사쿠라
sakura[sʰa̠kʰuɾa̠]
The English phrase "sakura" can be translated into Korean as 사쿠라 or 벚꽃.
Meaning: blossom of the Japanese cherry tree (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 사쿠라 | sakura | [sʰa̠kʰuɾa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 벚꽃 | beotkkot | [pʌ̹t̚k͈o̞t̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term refers to the blossom of the Japanese cherry tree. While 사쿠라 is a direct loanword from Japanese, it can sometimes carry a negative connotation or be perceived as insensitive due to its origin.
What does it mean word for word?
The standard Korean term 벚꽃 is a compound consisting of 벚, meaning cherry tree and 꽃, meaning flower.
Which one should you use?
벚꽃 is the standard Korean term for cherry blossoms. In contrast, 사쿠라 is a loanword from Japanese.
How do you pronounce it?
sakura
Did you know?
- In modern Korean slang, 사쿠라 is sometimes used to describe a 'shill' or a paid actor who pretends to be a customer to lure others into a store.
- The word 사쿠라 entered the Korean vocabulary during the colonial period, which is why its usage remains a sensitive linguistic touchstone today.
- While 벚꽃 is the standard word, the phrase 벚꽃 엔딩 ('Cherry Blossom Ending') is a song so popular that it is jokingly called the 'spring carol' of Korea and plays on repeat every March.
Examples in context
- 정원에는 아름다운 벚꽃이 피었습니다.Beautiful sakura blossomed in the garden.
- 오늘은 벚나무 아래에서 피크닉하자!Let's have a picnic under the sakura tree today!
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun are planning a trip to Japan.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은 씨, 사쿠라 보러 갈까요?jieun ssi, sakura boreo galkkayo?Jieun, shall we go to see the sakura?
- 지은 Ji-eun좋아요! 도현 씨도 가고 싶었죠?joayo! dohyun ssi-do gago sipeotjyo?I'd love to! You wanted to go too, right Dohyun?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 사쿠라가 활짝 폈으면 좋겠어요.ne, sakura-ga hwaljjak pyeosseumyeon jokesseoyo.Yes, I hope the sakura are in full bloom.
- 지은 Ji-eun그럼 빨리 비행기 표를 예약해요.geureom ppalli bihaenggi pyoreul yeyak-haeyo.Then let's book the flight tickets quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sakura” translations and entries 사쿠라, 벚꽃, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 벚꽃, 사쿠라, CC BY-SA 4.0.
