Korean Dictionary
How to say "Pyebaek (Traditional Wedding Ceremony)" in Korean
“Pyebaek (Traditional Wedding Ceremony)” in Korean is 폐백 (pronounced "pyebaek").
폐백
pyebaek
Usage & Context
폐백 is the traditional Korean wedding ceremony held after the Western-style ceremony where the bride formally greets the groom's family. The bride and groom wear 한복 and the groom's parents throw chestnuts and dates to the bride who tries to catch them in her skirt predicting the number of children they will have. 폐백 symbolizes the bride's official entry into the groom's family.
Example Sentence
폐백 때 시어머니가 대추와 밤을 던져줬어요.
At the pyebaek my mother-in-law threw dates and chestnuts.
How to use 폐백 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Pyebaek (Traditional Wedding Ceremony)” is 폐백, romanized as pyebaek.
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 폐백.
Pronunciation Guide
"폐백" is pronounced as "pyeh-baek." "Pyeh" sounds like "peh" in "pet" but with a 'y' sound before it, similar to "pye" in "pye-thon." "Baek" sounds like "back" but with a slightly softer 'b' and a sharper 'k' at the end. The 'ㅐ' (ae) vowel is like the 'a' in "cat" or "bad."
More Example Sentences
Describing the actions performed during the ceremony.
폐백 때 한복을 입고 시부모님께 절을 올렸어요.
During the pyebaek, I wore hanbok and bowed to my parents-in-law.
Explaining a specific, symbolic part of the ceremony.
신랑 신부가 폐백실에서 대추와 밤을 던지는 의식을 했어요.
The bride and groom performed the ritual of throwing dates and chestnuts in the pyebaek room.
Discussing modern trends and changes in wedding customs.
요즘은 폐백을 생략하는 커플도 많다고 들었어요.
I heard that many couples nowadays skip the pyebaek.
Cultural Context
폐백 is a significant traditional Korean wedding ceremony, typically held after the modern Western-style ceremony. It's the bride's formal introduction and greeting to the groom's family, especially the parents, while both wear elaborate *hanbok*. A highlight is when the groom's parents throw dates (대추) and chestnuts (밤) to the bride, who tries to catch them in her skirt, symbolizing wishes for many children and prosperity. While still cherished, some modern couples, particularly in international marriages, choose to simplify or omit it.
Editorial note
We review entries like 폐백 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
폐백을 하다.
To perform the pyebaek ceremony.
폐백 음식.
Pyebaek food (traditional foods prepared for the ceremony).
폐백실.
Pyebaek room (a dedicated room for the ceremony).
Related Expressions
한복
hanbok
Traditional Korean clothing
시부모님
sibumonim
Parents-in-law (groom's parents)
대추
daechu
Jujube (date)
밤
bam
Chestnut
More Holidays & Festivals Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Pyebaek (Traditional Wedding Ceremony) and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
