Color Idioms¶
Red (빨강/빨강색/적색)¶
빨간 맛 - Exciting taste/experience (popularized by Red Velvet song)
빨간 맛이 궁금해!
Curious about that red taste! (that exciting feeling)
빨간 날 - Red-letter day, holiday
달력에 빨간 날이 많으면 좋아요.
It's nice when there are many holidays on the calendar.
빨간 불 - Red light (danger, warning)
우리 회사에 빨간 불이 켜졌어요.
Our company is in danger. (red light is on)
빨간 줄 - Red line (connection, relationship)
그들 사이에 빨간 줄이 있대요.
They say there's a red string between them. (destined relationship)
Blue (파랑/파랑색/청색)¶
파란만장 - Full of ups and downs, eventful
그의 인생은 파란만장했어요.
His life was full of ups and downs.
From: 파란 (blue/green waves) + 만장 (full)
청춘 - Youth (blue spring)
청춘을 즐겨라!
Enjoy your youth!
청출어람 - Student surpassing teacher (blue from indigo)
그 학생은 청출어람이에요.
That student has surpassed the teacher.
From Chinese idiom
White (하얀/하양/백색)¶
새하얗다 - Pure white, completely white
눈이 와서 산이 새하얘요.
It snowed so the mountain is pure white.
백지 - Blank slate (white paper)
다시 백지에서 시작해요.
Let's start from a blank slate again.
백발 - White hair (elderly)
백발이 되도록 사랑하세요.
Love each other until you have white hair (forever).
백기를 들다 - Surrender, give up (raise white flag)
너무 어려워서 백기를 들었어요.
It was too hard so I gave up.
백지장도 맞들면 낫다 - Proverb: teamwork helps
Even a sheet of paper is lighter when lifted together.
Black (검정/검정색/흑색)¶
흑백 - Black and white, clear distinction
흑백을 가려야 해요.
We need to distinguish right from wrong.
흑자 - Surplus, profit (black) 적자 - Deficit, loss (red)
올해는 흑자를 냈어요.
This year we made a profit.
Note: Opposite of English red/black accounting
검은 머리 파뿌리 되도록 - Until death (black hair becomes white roots)
검은 머리 파뿌리 되도록 함께해요.
Let's be together until death.
Yellow/Gold (노랑/금색)¶
황금 - Gold (valuable)
황금 같은 시간
Golden/precious time
황금알을 낳는 거위
The goose that lays golden eggs
노랗다 - Yellow (also means scared)
겁이 나서 얼굴이 노래졌어요.
Their face turned yellow from fear.
Color Combinations¶
알록달록 - Colorful, variegated
꽃이 알록달록해요.
The flowers are colorful.
형형색색 - Various colors
형형색색의 옷을 입었어요.
Wore clothes of various colors.
오색찬란 - Five colors brilliant (very colorful)
무지개가 오색찬란해요.
The rainbow is brilliantly colorful.
Gray/Uncertain¶
회색 지대 - Gray area
법의 회색 지대
Gray area of law
회색빛 - Grayish, uncertain
전망이 회색빛이에요.
The outlook is uncertain.
Cultural Color Meanings¶
Red¶
- Celebration, good fortune
- Passion, excitement
- Danger, warning
Blue¶
- Youth, vitality
- Sadness (like English "feeling blue")
- Calm, serenity
White¶
- Purity, cleanliness
- Death, mourning (traditional)
- New beginning
Black¶
- Darkness, evil
- Elegance, formality
- Depth, seriousness
Yellow/Gold¶
- Wealth, prosperity
- Autumn, harvest
- Cowardice (in some contexts)
Practice Exercises¶
Exercise 1: Color Meanings¶
What color is associated with: 1. Holidays on calendar 2. Youth 3. Giving up/surrender 4. Profit in business 5. Eventful life
Exercise 2: Complete Idioms¶
- ___ 기를 들다 (give up)
- ___ 만장 (eventful)
- ___ 불이 켜지다 (in danger)
Exercise 3: Use in Context¶
When would you use these expressions? 1. 흑자를 내다 2. 백지에서 시작하다 3. 빨간 날
Answer Key
Exercise 1: 1. Red (빨간 날) 2. Blue (청춘) 3. White (백기를 들다) 4. Black (흑자) 5. Blue (파란만장)
Exercise 2: 1. 백 2. 파란 3. 빨간
Exercise 3: 1. When business makes profit 2. When starting over fresh 3. Referring to holidays/days off
Modern Usage¶
Some color idioms are evolving: - 빨간 맛 became trendy after K-pop - Yellow associations changing with Western influence - Some traditional meanings fading
Stay current by noticing how colors are used in contemporary Korean media!