Korean word

뜯다

Pronunciation

Romanizationtteuttta

Meaning

  • verbtear

Example

봉투를 뜯었어요.pong tu reul tteu seo sseo yo

I tore open the envelope.

Illustration for 뜯다 (tear)

More examples

스티커를 뜯다가 손이 끈적거렸어요.seu ti keo reul tteut tta ga so ni kkeun jeok kkeo ryeo sseo yo

My hand got sticky while I was peeling off a sticker.

Core concept

A part is gripped and pulled until it separates from the whole, often by tearing.

Common phrases

  • 스티커를 뜯다seu ti keo reul tteut tta

    peel off a sticker

  • 봉지를 뜯다pong ji reul tteut tta

    tear open a bag

  • 라벨을 뜯다ra be reul tteut tta

    peel off a label

Similar words

찢다jjittta: Rip paper or cloth apart by force, making the tear wider or splitting it into pieces.
떼다tteda: Separate something stuck to a surface by lifting or peeling it away.
자르다chareuda: Divide or shorten something with a knife, scissors, or another cutting tool.

Definition in Korean

손이나 이빨·도구로 물건의 일부를 잡아 떼어 내거나 찢는 동사.so ni na i ppal to gu ro mul geo nui il bu reul cha ba tte eo nae geo na jjin neun tong sa

Word origin

The deeper origin of this native Korean verb is uncertain, but its meaning centers on pulling part of something away.

Usage tips

  • With envelopes and packages, this verb focuses on removing or tearing away the covering to get inside, so the action can be intentional rather than accidental.

Other meanings

  • pluckverb
  • bite offverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 뜯어먹다tteuseomeokttabite off and eatverb
  • 뜯어내다tteuseonaedatear offverb
  • 뜯김tteutkkimbeing torn offnoun

Word lists with this word