Korean word

그다지

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeudaji

Meaning

  • adverbnot very

Example

음식이 그다지 맛있지 않았어요.eum si gi keu da ji ma sit jji a na sseo yo

The food wasn't very tasty.

Illustration for 그다지 (not very)

More examples

그다지 걱정할 필요는 없어요.keu da ji keok jjeong hal pi ryo neun eop sseo yo

You don't need to worry too much.

Core concept

A low degree expressed through a negative frame, meaning the quality falls short of being strong.

Common phrases

  • 그다지 좋지 않다keu da ji cho chi an ta

    not very good

  • 그다지 없다keu da ji eop tta

    not much

  • 그다지 중요하지 않다keu da ji chung yo ha ji an ta

    not very important

Similar words

별로pyeollo: Marks a casual negative statement meaning not particularly or not much.
거의keoui: Means nearly, with most of something present or completed and little remaining.
전혀cheonhyeo: Means not at all, denying even the smallest amount or degree.

Definition in Korean

부정 표현과 함께 쓰여 어떤 상태의 정도가 낮음을 나타내는 부사로, 긍정문에서 쓰이면 의미가 약해지거나 어색해진다.pu jeong pyo hyeon gwa ham kke sseu yeo eo tteon sang tae ui cheong do ga na jeu meul na ta nae neun pu sa ro keung jeong mu ne seo sseu i myeon ui mi ga ya kae ji geo na eo sae kae jin da

Word origin

No reliable etymology or word-part analysis is known for 그다지 (geudaji, "not very").

Usage tips

  • Unlike English not very, this adverb normally appears with a negative form, so a positive sentence can sound awkward or change its intended force.

Opposites

Word lists with this word