Korean Dictionary
How to say "Still life" in Korean
“Still life” in Korean is 정물화 (pronounced "Jeongmulhwa").
정물화
Jeongmulhwa
Usage & Context
Paintings of inanimate objects. Important subject matter in Korean art education and practice.
Example Sentence
정물화는 기초 미술 교육입니다.
Still life is fundamental art education.
How to use 정물화 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Still life” is 정물화, romanized as Jeongmulhwa.
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 정물화.
Pronunciation Guide
정 (jeong) sounds like 'jung' in 'jungle'. 물 (mul) sounds like 'mool' in 'pool'. 화 (hwa) sounds like 'hwah' like 'wah' but with a soft 'h' sound at the beginning. The stress is fairly even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
Recalling a first experience in art class.
미술 학원에서 처음으로 정물화를 그렸어요.
I drew my first still life at art academy.
Describing the subject matter of an artwork.
이 정물화는 과일과 꽃을 주제로 하고 있습니다.
This still life painting features fruits and flowers as its subject.
Discussing contemporary art trends.
현대 정물화는 전통적인 주제에서 벗어나 다양한 시도를 합니다.
Modern still life attempts various things, moving away from traditional subjects.
Cultural Context
'Jeongmulhwa' (정물화) is the Korean term for still life painting. While the genre has a strong Western tradition, it's a fundamental part of art education in Korea, especially for students preparing for art college entrance exams. These exams often include practical drawing or painting tests, and still life is a common subject. Therefore, many Koreans who have studied art will have extensive experience drawing or painting various arrangements of objects, from plaster busts to everyday items.
Editorial note
We review entries like 정물화 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
정물화 그리기
Drawing/painting a still life
정물화 수업
Still life class
정물화 작가
Still life artist
Related Expressions
인물화
inmulhwa
Portrait painting, figure painting
풍경화
punggyeonghwa
Landscape painting
추상화
chusanghwa
Abstract painting
회화
hoehwa
Painting (general term)
More Art & Design Words
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