무지개
mujigae[mud͡ʑiɡɛ]
The English word 'rainbow' is translated into Korean as 무지개 (mujigae). Wiktionary also lists 홍예 (hong'ye) and 색동다리 (saekdongdari).
Meaning: multicoloured arch in the sky (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 무지개 | mujigae | [mud͡ʑiɡɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [mud͡ʑiɡe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 홍예 | hong'ye | [ɸʷo̞ŋje̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 색동다리 | saekdongdari | [sʰɛk̚t͈o̞ŋda̠ɾi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [sʰe̞k̚t͈o̞ŋda̠ɾi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
North Korea |
The term refers to the multicoloured arch in the sky (noun).
Which one should you use?
홍예 is a more formal or literary way to refer to a rainbow, often used in poetic contexts or to describe the shape of an arch. 색동다리 is used in North Korea to refer to a rainbow.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In North Korea, the term 색동다리 is used for a rainbow. In the Seoul dialect, the pronunciation of 무지개 is the same as in standard Korean.
How do you pronounce it?
mujigae
Did you know?
- The standard word for rainbow, 무지개, is actually a compound of the words for 'water' and 'A-frame carrier'.
- Ancient Koreans sometimes viewed the 무지개 as a celestial bridge connecting the earthly realm to the heavens.
- The term 홍예 is not only used for rainbows but also describes the architectural stone arch used in traditional Korean gates and bridges.
Examples in context
- 하늘의 무지개를 볼 때 내 마음은 설렌다.When I see a rainbow in the sky, my heart flutters with joy.The first sentence is useful for expressing how seeing the 무지개 in the sky affects one's emotions.Tatoeba #2655670 by KoreanBeaver, translation #4237043 by mtcmcg
- 동쪽에는 무지개가 있습니다.There is a rainbow in the east.The second sentence is useful for describing the location of a 무지개.Tatoeba #12373689 by LeeSooHa, translation #12373684 by LeeSooHa
- 그래요? 구름 없는 날씨에 무지개를 보는 건 정말 운이 좋은 일이에요.Really? Seeing a rainbow on a cloudless day is truly a lucky thing.
- 오늘 비올 때 무지개 봤어?Did you see the rainbow when it rained today?
- 비가 그친 뒤에 무지개가 떴어요.bi-ga geu-chin dwi-e mu-ji-gae tteot-eo-yo.A rainbow appeared after the rain stopped.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Hyunwoo are looking at the sky after a rain shower.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 저기 무지개 좀 보세요!Hyeon-u ssi, jeogi mujigae jom boseyo!Hyunwoo, look at that rainbow over there!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo와, 정말 크고 아름답네요.wa, jeongmal keugo areumdapneyo.Wow, it's really big and beautiful.
- 서연 Seo-yeon색깔이 아주 선명해요.saekkkari aju seonmyeonghaeyo.The colors are very vivid.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo같이 사진 찍어요.gati sajin jjig-eoyo.Let's take a photo together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rainbow” translations and entries 무지개, 홍예, 색동다리, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 무지개, 색동다리, 홍예, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
