Korean Dictionary
How to say "Royal azalea" in Korean
“Royal azalea” in Korean is 진달래 (pronounced "Jinalae").
진달래
Jinalae
Usage & Context
Korea's national flower and a beloved symbol of spring. Blooms in pink-purple across mountainsides before leaves appear. Featured in Korean folk songs and poetry, notably Kim Sowol's famous poem 진달래꽃. Petals are edible — used in 화전 (flower pancakes) and 진달래화채 (azalea punch). Symbolizes longing and farewell.
Example Sentence
봄에 산에 진달래가 피면 정말 장관이에요.
When royal azaleas bloom on the mountains in spring, it's truly spectacular.
How to use 진달래 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Royal azalea” is 진달래, romanized as Jinalae.
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 진달래.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'jin-dal-lae' — 'jin' rhymes with 'pin,' 'dal' rhymes with 'doll,' and 'lae' sounds like 'leh' (as in 'let' without the t). Three even syllables, no stress.
More Example Sentences
describing a spring tradition with family
할머니가 진달래꽃으로 화전을 부쳐주셨어요.
My grandmother made flower pancakes using royal azalea petals.
talking about famous Korean literature
김소월의 '진달래꽃'은 한국인이라면 다 아는 시예요.
Kim Sowol's 'Azalea Flower' is a poem every Korean knows.
hiking with a friend in spring and pointing out flowers
진달래와 철쭉은 비슷하게 생겼지만 달라요.
Royal azaleas and rhododendrons look similar but are different.
Cultural Context
진달래 is deeply tied to Korean emotional vocabulary — it blooms on bare mountainsides in early April before any leaves appear, so it signals that true spring has arrived. Kim Sowol's 1925 poem 진달래꽃 is memorized by virtually every Korean student and has become shorthand for quiet, self-sacrificing love. Don't confuse it with 철쭉 (cheoljjuk, rhododendron), which looks almost identical but blooms later and is toxic — 진달래 is edible and known as 참꽃 (real flower), while 철쭉 is called 개꽃 (fake flower).
Editorial note
We review entries like 진달래 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
진달래가 만개했어요.
The royal azaleas are in full bloom.
봄에는 진달래 축제가 열려요.
In spring, royal azalea festivals are held.
진달래는 한국의 봄을 상징해요.
Royal azaleas symbolize the Korean spring.
Related Expressions
진달래꽃
jindallae-kkot
royal azalea flower (or the famous poem)
철쭉
cheoljjuk
rhododendron (the toxic lookalike)
화전
hwajeon
sweet pan-fried rice cake topped with edible flowers
참꽃
chamkkot
'real flower' — another name for the edible royal azalea
More Nature Words
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