Are you looking to learn how to say “butterfly” in Korean? The general word for “butterfly” in Korean is 나비 (nabi).
In this article, we will guide you not only through the translation and pronunciation of the word 나비 (nabi) but also their cultural significance in Korea. Besides the general term for “butterfly” that you just learned, there are also many different kinds of butterflies, and we’re going to teach you how to say them in Korean.
Quick Summary
Before we deep-dive into this lesson, here’s a summary of what you’ll be learning.
✅ 나비 (nabi) is the word for “butterfly” in Korean. It’s a simple, two-syllable word that is easy for beginners to learn and pronounce.
✅ In Korean culture, butterflies are often associated with happiness and transformation. They appear in various traditional tales and art, symbolizing joy, change, and the beauty of nature.
✅ The pronunciation of 나비 (nabi) focuses on a soft, elongated “na” sound followed by a brief “bi.”‘ It’s commonly used in everyday language, poetry, and songs to evoke the imagery of beauty and nature. You might encounter it in idiomatic expressions or as part of names for places and things intended to convey beauty or elegance.
✅ To effectively remember the word 나비 (nabi), practice with flashcards, include it in simple Korean phrases and sentences, and listen to Korean songs or watch Korean dramas that mention butterflies. This contextual learning can help solidify your understanding and recall of the word and its usage.
Ready? Let’s get to it!
Contents
How to say “butterfly” in Korean
The word for butterfly in Korean is 나비 (nabi). You can use this whenever you are generally discussing about butterflies.
If you aren’t familiar with Hangeul yet, it’s best to start with learning the alphabet to better grasp the correct pronunciation of the words we’ll teach you below.
Sentence examples:
1. 세상에서 가장 흔한 나비는 무엇인가요? (sesangeseo gajang heunhan nabineun mueosingayo?)
What is the most common butterfly in the world?
2. 공작나비는 자연에서 보기에 정말 멋져요. (gongjangnabineun jayeoneseo bogie jeongmal meotjyeoyo.)
Peacock butterflies are stunning to see in nature.
3. 나비들은 야생화를 좋아합니다. (nabideureun yasaenghwareul joahamnida.)
Butterflies love wild flowers.
4. 고양이가 나비 한 마리를 쫒고 있어요. (goyangiga nabi han marireul jjotgo isseoyo.)
A cat is chasing a butterfly.
Different kinds of butterflies and their Korean names
The word 나비 (nabi) is perfect for describing butterflies in general. However, there are various types of butterflies that vary per location. They differ in appearance, like the details you see in their wings. Perhaps you’d like to know some specific butterfly names in the Korean language, as well?
| English | Korean |
|---|---|
| Black swallowtail | 검은제비꼬리나비 (geomeunjebikkorinabi) |
| Cabbage white butterfly | 배추흰나비 (baechuhuinnabi) |
| Duke of burgundy | 부르고뉴 공작 나비 (bureugonyu gongjak nabi) |
| Hairstreak butterfly | 부전나비 (bujeonnabi) |
| Holly Blue butterfly | 푸른부전나비 (pureunbujeonnabi) |
| Marbled white butterfly | 조흰뱀눈나비 (johuinbaemnunnabi) |
| Monarch butterfly | 제왕나비 (jewangnabi) |
| Mourning cloak butterfly | 신선나비 (sinseonnabi) |
| Orange tip butterfly | 유럽갈고리나비 (yureupgalgorinabi) |
| Painted lady butterfly | 작은멋쟁이나비 (jageunmeotjaenginabi) |
| Peacock butterfly | 공작나비 (gongjangnabi) |
| Red admiral butterfly | 적제독 나비 (jeokjedok nabi) |
| Swallowtail butterfly | 산호랑나비 (sanhorangnabi) |
| Tiger swallowtail butterfly | 호랑나비 (horangnabi) |
| Viceroy butterfly | 바이스로이나비 (baiseuroinabi) |
Below, you can find a list of insects and other similar animals, which may be interesting vocabulary to learn during this particular topic.
| English | Korean |
|---|---|
| Ant | 개미 (gaemi) |
| Bat | 박쥐 (bakjwi) |
| Bee | 벌 (beol) |
| Beetle | 딱정벌레 (ttakjeongbeolle) |
| Bug | 벌레 (beolle) |
| Caterpillar | 애벌레 (aebeolle) |
| Cockroach | 바퀴벌레 (bakwibeolle) |
| Dragonfly | 잠자리 (jamjari) |
| Firebug | 개똥벌레 (gaettongbeolle) |
| Flea | 벼룩 (byeoruk) |
| Fly | 파리 (pari) |
| Frog | 개구리 (gaeguri) |
| Grasshopper | 메뚜기 (mettugi) |
| Hornet | 말벌 (malbeol) |
| Insect | 곤충 (gonchung) |
| Ladybug | 무당벌레 (mudangbeolle) |
| Mantis | 사마귀 (samagwi) |
| Moth | 나방 (nabang) |
| Mosquito | 모기 (mogi) |
| Snail | 달팽이 (dalpaengi) |
| Spider | 거미 (geomi) |
| Worm | 지렁이 (jireongi) |
Lastly, here are more Korean words that are related to “butterfly.”
| English | Korean |
|---|---|
| Antenna | 더듬이 (deodeumi) |
| Butterfly stroke (in swimming) | 접영 (jeobyeong) |
| Caterpillar | 애벌레 (aebeolle) |
| Cocoon | 번데기 (beondegi) |
| Larva | 유충 (yuchung) |
| Metamorphosis | 변태 (byeontae) |
| Nectar | 화밀 (hwamil) |
| Pollination | 수분 (subun) |
| Wing pattern | 날개 무늬 (nalge munui) |
| Wings | 날개 (nalge) |
A butterfly’s symbolism in Korea
As a symbol, the butterfly has a long history in Korean culture. It has especially been a popular subject to include in various art forms, such as paintings and porcelain works. It is considered a symbol of prosperity, as well as a symbol of pleasure and joy. It’s been popular to pair together with the flower peony in traditional art, which shares similar symbolism.
When used together, they depict harmony between a man and a woman, expressing a family’s strong and harmonious bond. Together, they also express a state of contentment. Besides art, you can see butterflies and peonies paired together with various other items, such as hair pins and lockets.
Wrap Up
And now you know how to say butterfly in Korean! Not only that but also the names of some specific butterflies in Korean and butterflies’ symbolism in Korean culture. That’s a lot of stuff packed into one little lesson! Next up, if you want to learn more, maybe your next lesson could be the vocabulary for animals in Korean? Or you can search through our blog for more Korean words to learn!
