백합
baekhap[pɛkʰa̠p̚]
The English term yuri refers to the anime or manga genre, which in Korean is expressed as 백합 (baekhap).
In Korean, 백합 is the standard way to refer to the yuri or girls' love genre in media.
Meaning: anime or manga genre (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 백합 literally means 'lily' in Korean.
Which one should you use?
While 백합 is the standard term, the English acronym GL is also frequently used within Korean online communities and subcultures to refer to the same genre.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
GL is more commonly used in informal online subcultures.
How do you pronounce it?
baekhap
Did you know?
- Korean readers often distinguish between 'pure' 백합, which focuses on platonic emotional bonds, and GL, which may imply more explicit romantic content.
- The Korean word 백합 is a semantic loan from Japanese, meaning the language adopted the meaning of the word 'lily' to describe the genre rather than just borrowing the sound of the Japanese word 'yuri'.
- Because 백합 means 'lily', the flower is often used as a visual shorthand or symbol in Korean webtoons to signal the genre before a word is even spoken.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요, 유리 씨. 제 이름은 태현입니다.Hello, Ms. Yuri. My name is Taehyun.
- 유리야, 오늘 날씨 진짜 좋다.Hey, Yuri, the weather is really nice today.
- 유리야, 점심 같이 먹을까?Hey, Yuri, want to have lunch together?
- 저는 백합 장르를 좋아해요.jeoneun baekhap jangreu-reul joahae-yo.I like the yuri genre.
- 최근에 재미있는 백합 만화를 봤어요.choegeune jaemi-inneun baekhap manhwa-reul bwasseoyo.I recently read an interesting yuri manga.
- 그 애니메이션은 백합이에요.geu aenimeisyeoneun baekhap-ieyo.That animation is yuri.
Example conversation
Minji and Jihun are talking about their favorite comics at a bookstore.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨는 백합 만화 읽어본 적 있어요?jihun ssineun baekhap manhwa ilgeobon jeok isseoyo?Jihun, have you ever read a yuri manga?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니요, 아직 안 읽어봤어요.aniyo, ajik an ilgeobwasseoyo.No, I haven't read any yet.
- 민지 Min-ji이 책이 제가 제일 좋아하는 백합 작품이에요.i chaegi jega jeil joahaeneun baekhap jakpumieyo.This book is my favorite yuri work.
- 지훈 Ji-hun추천해주셔서 감사해요, 한번 읽어볼게요.chucheonhaejusyeoseo gamsahaeyo, hanbeon ilgeobolgeyo.Thank you for the recommendation, I'll give it a read.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yuri” translations and entries 백합, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 백합, CC BY-SA 4.0.
