Key Facts
- Hangul: 복숭아; Revised Romanization: boksunga
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral; used in all registers. Spoken as [bok-ssung-a].
Peach in Korean: What Does 복숭아 Mean?
복숭아 means peach, the soft, sweet summer fruit. It is neutral and works in speech, writing and shop signs alike. 천도복숭아 is the smooth-skinned nectarine, 자두 is the plum, and 과일 is the general word for fruit.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Written as boksunga, but spoken as [bok-ssung-a]: the ㅅ after the final ㄱ of the first syllable is tensed, so you hear a double s. The ㅇ at the start of 아 is silent, so the last syllable is just "a".
Example Sentences with 복숭아
복숭아가 달아요.
Boksungaga darayo
The peach is sweet.
The simplest taste comment. 달아요 means "is sweet", and the particle after the fruit marks it as the subject.
저는 복숭아를 좋아해요.
Jeoneun boksungareul joahaeyo
I like peaches.
A statement of preference. 좋아해요 is the verb for liking, so the sentence says you like peaches, with 저는 as the topic "as for me".
여름에는 복숭아가 맛있어요.
Yeoreumeneun boksungaga masisseoyo
Peaches are delicious in summer.
A seasonal remark. 여름에는 means "in summer", with 는 adding a contrast with other seasons, and 맛있어요 means "is delicious".
Common Phrases and Collocations
Four phrases cover eating, counting, juice and flavour.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 복숭아를 먹다 | to eat a peach |
| 복숭아 한 개 | one peach |
| 복숭아 주스 | peach juice |
| 복숭아 맛 | peach flavor |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners spell the middle vowel the way they half-hear it.
Wrong: 복송아 or 복상아.
Correct: 복숭아. The middle syllable is 숭, with ㅜ (u), pronounced ssung. Keep the final ng of 숭 before the last 아; it is different from the ㄴ ending in a word such as 공원.
복숭아 Compared with 자두 and 천도복숭아
Two fruit words sit next to the peach on a fruit stall, plus the general word for fruit.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 복숭아 | peach | This page's word |
| 자두 | plum | A smaller, tarter stone fruit. |
| 천도복숭아 | nectarine | A smooth-skinned relative of the peach. |
| 과일 | fruit | The umbrella word that includes all of these. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
복숭아 is a native Korean word with no hanja. Its deeper history is not settled, so this page does not claim one.
Choosing Peaches at a Fruit Stall
A customer wants firm peaches rather than soft ones. The seller points to a suitable selection.
Customer
이 복숭아는 딱딱해요?
I boksunganeun ttakttakaeyo?
Are these peaches firm?
Seller
네, 딱딱하고 달아요.
Ne, ttakttakago darayo.
Yes, they are firm and sweet.
Customer
그럼 세 개 주세요.
Geureom se gae juseyo.
Then please give me three.
Seller
네, 봉투에 담아 드릴게요.
Ne, bongtue dama deurilgeyo.
Sure, I will put them in a bag for you.
딱딱해요 describes the firm texture the customer wants. 세 개 counts three pieces of fruit; the noun 복숭아 can be left out after both speakers have identified it. 담아 드릴게요 is the seller's offer to put the purchase into a bag for the customer.
Which Peach Words Describe Texture and Color?
딱딱한 복숭아 means a firm peach, and 말랑한 복숭아 means a soft peach. These phrases describe texture, so they are more useful than just saying that a peach is good. A shopper may prefer either kind. Softness alone does not tell you whether a particular peach is sweet.
In casual food talk, 딱복 is short for 딱딱한 복숭아, and 물복 refers to a soft, juicy peach. These are informal preference labels you may meet in comments or chats about fruit. Use the full phrases when you want to be clear with a seller rather than relying on the shortened words.
백도 means white peach, and 황도 means yellow peach. The names describe the flesh color. They do not by themselves say how firm the fruit is. A label with 황도 may also appear on a canned peach product, so check the rest of the wording to see what is being sold.
Where Will You See 복숭아 on Menus and Packages?
복숭아 아이스티 means peach iced tea, a familiar menu combination. 복숭아 맛 means peach flavor. Here 맛 is the taste or flavor, so the label tells you what the product tastes like; it does not identify a whole fresh peach inside the package.
복숭아 주스 names peach juice, while 복숭아 잼 names peach jam. The noun after 복숭아 identifies the product. This order makes it easier to scan a shelf: look past the fruit word to see whether you have found a drink, a spread or another flavored item.
For a whole peach, 개 is the ordinary general counter. The phrase 복숭아 한 개 counts one fruit, while a box or basket needs its own packaging word. In the dialogue, 세 개 asks for three individual peaches. It does not ask for three boxes, even if the fruit is displayed in boxes.
Words for Discussing a Peach
| Korean | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 껍질 | skin / peel | The outside of the fruit. |
| 씨 | seed / pit | The hard center in this fruit. |
| 과육 | flesh | The part beneath the skin, used in product descriptions. |
| 천도복숭아 | nectarine | The smooth-skinned kind contrasted with a fuzzy peach. |
The fruit vocabulary lesson places 복숭아 alongside other fruit names. Texture, flesh color and product type each answer a different question, so choose the phrase that matches what you want to buy.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 딱딱한 복숭아 tell you about the fruit?
- Does 복숭아 맛 mean a whole fresh peach?
- How many peaches is 복숭아 세 개?
Show answers
- It has a firm texture.
- No. It means peach flavor.
- Three individual peaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "peach" in Korean?
Say 복숭아 (boksunga), pronounced [bok-ssung-a].
How do you spell 복숭아 correctly?
The middle syllable is 숭. Spellings such as 복송아 or 복상아 are common learner errors.
How do you say "one peach"?
복숭아 한 개 means "one peach".
What is the difference between 복숭아 and 자두?
복숭아 is the peach. 자두 is the plum.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: fruit words groups 복숭아 with other fruit words.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists every single-word page.
- Practice: add 복숭아 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the fruit list is pear, the pear page.