Perfume in Korean 🇰🇷

향수 info.

Tips to Remember:
• Think of 향 (hyang) as relating to scent or aroma. Remember that 향수 (hyangsu) combines this with the idea of an object that carries that scent, making it easier to remember as “perfume.”
• Associate 향수 with both pleasant smells and nostalgic feelings, as the same word can mean “perfume” and “nostalgia.”

Explanations:
• In Korean, 향수 (hyangsu) literally refers to a substance used to produce a pleasant aroma—perfume.
• The word is composed of 향 (hyang), meaning “fragrance,” and 수 (su), a noun-forming element from Sino-Korean vocabulary.

Other Words with Similar Meaning:
• 퍼퓸 (peopyum) – A Konglish derivative from the English word “perfume.”
• 향제 (hyangje) – Although less commonly used, it can describe a fragrant product.

Alternate Meanings:
• 향수 (hyangsu) can also mean “nostalgia.” When Koreans say “향수에 젖다” (hyangsu-e jeotda), they mean to be steeped in nostalgia.

Examples of Sentences (with Romanization and Translations):

1. Perfume Context:
• Korean: 나는 새로운 향수를 샀어.
• Romanized: Naneun saeroun hyangsu-reul sasseo.
• Translation: I bought a new perfume.

2. Nostalgia Context:
• Korean: 오래된 사진을 보니 향수가 밀려왔어.
• Romanized: Oraedoen sajineul boni hyangsuga millyeowasseo.
• Translation: Looking at the old photos made me feel nostalgic.

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