Korean word

긁다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeuktta

Meaning

  • verbscratch

Example

모기에 물려서 다리를 긁었어요.mo gi e mul lyeo seo ta ri reul keul geo sseo yo

I scratched my leg because a mosquito bit me.

Illustration for 긁다 (scratch)

More examples

손톱으로 긁었더니 상처가 더 심해졌어요.son to beu ro keul geot tteo ni sang cheo ga teo sim hae jeo sseo yo

The wound got worse after I scratched it with my fingernails.

Core concept

A hand or fingernail repeatedly rubs an itchy patch of skin, sometimes hard enough to damage it.

Common phrases

  • 가려운 곳을 긁다ka ryeo un ko seul keuk tta

    scratch an itchy spot

  • 등을 긁다teung eul keuk tta

    scratch one's back

  • 손톱으로 긁다son to beu ro keuk tta

    scratch with fingernails

Similar words

문지르다munjireuda: Rubbing a surface with a hand or cloth until dirt or a stain comes off.
긁적거리다keukjjeokkkeorida: Making small, light rubbing motions again and again because of restlessness.
할퀴다halkwida: Scratching forcefully with nails or a sharp object so that the skin or surface is marked.

Definition in Korean

피부의 가려운 곳을 손이나 손톱으로 반복적으로 비벼서 풀거나 때로는 상처가 날 정도로 세게 긁는 동작을 이르는 말.pi bu ui ka ryeo un ko seul so ni na son to beu ro pan bok jjeo geu ro pi byeo seo pul geo na ttae ro neun sang cheo ga nal jjeong do ro se ge keung neun tong ja geul i reu neun mal

Word origin

The native Korean verb 긁다 (geuktta, "to scratch") has no securely established deeper origin, so its form is best learned as a whole.

Usage tips

  • English learners may associate scratch mainly with making a mark, but this Korean verb is also the everyday choice for relieving an itch without implying damage.

Other meanings

  • scrapeverb
  • claw atverb

Opposites

  • 문지르다munjireudarubverb

Related words

  • 긁힘keulkimscratchnoun
  • 긁어모으다keulgeomoeudascrape togetherverb

Word lists with this word