Korean word

낙엽

Pronunciation

Romanizationnagyeop

Meaning

  • nounfallen leaves

Example

가을에는 낙엽이 도로에 많이 쌓여요.ka eu re neun na gyeo bi to ro e ma ni ssa yeo yo

In autumn, lots of fallen leaves pile up on the road.

Illustration for 낙엽 (fallen leaves)

More examples

공원에서 낙엽을 쓸었어요.kong wo ne seo na gyeo beul sseu reo sseo yo

I swept the fallen leaves in the park.

Core concept

Leaves separated from the tree and spread across the ground in fall.

Common phrases

  • 낙엽이 떨어지다na gyeo bi tteo reo ji da

    fallen leaves fall

  • 낙엽을 쓸다na gyeo beul sseul da

    sweep fallen leaves

  • 낙엽이 쌓이다na gyeo bi ssa i da

    fallen leaves pile up

Similar words

나뭇잎namunnip: A thin, flat part of a tree that uses sunlight to help it grow.
잎ip: A plant part that gathers sunlight so the plant can make food.

Definition in Korean

가을철에 나무에서 떨어진 잎ka eul cheo re na mu e seo tteo reo jin ip

Word origin

The word combines Sino-Korean elements for falling and leaves, so its form closely matches its meaning.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the broad English word leaf, this word points to the leaves after they leave the tree, which helps prevent confusion in descriptions of autumn.

Other meanings

  • dead leavesnoun

Opposites

  • 신록sillokfresh greenerynoun
  • 새싹saessaknew shootsnoun

Related words

  • 낙엽더미nagyeoptteomiheap of fallen leavesnoun

Word lists with this word