Korean word

미지근한

Pronunciation

Romanizationmijigeunhan

Meaning

  • adjectivelukewarm

Example

국물이 미지근한데 다시 데워 드릴까요?kung mu ri mi ji geun han de ta si te wo teu ril kka yo

The soup is lukewarm. Would you like me to reheat it?

Illustration for 미지근한 (lukewarm)

More examples

아기가 미지근한 물을 싫어했다.a gi ga mi ji geun han mu reul si reo haet tta

The baby disliked lukewarm water.

Core concept

Something mildly warm, with too little heat to be hot and sometimes a sense of unsatisfying weakness.

Common phrases

  • 미지근한 물mi ji geun han mul

    lukewarm water

  • 미지근한 국물mi ji geun han kung mul

    lukewarm soup

Similar words

미적지근한mijeokjjigeunhan: Too mild in temperature or taste to give a full sense of warmth or flavor.
미온한mionhan: Showing little energy or interest in a response, attitude, or reaction.

Definition in Korean

액체나 음식이 약간 따뜻하여 뜨겁지도 차갑지도 않은 상태를 이르는 형용사로, 비유적으로는 사람의 반응이나 태도가 열의가 없고 소극적임을 나타내기도 한다.aek che na eum si gi yak kkan tta tteu ta yeo tteu geop jji do cha gap jji do a neun sang tae reul i reu neun hyeong yong sa ro pi yu jeo geu ro neun sa ra mui pa neung i na tae do ga yeo rui ga eop kko so geuk jjeo gi meul na ta nae gi do han da

Word origin

The word developed from describing food and liquids with moderate temperature and extended metaphorically to responses or attitudes that lack strong energy.

Usage tips

  • When applied to a person or attitude, it usually sounds critical rather than neutral, so it can make a comment feel sharper than a simple description of low enthusiasm.

Other meanings

  • half-heartedadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word