Korean/Lesson I4

Learn Korean (Introduction) — Reading and writing •
Conversation
1급: Beginner — 1. Greetings • 2. Forming sentences • 3. Connective forms and negation • 4. Colors • 5. Recreation / In a taxi • 6. Family • 7. Around the house • 8. Using the telephone • 9. School • 10. Shopping • 11. Onomatopoeia
2단계: High beginner • 3단계: Low intermediate • 4단계: High intermediate • 5단계: Low advanced • 6단계: Advanced
Grammar

Colors

As well as having two sets of numbers, Korean also uses two sets of colors, one being the native Korean set, the other being derived from Chinese characters hanja 한자 (漢字).

Native Korean set

Various like dozens of Korean words represent similar colors but express the different impression of colors. The following Korean words about color are the most neutral and normal words.

Korean colors may be followed by native word, 빛 or 빛깔, or followed by 색 (色) which is derived from Chinese characters. Each word means color.

Name	Adjective	Verb	Translation	Notes
빨강	빨간	빨갛다	red, crimson
뻘건색	뻘건	뻘겋다	red, ruddy
파랑	파란	파랗다	blue, bluegreen
퍼런색	퍼런	퍼렇다	darkblue
보라색	보라색	none	violet
초록(풀빛)	푸른	푸르다	darkgreen, azure	The adjectives for blue may be used with green. 풀빛 means grass-light.
노랑	노란	노랗다	yellow
누런색	누런	누렇다	yellow, sallow
하양	하얀 or 흰	하얗다	white
허연색	허연	허옇다	pure white
검정	검은	검다	black
까만색	까만	까맣다	black, ebony

Examples

빨간 입술 red lips
파란 하늘 blue sky
푸른 초원 green grassland
노란 병아리 yellow chick
흰 눈 white snow
검은 눈동자 black pupil

Chinese character set

	적 (赤), 홍 (紅)	red
	청 (靑)	blue
	녹 (綠)	green
	황 (黃)	yellow
	주황 (硃黃)	orange
	남 (藍)	navy
	자주 (紫硃)	purple
	회 (灰)	gray
	백 (白)	white
	흑 (黑)	black

백인 (白人) white person
흑인 (黑人) black person
흑백필름 (黑白 film) black & white film
적색신호 (赤色信號) red light signal
청바지(靑바지) blue jeans

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