TOPIK · Level 150
15 words
Korean word
얕다
Pronunciation
Romanizationyattta
Meaning
- adjectiveshallow
Example
여기는 바닷물이 얕아요.yeo gi neun pa dan mu ri ya ta yo
The seawater here is shallow.
More examples
어린이용 풀은 물이 얕다.eo ri ni yong pu reun mu ri yat tta
The water in the children's pool is shallow.
Core concept
There is not much space between the top and the bottom, whether the subject is water, understanding, or emotion.
Common phrases
바닷물이 얕다pa dan mu ri yat tta
shallow seawater
수영장 물이 얕다su yeong jang mu ri yat tta
shallow pool water
Similar words
낮다nattta: Being at a low height or level, or involving a small amount or degree.
얇다yaltta: Taking up little space between two opposite surfaces, as a thin sheet does.
Definition in Korean
깊이가 작아 바닥에 닿기 쉬운 상태를 일컫는 말로, 물리적 대상뿐 아니라 비유적으로 지식이나 감정의 깊이가 부족함을 나타내는 형용사.ki pi ga cha ga pa da ge ta ki swi un sang tae reul il keon neun mal lo mul li jeok tae sang ppun a ni ra pi yu jeo geu ro chi si gi na kam jeong ui ki pi ga pu jo ka meul na ta nae neun hyeong yong sa
Word origin
The word is native Korean rather than a recent loan, and its concrete sense of small depth developed into the figurative sense of being superficial.
Usage tips
- When 얕다 (yattta, "shallow") describes a person's knowledge or thinking, it can sound critical, so "limited" is often a gentler English choice.
Other meanings
- superficialadjective
Opposites
- 깊다kipttadeepadjective
Related words
- 얕음yateumshallownessnoun
- 얕아지다yatajidabecome shallowverb