Key Facts
- Hangul: 벚꽃; Revised Romanization: beotkkot
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral, everyday word; strongly associated with spring.
Cherry Blossom in Korean: What Does 벚꽃 Mean?
벚꽃 is a cherry blossom, the flower itself. It is a native, neutral noun that is strongly tied to spring. The tree is a separate word, 벚나무, so 벚꽃 is the blossom and not the tree.
How Do You Pronounce 벚꽃?
벚꽃 has two syllables and is written beotkkot in Revised Romanization, pronounced [beot-kkot]. The final ㅈ of the first syllable is read as a t sound, and the ㄲ in the second syllable is a tense kk. The last consonant, ㅊ, also sounds like a t at the end of the word.
Example Sentences with 벚꽃
봄에 벚꽃이 피어요.
Bome beotkkochi pieoyo.
Cherry blossoms bloom in spring.
봄에 means "in spring", and 피어요 means "bloom" or "open".
벚꽃 구경을 가요.
Beotkkot gugyeongeul gayo.
We're going to see the cherry blossoms.
구경 is looking or sightseeing, so 벚꽃 구경 is blossom viewing, the usual spring outing.
벚꽃이 정말 예뻐요.
Beotkkochi jeongmal yeppeoyo.
The cherry blossoms are really pretty.
정말 means "really", and 예뻐요 means "pretty".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 벚꽃이 피다 | cherry blossoms bloom |
| 벚꽃 축제 | cherry blossom festival |
| 벚꽃 구경 | cherry blossom viewing |
| 벚꽃길 | cherry-blossom-lined road |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 벗꽃 or 벚꼿
Correct: ✓ 벚꽃
Why: The first syllable is written with ㅈ, and the last with ㅊ. Both are pronounced with a t sound, which is why people guess the wrong letters when spelling by ear.
벚꽃 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 벚꽃 | cherry blossom | The word on this page. |
| 벚나무 | cherry tree | The tree itself, not the flower. |
| 꽃 | flower | The general word for any flower. |
| 봄 | spring | The season when the blossoms bloom. |
Spring (봄) is when the 벚나무 puts out its 벚꽃, which is a kind of 꽃.
Where Does the Word Come From?
Nothing in the spelling of 벚꽃 comes from Chinese characters, because it is a native Korean word.
Cherry blossom viewing in early spring is hugely popular in Korea, with festivals such as Jinhae Gunhangje in Changwon.
Planning a Spring Walk
Two friends are choosing an outing and checking whether the flowers are open.
Jisu
주말에 벚꽃 보러 갈까요?
Jumare beotkkot boreo galkkayo?
Shall we go to see the cherry blossoms this weekend?
Alex
좋아요. 공원에 벚꽃이 피었어요?
Joayo. Gongwone beotkkochi pieosseoyo?
Sounds good. Have the cherry blossoms opened in the park?
Jisu
네. 지금 정말 예뻐요.
Ne. Jigeum jeongmal yeppeoyo.
Yes. They are really pretty now.
Alex
그럼 토요일에 같이 가요.
Geureom toyoire gachi gayo.
Then let’s go together on Saturday.
보러 가다 means to go in order to see something. In the opening question, 벚꽃 is what the friends want to see; the object marker is left out naturally in conversation. 피었어요 asks whether the blossoms have opened already. That question matters for an outing because a park can have cherry trees even when there are no open flowers.
Phrases for the Stages of Blooming
벚꽃이 피다 means that cherry blossoms bloom or open. 벚꽃이 피었어요 reports that they have opened. The past form describes an event that has happened, but the flowers may still be on the trees now. It does not automatically mean the blossom season is over.
벚꽃이 만개하다 means that the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. 만개 is useful in reports and photo captions because it identifies the fullest stage of flowering. 벚꽃이 지다 means that the blossoms fade or fall. The verb tells you which stage is being described, so listen beyond the familiar noun.
벚꽃잎 means cherry blossom petals. When petals fall through the air, people may call the scene 꽃비, literally “flower rain.” This is a descriptive image for falling petals, rather than a weather forecast. The word 꽃비 can refer to flowers other than cherry blossoms too.
벚꽃 구경 means looking at or enjoying the blossoms. 구경 makes the flowers the reason for the outing. 벚꽃 축제 names an organized festival, while a simple walk to see flowers can be 벚꽃 구경 without any festival taking place. You can invite someone blossom viewing without naming a ticketed event.
Where Will You See 벚꽃?
벚꽃 appears in spring outing suggestions, park photos, festival posters and travel descriptions. 개화 means the opening of flowers, and 개화 시기 means the flowering period or time of blooming. A heading containing 벚꽃 개화 시기 is about when the flowers open, rather than the opening hours of a venue.
만개 and 개화 are more report-like than the everyday 피었어요 in the dialogue. You may read them in a short headline even when people use simpler verbs in conversation. Knowing both styles helps you connect an outing announcement with what a friend says about the same trees.
The noun itself is neutral. 벚꽃 can describe one blossom or the flowers collectively; English often needs a plural where Korean keeps the same noun. In 벚꽃이 정말 예뻐요, the speaker can be admiring a whole avenue of trees. There is no need to add 들 just because many blossoms are visible.
Words for Describing What You See
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 꽃잎 | petal | Names one part of the flower. |
| 개화 | flowering / opening of flowers | Useful in seasonal reports. |
| 만개 | full bloom | Describes the fullest stage of flowering. |
| 꽃구경 | flower viewing | Broader than looking at cherry blossoms alone. |
The plants and flowers lesson gives the wider vocabulary for describing a spring walk. Keep 꽃 for flowers generally and 벚꽃 for this particular kind; a pink flower in a photo is not necessarily a cherry blossom.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word names the tree: 벚꽃 or 벚나무?
- Does 벚꽃 구경 require an organized festival?
- What does 만개 tell you in a blossom report?
Show answers
- 벚나무. 벚꽃 names the blossom.
- No. It can be an ordinary outing to enjoy the flowers.
- The flowers are in full bloom.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "cherry blossom" in Korean?
Cherry blossom in Korean is 벚꽃 (beotkkot), pronounced [beot-kkot].
How do I say "cherry blossom festival"?
Say 벚꽃 축제. Viewing the blossoms is 벚꽃 구경, and a road lined with them is a 벚꽃길.
How do I spell 벚꽃 correctly?
Spell it 벚꽃. Common wrong spellings are 벗꽃 and 벚꼿.
Is 벚꽃 the tree or the flower?
The flower. The tree is the 벚나무.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Plants and Flowers groups 벚꽃 with its neighbours.
- Index: find cherry blossom beside every other single-word entry in Korean words A to Z.
- See also flower.
- See also spring.