Vocabulary5 min read851 views
Colors in Korean: Complete Vocabulary + Expressions
Learn colors in Korean with adjective forms and colorful idiomatic expressions.
Published on January 16, 2026
Basic Colors
In Korean, each color has two forms: the noun and the adjective (adjectives are verbs in Korean).
| Color | Noun | Adjective | Modifying form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 빨간색 | 빨갛다 | 빨간 |
| Blue | 파란색 | 파랗다 | 파란 |
| Yellow | 노란색 | 노랗다 | 노란 |
| Black | 검은색 | 검다 | 검은 |
| White | 하얀색 | 하얗다 | 하얀 |
| Green | 초록색 | — | 초록 |
| Orange | 주황색 | — | 주황 |
| Purple | 보라색 | — | 보라 |
| Pink | 분홍색 | — | 분홍 |
💡 색 (saek) means "color." Ask "무슨 색이에요?" = "What color is it?"
Color Idioms
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 새빨간 거짓말 | A blatant lie (a "bright red lie") |
| 파랗게 질리다 | To be terrified (to "turn blue") |
| 속이 검다 | To be deceitful ("insides are black") |
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