Dictionary — Entry No. 0590
하늘
haneul · noun
하늘
haneul
[ha-NEUL]
nounbeginner
Meaning
The Korean word for ‘sky’ or ‘heaven,’ referring to both the physical sky and the heavens in a spiritual or poetic sense. 하늘 is also a popular Korean given name, representing boundless possibility and openness. Its vast, open imagery makes it one of the most evocative words in Korean poetry, song, and drama.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
In ‘Crash Landing on You’ (사랑의 불시착), heroine Yoon Se-ri literally falls from the sky — 하늘 — during a paragliding accident, making the sky the literal origin point of the drama’s central romance. BTS’s ‘Blue & Grey’ evokes sky and horizon imagery to capture a feeling of emotional emptiness and longing that resonated with millions of fans. The color 하늘색 (haneulsaek, sky blue) is named after 하늘 and appears constantly in K-pop album artwork and idol fashion.
Example Sentences
오늘 하늘이 너무 맑아.
Oneul haneuri neomu malga.
The sky is so clear today. (a common casual observation, perfect for spring and autumn in Korea)
하늘색 드레스가 정말 예뻐.
Haneulsaek deureseuga jeongmal yeppeo.
The sky-blue dress is really pretty. (하늘색 = sky blue — a color term derived directly from 하늘)
별이 가득한 하늘을 봐.
Byeori gadeukan haneureul bwa.
Look at the sky full of stars. (romantic and poetic phrasing — typical of K-Drama dialogue and love song lyrics)
⚠️ Don’t use haneul when…
As a given name, 하늘 (Haneul) is gender-neutral — don’t assume it belongs to a specific gender. Also, 하늘 refers to the sky and heaven, not outer space (우주, uju) — these are distinct concepts in Korean.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Crash Landing on You (사랑의 불시착) — Yoon Se-ri’s paragliding accident drops her from the sky (하늘) into North Korea, making 하늘 the literal catalyst for the entire love story
- K-Pop: BTS — Blue & Grey
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.