Hanbok
/ˈhɑːn.bɒk/noun
Traditional Korean clothing, especially the brightly colored garments worn for ceremonies and special occasions.
Did you know?Although hanbok styles have ancient roots, the compound term 한복 became prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as Korea encountered Western-style dress.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
韓
“An ancient Korean state; later, a written designation associated with Korea and Koreans”
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
服
“Clothing, garments, or to wear”
Middle Korean
Korean
한 (han) + 복 (bok)
“Sino-Korean elements meaning “Korean” and “clothing””
Late 19th–Early 20th Century
Korean
한복 (hanbok)
“A term increasingly used to distinguish traditional Korean dress from Western-style clothing”
Modern English
English
hanbok
“Traditional Korean clothing, especially formal or ceremonial dress”