Key Facts
- Hangul: 그림; Revised Romanization: geurim
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral; refers to drawn or painted images, not photographs.
Picture in Korean: What Does 그림 Mean?
그림 is any image made by hand: a child's sketch, a painting in a gallery or an illustration. It does not cover photographs, which are 사진. It sits inside several compounds, including 그림책, the picture book, and 그림 그리기, the activity of drawing. The verb 그리다 means "to draw", and 그림 grows out of it.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Two syllables: geu-rim. The first has the ㅡ vowel, said with a flat, unrounded mouth, and the ㄹ in the middle is a light tap.
Example Sentences with 그림
저는 그림을 그려요.
Jeoneun geurimeul geuryeoyo.
I draw a picture.
A hobby statement. 그려요 is the verb 그리다 in polite form, so the sentence literally says "I draw a drawing".
이 그림이 예뻐요.
I geurimi yeppeoyo.
This painting is pretty.
A comment on an artwork. 이 그림이 points at one painting, and 예뻐요 means "is pretty".
미술관에서 그림을 봤어요.
Misulgwaneseo geurimeul bwasseoyo.
I saw paintings at the art museum.
A gallery memory. 미술관에서 is "at the art museum", and 봤어요 is the past of "saw".
Common Phrases and Collocations
These phrases cover making pictures, picture books and the activity of drawing.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 그림을 그리다 | draw/paint a picture |
| 그림책 | picture book |
| 그림 그리기 | drawing |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners use 그림 for photos because English "picture" covers both.
Wrong: 그림 for a photo you took with your phone
Correct: 사진 for a photograph; 그림 only for something drawn or painted
A hint: 그림 grows from the verb 그리다, "to draw", so if nobody drew it, it is not a 그림.
그림 Compared with 사진 and 그리다
The closest neighbours are the photograph and the verb behind the noun.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 그림 | picture | This page's word |
| 사진 | photograph | Made with a camera, not by hand. |
| 그리다 | to draw | The verb behind 그림. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
그림 is a native Korean noun, tied to the verb 그리다, so it has no hanja.
Choosing a Drawing to Hang Up
Two friends look at a drawing one of them has made. The conversation moves from identifying the artist to deciding where to display the work.
Jisu
이 그림은 누가 그렸어요?
I geurimeun nuga geuryeosseoyo?
Who drew this picture?
Mina
제가 그렸어요.
Jega geuryeosseoyo.
I drew it.
Jisu
벽에 걸어도 돼요?
Byeoge georeodo dwaeyo?
May I hang it on the wall?
Mina
네, 액자는 저기 있어요.
Ne, aekjaneun jeogi isseoyo.
Yes, the frame is over there.
누가 asks “who” did the drawing. 제가 answers with “I” as the subject, and the noun 그림 is left out because the question already identifies it. This is a natural way to credit the person who made the picture.
벽에 marks the wall as the place to hang the artwork. 걸어도 돼요 asks for permission, so the speaker is not simply announcing an action. 액자 is the frame, a separate object from the 그림 itself.
Drawing, Displaying and Admiring 그림
그림을 그리다 covers both drawing and painting in everyday Korean. The noun 그림 does not tell you whether the artist used a pencil, paint or a digital drawing tool. It identifies the image as an artwork or illustration; another word can specify its subject or medium.
그림을 걸다 means hanging a picture, usually on a wall. 그림을 감상하다 means appreciating or viewing an artwork with attention. The first describes what happens to the object; the second describes how a person engages with the work. 감상하다 fits gallery visits and conversations about art.
그림 같은 means “picture-like” or “like a painting”. In 그림 같은 풍경, a “picture-like landscape”, the speaker admires beautiful scenery. The landscape is real: the comparison describes its appearance. This is a useful step beyond the literal sense of an image on paper.
그림의 떡 literally means “rice cake in a picture”. It refers to something desirable that you cannot actually obtain or use. A beautiful house beyond someone’s budget can be described this way. The point is that looking at the pictured food does not let you eat it; the phrase expresses unattainability, rather than a preference for rice cakes.
Where Will You Hear or See 그림?
In a children’s activity book, 그림 can label an illustration to look at or color. 그림책 is a picture book, while 그림 그리기 names the activity of drawing. The shared noun helps you recognize the topic, but 책 and 그리기 tell you whether you are choosing a book or an activity.
At a gallery, 그림 is an ordinary word for a painting. 작품 means “work” or “artwork” and can also cover sculptures and other creations. A label using 작품 is therefore broader than one using 그림. You can use the everyday 그림 in a polite conversation about art without needing a special honorific noun.
Words beside the Drawing
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 미술 | visual art | The subject or field, rather than one picture. |
| 화가 | painter / artist | The person who makes paintings. |
| 액자 | picture frame | Holds or surrounds the image. |
| 풍경 | scenery / landscape | Can be the real view that an artist depicts. |
The hobby vocabulary lesson connects 그림 with other leisure activities. When you describe something hanging on a wall, identify the image separately from its frame: a new 액자 can surround the same 그림.
Quick Self-Test
- Is a phone photograph usually 그림 or 사진?
- Does 그림 같은 풍경 describe a real landscape or only a painted one?
- What does 그림의 떡 suggest about something you want?
Show answers
- 사진.
- A real landscape admired as beautiful as a painting.
- It is out of reach or unavailable, like food you can only see in a picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "picture" in Korean?
Say 그림 (geurim).
How do you say "draw a picture"?
그림을 그리다 means "draw or paint a picture".
What is the difference between 그림 and 사진?
그림 is drawn or painted. 사진 is a photograph.
What is a 그림책?
It is a picture book, a children's book told mainly through illustrations.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: hobby words groups 그림 with other leisure words.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists every single-word page.
- Practice: add 그림 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the hobbies list is the page on reading.
- Compare with the page for photo.