Key Facts
- Hangul: 꽃; Revised Romanization: kkot
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: neutral, everyday word
Flower in Korean: What Does 꽃 Mean?
꽃 means flower, and it covers wild flowers, garden flowers and cut flowers in a bouquet alike. It is the word you hear in spring small talk and when someone buys flowers as a gift. Korean nouns have no plural ending here, so 꽃 can be "a flower" or "flowers" depending on context.
How Do You Pronounce 꽃?
On its own, 꽃 sounds like [kkot]. The ㄲ at the start is tense: no puff of air, with more pressure than an English k. The final ㅊ is not released when nothing follows, so it sounds like a short t.
When a vowel follows, the ㅊ comes back in full and moves to the next syllable: 꽃이 is [kko-chi] and 꽃을 is [kko-cheul].
Example Sentences with 꽃
꽃이 예뻐요.
Kkochi yeppeoyo.
The flowers are pretty.
예뻐요 means "is pretty". Listen for kkochi: the ㅊ joins the subject particle 이 instead of staying in the first syllable.
봄에 꽃이 피어요.
Bome kkochi pieoyo.
Flowers bloom in spring.
봄에 means "in spring", and 피어요 means "bloom". This is the most natural verb to pair with 꽃.
엄마에게 꽃을 줘요.
Eommaege kkocheul jwoyo.
I give flowers to my mom.
에게 marks the person who receives something, here 엄마 (mom), and 줘요 means "give". Again the ㅊ links forward: kkocheul.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Two verb phrases and two compound nouns cover most everyday use. In 꽃다발 and 꽃집, the following consonant becomes tense: 꽃다발 is [꼳따발] and 꽃집 is [꼳찝]. The spelling keeps 꽃 in both words.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 꽃이 피다 | flowers bloom |
| 꽃을 사다 | to buy flowers |
| 꽃다발 | bouquet |
| 꽃집 | flower shop |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: reading 꽃이 as [kkot-i], with a t sound and a break before the particle.
Correct: 꽃이 is [kko-chi]. The final ㅊ moves over to the next syllable and is pronounced as ch.
꽃 Compared with Similar Words
These words are not synonyms of 꽃, but they often appear in the same sentences.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 꽃 | flower | This page's word |
| 나무 | tree | A tree or wood, not a flower |
| 봄 | spring | The season when most flowers bloom |
Where Does the Word Come From?
꽃 is a native Korean word and has no hanja form.
Cultural Note
Cherry blossom viewing in spring is a popular outing in Korea, which is why 꽃 and 봄 so often appear together.
At a Flower Shop: Choosing a Gift
A customer wants a bouquet for a birthday. The shopkeeper asks about the type of flower before putting the gift together.
Customer
생일 선물로 꽃을 사고 싶어요.
Saengil seonmullo kkocheul sago sipeoyo.
I want to buy flowers as a birthday gift.
Shopkeeper
어떤 꽃을 좋아하세요?
Eotteon kkocheul joahaseyo?
What kind of flowers do you like?
Customer
장미를 좋아해요.
Jangmireul joahaeyo.
I like roses.
Shopkeeper
그럼 장미 꽃다발은 어때요?
Geureom jangmi kkotdabareun eottaeyo?
Then how about a bouquet of roses?
선물로 means “as a gift”; it tells the shopkeeper why the customer is buying flowers. 어떤 꽃 asks about the kind, so a flower name such as 장미, “rose”, answers it naturally. 꽃다발 makes clear that the customer is considering a bouquet rather than a potted plant. The polite question 좋아하세요 asks about the customer’s preference, while 좋아해요 states the customer’s own preference.
Where Will You See 꽃 outside a Dictionary?
A 꽃집 sign points to a flower shop. Inside, a label reading 화분 refers to a plant pot or a potted plant, while 꽃다발 refers to flowers gathered into a bouquet. If you want something to keep growing at home, that distinction helps you ask for the right kind of purchase.
In spring outing plans, 꽃구경 means going to look at flowers. The second part, 구경, means looking around or sightseeing. 벚꽃 is cherry blossom, so a 벚꽃 축제 is a cherry blossom festival. The general word 꽃 does not identify the species; a photo caption or festival name often supplies it.
Weather and travel reports may use 개화, “the opening of flowers”, when discussing blossom timing. In everyday conversation, the existing phrase 꽃이 피다 expresses the same basic event more simply. You can recognize the formal noun in a forecast and still use the everyday verb when talking about a tree near your home.
Literal Flowers and a Figurative Flower Path
꽃이 피다 describes flowers opening. 꽃이 지다 describes them fading or falling after blooming. These verbs describe different stages: a tree can still be present after its blossoms have gone. In a spring conversation, knowing both helps you explain whether there are flowers left to see.
꽃길 literally means a path with flowers. Figuratively, it can suggest a happy, successful future. The wish 꽃길만 걷자, “let’s walk only on flower paths”, is familiar in supportive messages and fan comments. Its purpose is encouragement. A caption using 꽃길 may be celebrating someone’s next chapter rather than recommending an actual walking route.
Words for Choosing and Describing Flowers
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 장미 | rose | A flower name you can use when choosing a bouquet. |
| 벚꽃 | cherry blossom | The specific blossom in many spring outing plans. |
| 꽃잎 | petal | Names one part of the flower. |
| 향기 | fragrance | Describes the pleasant smell of flowers. |
The landscape and nature vocabulary lesson places flowers alongside trees and other scenery. Keep 꽃 as your general word, then add a flower name when the kind matters to the conversation.
Quick Self-Test
- What is the difference between 꽃다발 and 화분 in a shop?
- Which phrase describes flowers opening: 꽃이 피다 or 꽃이 지다?
- Does a supportive message about 꽃길 always describe a real path?
Show answers
- 꽃다발 is a bouquet; 화분 is a plant pot or potted plant.
- 꽃이 피다 means flowers bloom. 꽃이 지다 describes flowers fading or falling.
- No. It can express a wish for happiness and success.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "flower" in Korean?
Say 꽃 (kkot). The same word works for one flower or many.
How is 꽃이 pronounced?
As [kko-chi], not [kkot-i]. The final ㅊ moves to the next syllable before a vowel.
What is a bouquet in Korean?
A bouquet is 꽃다발, a compound of 꽃 and the word for a bundle.
What is a flower shop in Korean?
A flower shop is 꽃집.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: landscape and nature words puts 꽃 among other scenery words.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Compare with the page for tree.
- Read next: the season word spring.