자두
jadu[t͡ɕa̠du]
The Korean word for plum is 자두 (jadu). Wiktionary also lists 서양자두 (seoyangjadu) and 오얏 (oyat).
Meaning: fruit of Prunus domestica (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 자두 | jadu | [t͡ɕa̠du] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 서양자두 | seoyangjadu | [sʰʌ̹ja̠ŋd͡ʑa̠du] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 오얏 | oyat | [o̞ja̠t̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to the fruit of the species Prunus domestica.
Which one should you use?
While 자두 refers to plums in general, 서양자두 is specifically used to distinguish the Western variety (Prunus domestica) from native Korean varieties.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
자두 is the standard, most common way to say plum in modern Korean. 오얏 is an archaic or literary term for plum that is rarely used in modern daily conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
jadu
Did you know?
- The common word 자두 is actually a phonetic adaptation of the Sino-Korean term 자도, which translates to 'purple peach'.
Examples in context
- 매실을 이용한 전통 음료수를 마셔보세요.Try a traditional beverage made with plums.
- 자두를 사러 시장에 갔어요.I went to the market to buy plums.
- 자두가 아주 달아요.jadu-ga aju darayo.The plum is very sweet.
- 시장에서 신선한 자두를 샀어요.sijang-eseo sinseonhan jadu-reul sasseoyo.I bought fresh plums at the market.
- 자두를 먹고 싶어요.jadu-reul meokgo sipeoyo.I want to eat a plum.
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are talking about snacks in a kitchen.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우 씨, 자두 있어요?Hyunwoo ssi, jadu isseoyo?Hyunwoo, do you have any plums?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 냉장고에 자두가 있어요.Ne, naengjanggo-e jadu-ga isseoyo.Yes, there are plums in the refrigerator.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말 잘됐네요. 같이 먹어요.Jeongmal jal-dwaetne-yo. Gati meogeoyo.That's great. Let's eat them together.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo좋아요. 제가 가져올게요.Joayo. Jega gajyeoolgeyo.Okay. I will go get them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plum” translations and entries 자두, 서양자두, 오얏, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 서양자두, 오얏, 자두, CC BY-SA 4.0.
