Korean word

싹

Pronunciation

Romanizationssak

Meaning

  • adverbcompletely

Example

책상을 싹 정리했어요.chaek ssang eul ssak cheong ni hae sseo yo

I completely tidied up the desk.

Illustration for 싹 (completely)

More examples

먼지가 싹 없어졌어요.meon ji ga ssak eop sseo jeo sseo yo

The dust disappeared completely.

Core concept

An action reaches its target so thoroughly that no part of it is left behind.

Common phrases

  • 싹 치우다ssak chi u da

    completely clear away

  • 싹 없어지다ssak eop sseo ji da

    completely disappear

Similar words

완전wanjeon: Adds a casual boost that makes a reaction sound especially strong.
모두modu: Brings every person or item in a group into the action.
모조리mojori: Sweeps every item in a group into one complete action, with no exceptions.

Definition in Korean

완전히 없어지거나 끝까지 처리되어 남는 것이 하나도 없음을 나타내는 부사.wan jeon hi eop sseo ji geo na kkeut kka ji cheo ri doe eo nam neun keo si ha na do eop sseu meul na ta nae neun pu sa

Word origin

The historical link between native Korean 싹 (ssak, "sprout") and this adverbial sense is uncertain, but the image of clearing something from the root provides a useful memory connection.

Usage tips

  • As an adverb, it normally comes before the action verb, which helps learners recognize it when it appears next to a verb rather than after the object.

Opposites

Related words

  • 싹쓸이ssaksseuriclean sweepnoun
  • 싹싹하다ssakssakadaaffableadjective

Word lists with this word