Korean word

떡국

Pronunciation

Romanizationtteokkkuk

Meaning

  • nounrice cake soup

Example

어머니가 집에서 떡국을 끓여 주셨어요.eo meo ni ga chi be seo tteok kku geul kkeu ryeo chu syeo sseo yo

My mother cooked rice cake soup for me at home.

Illustration for 떡국 (rice cake soup)

More examples

보통 설날에 떡국을 먹고 덕담을 나눠요.po tong seol la re tteok kku geul meok kko teok tta meul na nwo yo

People usually eat rice cake soup and exchange New Year's greetings on New Year's Day.

Core concept

A clear, savory soup with white rice-cake slices floating in it, closely associated with Korean New Year's celebrations.

Common phrases

  • 떡국을 끓여 주다tteok kku geul kkeu ryeo chu da

    cook rice cake soup for ___

  • 떡국을 전통적으로 먹다tteok kku geul cheon tong jeo geu ro meok tta

    traditionally eat rice cake soup

Similar words

떡tteok: A Korean grain food made in many shapes by cooking, pounding, or pressing rice or rice flour.
국kuk: A hot broth-based dish served as part of a Korean meal, often alongside rice.
떡볶이tteokppokki: A popular Korean street food made from rice cakes cooked in a bold spicy sauce.

Definition in Korean

쌀떡을 국물에 넣어 끓인 음식으로, 맑은 국물에 흰 떡 조각이 떠 있는 형태로 주로 설날에 먹는 한국의 전통 음식ssal tteo geul kung mu re neo eo kkeu rin eum si geu ro mal geun kung mu re hin tteok cho ga gi tteo in neun hyeong tae ro chu ro seol la re meong neun han gu gui cheon tong eum sik

Word origin

The name combines 떡 (tteok, "rice cake") and 국 (kkuk, "soup"), directly describing the dish.

Usage tips

  • Its appearance on the New Year's table signals a major Korean family holiday, making it useful in seasonal conversations.

Opposites

Related words

  • 시루떡sirutteoksteamed rice cakenoun
  • 떡집tteokjjiprice cake shopnoun

Word lists with this word