Korean word

독

Pronunciation

Romanizationtok

Meaning

  • nounpoison

Example

그는 독을 마셨어요.keu neun to geul ma syeo sseo yo

He drank poison.

Illustration for 독 (poison)

More examples

어제 시장에서 산 생선에 독이 들어 있었다.eo je si jang e seo san saeng seo ne to gi teu reo i sseot tta

There was poison in the fish I bought at the market yesterday.

Core concept

A dangerous substance that can injure or kill a living body through swallowing, absorption, or physical contact.

Common phrases

  • 독을 먹다to geul meok tta

    eat poison

  • 독에 당하다to ge tang ha da

    be poisoned

  • 독으로 죽다to geu ro chuk tta

    die from poison

Similar words

독약togyak: A harmful drug or liquid deliberately prepared to injure someone.
독소toksso: A poisonous chemical made by a living thing and harmful even in a small amount.
맹독maengdok: An extremely strong poison that may be fatal in a very small dose.

Definition in Korean

섭취하거나 접촉했을 때 생명이나 건강에 해를 끼치는 물질seop chwi ha geo na cheop cho kae sseul ttae saeng myeong i na keon gang e hae reul kki chi neun mul jjil

Word origin

The word comes from the Sino-Korean reading of a Chinese character traditionally linked with poison and harmful substances.

Usage tips

  • A snake or spider can have venom, but English usually calls a substance poison when swallowing or absorption is the main concern.

Other meanings

  • venomnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 독성toksseongtoxicitynoun
  • 독살tokssalpoisoningnoun
  • 중독chungdokpoisoningnoun

Word lists with this word