in Middle Korean.
- The word 단풍 itself refers to the entire phenomenon of leaves changing color, not just the leaves themselves.
Examples in context
- 잎은 여름에 푸르게 빛납니다.The leaves shine green in the summer.
- 가을이라서 잎이 떨어져요.gaureuraseo ipi tteoreojyeoyo.It is autumn, so the leaves are falling.
- 이 잎은 아주 작아요.i ipi aju jagayo.This leaf is very small.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Jieun are looking at a plant together.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은 씨, 이 잎 좀 보세요.Jieun ssi, i ip jom boseyo.Jieun, look at this leaf.
- 지은 Ji-eun와, 잎 색깔이 정말 특이해요.wa, ip saekkari jeongmal teugihaeyo.Wow, the color of the leaf is very unique.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo맞아요. 아주 건강해 보여요.majayo. aju geonganghae boyeoyo.I agree. It looks very healthy.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말 잘 키우셨네요, 현우 씨.jeongmal jal ki-usyeonneyo, Hyunwoo ssi.You grew it really well, Hyunwoo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “leaf” translations and entries 잎, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 잎, CC BY-SA 4.0.
