Korean word

손질하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationsonjilhada

Meaning

  • verbtend

Example

정원을 손질했어요.cheong wo neul son jil hae sseo yo

I tended the garden.

Illustration for 손질하다 (tend)

More examples

손톱을 손질했어요.son to beul son jil hae sseo yo

I took care of my nails.

Core concept

Giving something that already exists a careful finishing touch through partial repairs or adjustments.

Common phrases

  • 머리를 손질하다meo ri reul son jil ha da

    groom one's hair

  • 손톱을 손질하다son to beul son jil ha da

    groom one's nails

  • 정원을 손질하다cheong wo neul son jil ha da

    tend a garden

Similar words

다듬다tadeumtta: Cutting away extra parts or smoothing rough ones gives something a neat shape.
손보다sonboda: Fixing faults or making fine adjustments restores something to good working order.
관리하다kwallihada: Regular care and checks keep something working well and usable for a long time.

Definition in Korean

부분적으로 상태를 정돈하거나 보완하여 전체를 더 보기 좋게 하다.pu bun jeo geu ro sang tae reul cheong don ha geo na po wan ha yeo cheon che reul teo po gi cho ke ha da

Word origin

손질하다 (sonjilhada, "to care for and finish") joins 손질 (sonjil, "care and finishing work") to 하다 (hada, "to do") to form a verb for carrying out that care.

Usage tips

  • The word is a useful clue that the result comes from several small changes rather than from replacing or remaking the whole thing.

Other meanings

  • styleverb
  • touch upverb

Opposites

  • 방치하다pangchihadaneglectverb
  • 내버려두다naebeoryeodudaleave unattendedverb

Related words

  • 손질sonjilgroomingnoun
  • 손질법sonjilbeopgrooming methodnoun

Word lists with this word