K-Drama Hair Secrets: Mastering “Her” in Korean!

Hello! Welcome to Maeil Hangeul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever been watching a K-drama and been captivated by the main actress’s gorgeous hair? Have you ever wanted to say, “Wow, her hairstyle is so pretty!” but didn’t know the words? Today is your lucky day! We’re going to learn how to describe someone’s appearance, focusing on how to say “her” in Korean.

Lately in Korea, the hairstyles from hit dramas like ‘Queen of Tears’ are a huge trend! Learning today’s expressions will not only help you talk about your favorite actresses but also let you describe your friends and people you see every day. Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are the key phrases to talk about “her hair” like a pro.

1. 그녀의 (geunyeo-ui)

• Pronunciation [Romanized]: [Geunyeo-e]
• English Meaning: Her (possessive)
• Detailed Explanation: This is the standard way to say “her.” It combines ‘그녀 (geunyeo),’ which means “she,” with the possessive particle ‘의 (ui).’ You can use it to show that something belongs to her. For example, 그녀의 책 (geunyeo-ui chaek) means “her book.” While it’s grammatically perfect, it’s often used more in writing or formal situations. In casual chats, Koreans often use the person’s name instead (we’ll cover this in the culture tip!).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  This is a super important tip! Even though ‘의’ is written as ‘ui,’ when it’s used as a possessive particle after a noun, it’s almost always pronounced as [에 (e)]. So, ‘그녀의’ sounds much more natural when you say [그녀에 (geunyeo-e)], not [geunyeo-ui]. It makes the sound flow much more smoothly!

2. 머리 (meori)

• Pronunciation [Romanized]: [Meori]
• English Meaning: Hair (or Head)
• Detailed Explanation: ‘머리 (meori)’ is the word for “hair” in Korean. It can also mean “head,” and the meaning becomes clear from the context. If you say “머리가 아파요 (Meori-ga apayo),” it means “My head hurts.” But if you say “머리가 길어요 (Meori-ga gireoyo),” it means “My hair is long.” Simple, right?
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The vowel ‘어 (eo)’ can be tricky. It’s not ‘o’ as in “go.” Try to make the ‘uh’ sound like in the word “sun” but with your mouth a little more open. Keep your lips relaxed and unrounded. Practice: 머 (meo) – 리 (ri).

3. 그녀의 머리 스타일 (geunyeo-ui meori seutail)

• Pronunciation [Romanized]: [Geunyeo-e meori seutail]
• English Meaning: Her hairstyle
• Detailed Explanation: Now let’s combine what we’ve learned! ‘그녀의 (geunyeo-ui)’ + ‘머리 (meori)’ + ‘스타일 (seutail – a loanword from English “style”)’ creates the perfect phrase “Her hairstyle.” You can use this to comment on anyone’s hair.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Remember the tip for ‘그녀의’! Pronounce it as [geunyeo-e]. For ‘스타일 (seutail),’ the Korean ‘ㅅ(s)’ sound is softer than the English ‘s’. There’s no strong puff of air. It’s a gentle ‘s’ sound.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real conversation while two friends, A and B, are watching a drama.

A: 와, ‘눈물의 여왕’에 나오는 김지원 좀 봐! 그녀의 머리 스타일 너무 예쁘다.
(Wa, ‘Nunmul-ui Yeowang’-e naoneun Kim Ji-won jom bwa! Geunyeo-ui meori seutail neomu yeppeuda.)
Wow, look at Kim Ji-won in ‘Queen of Tears’! Her hairstyle is so pretty.

B: 맞아. 그녀의 긴 웨이브 머리가 아름다워.
(Maja. Geunyeo-ui gin weibeu meori-ga areumdawo.)
I agree. Her long, wavy hair is beautiful.

A: 나도 그녀의 머리 스타일을 해보고 싶어.
(Nado geunyeo-ui meori seutaileul haebogo sipeo.)
I want to try her hairstyle, too.

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

✨ Sound Like a Native: Use Names, Not Pronouns!

While ‘그녀의 (geunyeo-ui)’ is 100% correct, here’s a pro tip to sound more natural. In daily, casual conversations, Koreans often prefer using the person’s name instead of pronouns like “her.”

So, when talking about the actress Kim Ji-won, instead of saying “그녀의 머리 스타일 (geunyeo-ui meori seutail),” a Korean friend would more likely say “김지원 머리 스타일 (Kim Ji-won meori seutail).” It’s shorter, more direct, and much more common!

In Korea, when a drama becomes a hit, the main character’s style becomes a national trend. People will go to hair salons with a photo and say, “해주세요 (Kim Ji-won meori-ro hae-juseyo),” which means, “Please do my hair like Kim Ji-won’s.” So next time you talk about a celebrity, try using their name + ‘머리’ to sound like a true local!

Let’s Review and Practice!

Great job today! We learned how to say “her” (그녀의), “hair” (머리), and how to put them together to talk about K-drama hairstyles.

Now, let’s check your understanding with a quick quiz!

1. Fill in the blank:
How would you write “Her hair is long” in Korean?

________ 머리가 길어요. (geunyeo-ui meori-ga gireoyo).

2. Let’s Make a Sentence!
Think of your favorite female celebrity. Using their name, try to write a sentence in Korean describing their hair. (e.g., “Ariana Grande 머리는 갈색이에요.” – Ariana Grande’s hair is brown.)

Leave your answers and your practice sentences in the comments below! We’d love to see what you come up with. Keep practicing, and see you next time at Maeil Hangeul