Korean Dictionary
How to say "Thin" in Korean
“Thin” in Korean is 얇은 (pronounced "Yalbeun").
얇은
Yalbeun
Usage & Context
Yalbeun is the Korean word for thin. Thinness is used in Korean design to create elegance and refinement. It represents delicacy and subtlety.
Example Sentence
얇은 선이 우아해요.
The thin line is elegant.
How to use 얇은 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Thin” is 얇은, romanized as Yalbeun.
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 얇은.
Pronunciation Guide
얇 (Yal) sounds like 'yal' in 'yacht' but with a clear 'l' sound. 은 (eun) sounds like 'eun' in 'eunuch' or a short 'u' sound like in 'putt' with slightly rounded lips. The 'ㄹㅂ' (lb) batchim is pronounced as 'lb', with the 'b' sound being clear.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
얇습니다
Yalpseumnida
Formal polite form of 'to be thin'.
Casual (반말)
얇아
Yalba
Casual form of 'to be thin'.
More Example Sentences
Commenting on clothing material.
이 셔츠는 너무 얇아서 비쳐요.
This shirt is so thin that it's see-through.
Describing art materials.
얇은 종이에 그림을 그렸어요.
I drew a picture on thin paper.
Talking about food preparation.
얇게 썬 무가 더 맛있어요.
Radish sliced thinly tastes better.
Cultural Context
'얇은' (Yalbeun) often connotes delicacy, elegance, or even fragility in Korean culture. Traditional Korean paper, '한지' (hanji), is known for being thin yet incredibly durable. In modern contexts, '얇은' is frequently used in beauty standards, referring to a slender figure, or in fashion, for light and airy fabrics. A '얇은 지갑' (yalbeun jigap - thin wallet) is a common idiom for having little money.
Editorial note
We review entries like 얇은 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
얇은 옷
thin clothes
얇은 종이
thin paper
얇은 지갑
thin wallet (meaning little money)
Related Expressions
가는
Ganeun
thin (for cylindrical objects like hair, thread)
두꺼운
Dukkeooun
thick
가벼운
Gabyeoun
light (in weight)
섬세한
Seomsehan
delicate
More Colors and Shapes Words
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