Korean Dictionary
How to say "Butterfly" in Korean
“Butterfly” in Korean is 나비 (pronounced "nabi").
나비
nabi
Usage & Context
A delicate insect with colorful wings found throughout Korea. Butterflies are symbols of transformation and beauty in Korean culture. They are featured in Korean art and poetry.
Example Sentence
나비가 꽃 위에 앉아있어요.
The butterfly sits on the flower.
How to use 나비 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Butterfly” is 나비, romanized as nabi.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 나비.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'nah-bee' — 'nah' rhymes with 'ma' in 'mama,' and 'bee' sounds exactly like the English word 'bee.' Two light, equal syllables.
More Example Sentences
sharing a childhood memory
어렸을 때 할머니 댁 마당에서 나비를 쫓아다녔어요.
When I was little, I used to chase butterflies in my grandma's yard.
recommending K-pop songs to a friend
BTS의 '나비' 진짜 명곡이야.
BTS's 'Butterfly' is seriously a masterpiece.
describing a moment at home
나비 한 마리가 창문으로 들어왔어요.
A butterfly flew in through the window.
Cultural Context
나비 in Korean carries a dreamy, poetic quality — it shows up in classical poetry, traditional paintings (민화) paired with peonies for marital happiness, and is famously the title of a beloved BTS song from The Most Beautiful Moment in Life era. The phrase 나비효과 (butterfly effect) is widely understood, and 호랑나비 (tiger butterfly / swallowtail) is a staple of nostalgic K-pop — Kim Heung-gook's 1989 song 호랑나비 is one of the most-sung karaoke hits in history. In traditional culture, a butterfly landing near you was thought to bring good fortune.
Editorial note
We review entries like 나비 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
나비가 날아가요.
The butterfly is flying away.
나비 효과
Butterfly effect
꽃에 나비가 앉았어요.
A butterfly landed on the flower.
Related Expressions
호랑나비
horangnabi
swallowtail butterfly (lit. 'tiger butterfly')
나방
nabang
moth
날개
nalgae
wings
애벌레
aebeolle
caterpillar
More Animals Words
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