Dictionary — Entry No. 0696
빵
bbang · noun
빵
bbang
[ppang]
nounbeginner
Meaning
빵 means ‘bread’ in Korean — borrowed from the Portuguese ‘pão’ via Japanese ‘pan’ during the 19th century. Korean bakery culture is uniquely developed, favoring soft, sweet breads and creative fillings over European-style loaves, with major chains found on nearly every Seoul street corner.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Korean 빵 culture is a world unto itself: instead of crusty baguettes, you’ll find 소보로빵 (streusel buns), 단팥빵 (sweet red bean bread), and 계란빵 (egg bread from street stalls). Chains like Paris Baguette and Tous les Jours have exported Korean 빵 culture globally. NewJeans members frequently post about trendy Seoul bakeries, and 빵집 culture appears throughout K-Dramas like ‘Itaewon Class’ as part of Seoul’s vibrant food scene.
Example Sentences
빵집에 같이 갈래?
Bbangjibe gachi gallae?
Want to go to the bakery together? (a casual invitation with warm, often romantic overtones in K-Drama contexts)
이 빵 정말 맛있다!
I bbang jeongmal masitda!
This bread is really delicious! (enthusiastic food reaction — 맛있다 is one of the most-used expressions in Korean food culture)
아침에 빵 먹었어요.
Achime bbang meogeosseoyo.
I ate bread for breakfast. (common breakfast statement — Koreans often choose 빵 as a quick morning option)
⚠️ Don’t use bbang when…
The initial consonant in 빵 is ㅃ — a tensed (fortis) bilabial stop that sounds like a pressurized ‘pp,’ not the English ‘b’ in ‘bang.’ Saying it too softly is a very noticeable beginner mistake. Also, Korean 빵 is almost always sweet or filled — if you want plain sandwich bread, ask for 식빵 (sikbbang) specifically.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Itaewon Class (이태원 클라쓰) — the drama’s celebration of Seoul street food culture includes 빵 from street stalls and cafés, reflecting how food and entrepreneurship intertwine in modern Seoul.
- K-Pop: NewJeans — Hype Boy
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.