Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 핑크 | pingkeu | [pʰiŋkxɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 분홍빛 | bunhongbit | [ˈpu(ː)nβo̞ŋp͈it̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
핑크 describes things that are colored between red and white. 분홍색 is the standard, descriptive word for the color pink, as in 어제 예쁜 분홍색 꽃을 봤어요. (Yesterday, I saw a beautiful pink flower.) or 파티를 위해 분홍색 드레스를 샀어요. (I bought a pink dress for the party.).
What does it mean word for word?
분홍빛 combines 분홍 (pink) and 빛 (light, color, hue) to mean a pinkish tint or glow. In 분홍색, the ending 색 marks that you are talking about a color.
Which one should you use?
핑크 is the loanword from English and is common in casual talk, fashion and trendy items. 분홍색 is more standard and descriptive. 분홍빛 points to a pinkish hue or glow rather than the plain color, and 연분홍색 describes a lighter, pastel pink.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
핑크 is the informal choice used in casual settings, while 분홍색 is the more standard word.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 색 after a color word signals that you mean the color itself. A pinkish shade can also be described with 빛, as in 그녀는 손톱을 사랑스러운 핑크빛으로 칠했어요. (She painted her nails a lovely pinkish color.).
How do you pronounce it?
핑크 is romanized as pingkeu.
Did you know?
- The word 분홍 (bunhong) is composed of characters meaning 'powder' and 'red'. Historically, this refers to the way red pigments were ground into a fine powder and mixed with white to create the shade.
- In Korea, the color pink is often used in 'couple items' to signal a romantic relationship, even for men who might avoid the color in other contexts.
- The word 빛 in 분홍빛 can refer to not just a color, but a glow or a glimmer, making the phrase describe an atmospheric quality rather than just a pigment.
Examples in context
- 이 핑크색 옷은 예뻐요.i pingkeusaek ot-eun yeppeoyo.This pink clothing is pretty.
- 저는 핑크를 정말 좋아해요.jeoneun pingkeureul jeongmal joahaeyo.I really like pink.
- 그 꽃은 핑크색이에요.geu kko-seun pingkeusaegieyo.That flower is pink.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Subin are looking at clothes in a store.
- 지훈 Ji-hun수빈 씨, 이 핑크색 가방 어때요?Subin ssi, i pingkeusaek gabang eottaeyo?Subin, how about this pink bag?
- 수빈 Su-bin정말 예쁘네요! 제 스타일이에요.jeongmal yeppeuneyo! je seuta-irieyo.It is really pretty! It is my style.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그럼 핑크색으로 살까요?geureom pingkeusaeg-euro salkkayo?Then shall we buy the pink one?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 좋아요.ne, joayo.Yes, that sounds good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pink” translations and entries 핑크, 분홍빛, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 분홍빛, 핑크, CC BY-SA 4.0.
