What does 삐라 mean?

ANSWER: Well, according to my 1998 edition Dong-a's Prime Korean-English Dictionary, it means: "a (hand) bill; a leaflet; a placard (poster)." However, my 2014 Minjung's Essence Korean-English Dictionary" does not even list 삐라, even though my Prime dictionary shows that it was a very popular word in 1998. I wonder why my newer 2014 Essence dictionary does not list it.

1998 Dong-a's Korean-English Dictionary

2014 Minjung's Essence Korean-English Dictionary

Maybe, the people who compiled my 2014 Essence dictionary decided that 삐라 was not an appropriate Korean word since it was originally a Japanese pronunciation of the English word "bill," as in the word "handbill" (a leaflet).

Moreover, even though my 1998 Prime dictionary defines 삐라 as "a (hand) bill" or "leaflet," it should really only be used to refer to "seditious (불온) propaganda (선전) leaflets (전단)" from places like North Korea and not to "advertising leaflets," even though my 1998 Dong-a dictionary shows it can be used in that way: "광고 삐라."

To refer to regular "advertising leaflets," instead of 광고 삐라, it would be better to use phrases like 광고 쪽지 or 광고 전단, which are listed in my 2014 Essence dictionary.

Though the word 삐라 may have been popular in 1998, it seems that it is no longer fashionable, at least when referring to advertising leaflets. If you want to use 삐라 to refer to North Korean "propaganda leaflets," then it is probably still acceptable, but you should avoid using it to talk about "advertising leaflets." Instead, use phrases like 광고 쪽지 or 광고 전단.