Korean Dictionary
How to say "Purse" in Korean
“Purse” in Korean is 핸드백 (pronounced "haen-deu-baek").
핸드백
haen-deu-baek
Usage & Context
핸드백 is a handbag or purse used to carry personal items. Korean women often carry stylish handbags as part of their fashion statement.
Example Sentence
새 핸드백을 샀어요.
I bought a new handbag.
How to use 핸드백 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Purse” is 핸드백, romanized as haen-deu-baek.
Usage tip
Shopping Korean usually sounds more natural when you use short polite questions instead of translating English directly.
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 핸드백.
Pronunciation Guide
핸 (haen) sounds like 'han' in 'hand'. 드 (deu) is a quick 'duh' sound. 백 (baek) sounds like 'back' in 'backpack'. Combine as haen-deu-baek, with the 'eu' sound being very subtle.
More Example Sentences
Matching an outfit before going out.
이 핸드백은 제 옷이랑 잘 어울려요.
This handbag goes well with my outfit.
Excitedly telling a friend about a special gift.
엄마가 생일 선물로 명품 핸드백을 사주셨어요.
Mom bought me a luxury handbag for my birthday.
Commenting on a friend's heavy or full bag.
핸드백 안에 뭐가 그렇게 많아요?
What's so much in your handbag?
Cultural Context
Handbags are a significant fashion accessory in Korea, often reflecting personal style and sometimes status. Luxury brand handbags are highly sought after and can be seen as investment pieces. Many Korean women carry a separate 'pouch' (파우치, pa-u-chi) inside their handbag for makeup and small essentials. It's also common to see people carefully placing their handbags on a separate chair or a bag hook in cafes and restaurants, rather than on the floor.
Editorial note
We review entries like 핸드백 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
핸드백을 들다
To carry a handbag
명품 핸드백
Luxury handbag
핸드백 정리
Organizing a handbag
Related Expressions
가방
ga-bang
Bag (general term)
숄더백
syol-deo-baek
Shoulder bag
클러치
keul-leo-chi
Clutch bag
백팩
baek-paek
Backpack
More Shopping Words
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