Korean word

싱겁다

Pronunciation

Romanizationsinggeoptta

Meaning

  • adjectivebland

Example

이 국이 싱거워요.i ku gi sing geo wo yo

This soup is bland.

Illustration for 싱겁다 (bland)

More examples

간이 싱거워서 소금을 넣었어요.ka ni sing geo wo seo so geu meul neo eo sseo yo

The seasoning was bland, so I added salt.

Core concept

A dish feels weak because too little salt fails to give its flavors enough focus.

Common phrases

  • 간이 싱겁다ka ni sing geop tta

    bland seasoning

  • 국물이 싱겁다kung mu ri sing geop tta

    bland soup broth

  • 맛이 싱겁다ma si sing geop tta

    bland flavor

Similar words

밋밋하다minmitada: Having a plain flavor with little variety or excitement.
담백하다tambaekada: Light and easy to eat because the natural taste is not covered by oil or strong seasoning.
심심하다simsimhada: Having a mild, gentle taste with little strong flavor and a clean finish.

Definition in Korean

염분이 적어 맛의 중심이 약해지고 전체적으로 심심하게 느껴지는 상태를 가리키는 형용사.yeom bu ni cheo geo ma sui chung si mi ya kae ji go cheon che jeo geu ro sim sim ha ge neu kkyeo ji neun sang tae reul ka ri ki neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

The origin of this native Korean word is uncertain, so learning it as a whole is safer than splitting it into guessed parts.

Usage tips

  • At a shared meal, this comment can sound blunt, so a gentle tone helps when describing someone else's cooking.

Other meanings

  • lightadjective
  • unsatisfyingadjective

Opposites

  • 짜다jjadasaltyadjective
  • 짭짤하다jjapjjalhadaslightly saltyadjective

Related words

  • 싱거움singgeoumblandnessnoun
  • 싱거워지다singgeowojidabecome blandverb

Word lists with this word