Korean Dictionary
How to say "Illustration" in Korean
“Illustration” in Korean is 일러스트레이션 (pronounced "Illeoseuteureishan").
일러스트레이션
Illeoseuteureishan
Usage & Context
A loanword from English, widely used in Korean design and publishing industries. Includes both traditional and digital illustration.
Example Sentence
일러스트레이션은 책의 아름다움을 더합니다.
Illustration adds beauty to books.
How to use 일러스트레이션 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Illustration” is 일러스트레이션, romanized as Illeoseuteureishan.
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 일러스트레이션.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce "일러스트레이션" as "Il-leo-seu-teu-rei-shyeon." "Il" sounds like "ill," "leo" like "luh" in "love," "seu" and "teu" are light 's' and 't' sounds followed by a soft 'uh' (like 'oo' in 'good' but shorter), "rei" like "ray," and "shyeon" like "shun." The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on "rei."
More Example Sentences
Complimenting a book's design.
이 책의 표지 일러스트레이션이 정말 예뻐요.
The cover illustration of this book is really pretty.
Expressing an interest in a skill.
저는 디지털 일러스트레이션을 배우고 싶어요.
I want to learn digital illustration.
Discussing webtoon art.
웹툰 작가들은 멋진 일러스트레이션으로 이야기를 전달하죠.
Webtoon artists convey stories with wonderful illustrations.
Cultural Context
"일러스트레이션" is a direct loanword widely used in Korea, especially in publishing, advertising, and the booming webtoon and gaming industries. Korean illustrators are highly regarded, and their work frequently features in popular K-pop album art, merchandise, and even animated series. The term encompasses both traditional and digital art forms, with digital illustration being particularly dominant in the fast-paced digital content sectors.
Editorial note
We review entries like 일러스트레이션 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
일러스트레이션 작가
illustration artist
일러스트레이션 디자인
illustration design
디지털 일러스트레이션
digital illustration
Related Expressions
그림
geurim
drawing, picture
삽화
saphwa
illustration (more traditional/academic term)
드로잉
deuroing
drawing (loanword)
아트워크
ateuwookeu
artwork (loanword)
More Art & Design Words
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