Korean Dictionary
How to say "White" in Korean
“White” in Korean is 하양 (pronounced "Hayang").
하양
Hayang
Usage & Context
Hayang is the Korean word for white. White symbolizes purity and cleanliness in Korean culture. It holds special significance in traditional Korean clothing and ceremonies.
Example Sentence
하양 셔츠를 입었어요.
I wore a white shirt.
How to use 하양 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “White” is 하양, romanized as Hayang.
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 하양.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'ha-yang' — 'ha' like the laugh 'ha!' and 'yang' rhymes with 'young' but with a clearer 'ah' vowel ending in 'ng'. Both syllables are short and even.
More Example Sentences
Looking outside on a winter morning
하얀 눈이 쌓였어요.
White snow has piled up.
Complaining about shoe maintenance
하얀색 운동화는 관리하기 힘들어요.
White sneakers are hard to keep clean.
Noticing gray hairs in the mirror
머리카락이 하얗게 됐어요.
My hair has turned white.
Cultural Context
Koreans were historically known as '백의민족' (the people of white clothing) because of the tradition of wearing white hanbok. White still symbolizes purity and is the standard color for 한복 worn at funerals and memorial rites (제사). In modern life, 하얀색 or the Sino-Korean 백색 shows up everywhere from K-beauty's 'whitening' skincare trends to the minimalist white interiors popular in Korean cafes.
Editorial note
We review entries like 하양 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
하얀색이 깔끔해요.
White looks clean/neat.
눈이 새하얘요.
The snow is pure white.
흰 옷을 자주 입어요.
I often wear white clothes.
Related Expressions
하얀색
hayansaek
the color white (common)
흰색
huinsaek
white color (pure noun form)
백색
baeksaek
white (Sino-Korean, formal/technical)
새하얗다
saehayata
pure / snow white
More Colors and Shapes Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice White and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
