Korean Dictionary
How to say "Freckles" in Korean
“Freckles” in Korean is 주근깨 (pronounced "Jugeunkkae").
주근깨
Jugeunkkae
Usage & Context
주근깨 (freckles) are small brown spots on the skin caused by sun exposure. In Korean beauty culture, freckles were traditionally seen as blemishes, but younger generations increasingly find them charming. Sun protection is strongly emphasized in Korea partly to prevent freckles.
Example Sentence
햇볕에 많이 노출되면 주근깨가 생길 수 있어요.
Excessive sun exposure can cause freckles.
How to use 주근깨 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Freckles” is 주근깨, romanized as Jugeunkkae.
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 주근깨.
Pronunciation Guide
For 주근깨 (ju-geun-kkae), 'ju' sounds like 'joo' in 'juice', 'geun' like 'goon' (with a soft 'g'), and 'kkae' is a strong 'k' sound followed by 'eh', similar to 'keh-eh'. The overall sound is 'joo-goon-keh-eh'.
More Example Sentences
Explaining the origin of one's freckles.
어릴 때 햇볕을 많이 쬐어서 주근깨가 생겼어요.
I got freckles because I spent a lot of time in the sun when I was young.
Complimenting someone's unique features.
그녀는 주근깨가 있어서 더 매력적이에요.
She's more attractive because she has freckles.
Shopping for beauty products.
주근깨를 없애는 화장품을 찾고 있어요.
I'm looking for cosmetics to remove freckles.
Cultural Context
Traditionally, freckles (주근깨) were often considered a blemish in Korean beauty standards, which highly value clear, bright, and even-toned skin. This is why many K-beauty products focus on '미백' (mibaek, brightening/whitening) and blemish care. However, influenced by global trends and a shift towards embracing natural beauty, younger generations in Korea are increasingly finding freckles charming or unique, sometimes even drawing them on for a 'natural' look. Sun protection is rigorously practiced in Korea, partly to prevent freckles and other sun-induced spots.
Editorial note
We review entries like 주근깨 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
주근깨가 많아요.
I have a lot of freckles.
주근깨가 생겼어요.
I got freckles.
주근깨를 가리고 싶어요.
I want to cover my freckles.
Related Expressions
기미
gimi
melasma, liver spots
점
jeom
mole, spot
잡티
jap-ti
blemishes, minor spots
피부 미백
pibu mibaek
skin brightening/whitening
More Body Parts Words
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