보라색
borasaek[po̞ɾa̠sʰɛk̚]
Purple in Korean is 보라색 (borasaek). Wiktionary also lists 자주색 (jajusaek) and 보라색의 (borasaegui).
Meaning: colour (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 보라색 | borasaek | [po̞ɾa̠sʰɛk̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [po̞ɾa̠sʰe̞k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 자주색 | jajusaek | [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑusʰɛk̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑusʰe̞k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 보라색의 | borasaegui |
The primary word for the color purple is 보라색. You may also encounter 자주색, which describes a reddish-purple or magenta and 보랏빛, which refers to a purplish hue or tint rather than a solid color.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 보라색 is a combination of 보라, meaning purple and 색, meaning color.
Which one should you use?
보라색 is the standard term for a true purple. In contrast, 자주색 refers more specifically to a magenta or purplish-red color.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the color as an adjective to modify a noun, such as saying 'purple flower', use the form 보라색의. Adding the particle 의 to 보라색 turns the noun into an attributive form.
How do you pronounce it?
borasaek
Did you know?
- In modern Korean pop culture, particularly K-pop, the word 보라 (bora) has become a powerful symbol of love and trust due to a famous phrase used by a prominent idol group.
- The word 보라 (bora) is actually the name of a specific plant, the Korean bellflower, which is known for its distinctive violet petals.
- The word 보라 is also used as a command form of the verb 'to see' or 'to look', though it is a completely different word from the color purple.
Examples in context
- 저는 보라색을 정말 좋아해요.jeoneun borasaegeul jeongmal joahaeyo.I really like purple.
- 꽃이 보라색이에요.kkochi borasaegieyo.The flower is purple.
- 이 옷은 보라색인가요?i oseun borasaegingayo?Is this clothing purple?
Example conversation
A woman and a man are looking at clothes in a shop.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨, 이 보라색 셔츠 어때요?hyeon-u ssi, i borasaek syeocheu eottaeyo?Hyunwoo, how about this purple shirt?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은 씨에게 잘 어울려요.jieun ssi-ege jal eoullyeoyo.It looks good on you, Jieun.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말요? 보라색이 제 색깔이에요.jeongmalyo? borasaegi je saekkal-ieyo.Really? Purple is my color.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 아주 예뻐요.ne, aju yeppeoyo.Yes, it is very pretty.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “purple” translations and entries 보라색, 자주색, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
