Korean Dictionary
How to say "Haircut" in Korean
“Haircut” in Korean is 이발 (pronounced "Ibal").
이발
Ibal
Usage & Context
Getting a haircut. 미용실 (miyongsil) is a beauty salon (unisex or women's), 이발소 (ibalsso) is a traditional barber shop. Korean beauty salons are known for their expertise in hair treatments and styling. K-pop idol hairstyles significantly influence Korean hair trends.
Example Sentence
머리가 많이 자랐어요. 이번 주에 이발해야겠어요.
My hair has grown a lot. I should get a haircut this week.
How to use 이발 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Haircut” is 이발, romanized as Ibal.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 이발.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 이 (i), sounds like 'ee' in 'see'. The second syllable, 발 (bal), sounds like 'bal' in 'ball' but with a lighter 'b' and the 'a' vowel (like 'ah' in 'father'). Combine them: 'ee-bal'.
More Example Sentences
Talking about a family member's routine.
아버지는 항상 이발소에서 이발하세요.
My father always gets his haircut at the barber shop.
Expressing personal feeling after a fresh cut.
오랜만에 이발했더니 시원하네요.
It feels refreshing after getting a haircut after a long time.
Complimenting someone's new appearance.
이발하고 나니 훨씬 깔끔해 보여요.
You look much neater after your haircut.
Cultural Context
In Korea, '이발' (ibal) specifically refers to a men's haircut, typically done at an '이발소' (ibalsso), a traditional barber shop. For women's haircuts or more general hair styling (including unisex salons), '미용실' (miyongsil) is the common term. Korean beauty salons are renowned for their advanced techniques in hair treatments, perms, and styling, often influenced by popular K-pop idol hairstyles and trends.
Editorial note
We review entries like 이발 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
이발하다
To get a haircut (verb form)
이발비
Haircut fee
이발사
Barber
Related Expressions
미용실
miyongsil
Beauty salon (unisex or women's)
이발소
ibalsso
Barber shop (traditional, men's)
머리 자르다
meori jareuda
To cut hair (verb phrase)
파마
pama
Perm (loanword)
More Daily Life Words
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