Korean word

얼큰하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationeolkeunhada

Meaning

  • adjectivespicy

Example

김치찌개가 얼큰해서 밥이 잘 넘어가요.kim chi jji gae ga eol keun hae seo pa bi chal neo meo ga yo

The kimchi stew is spicy, so the rice goes down well.

Illustration for 얼큰하다 (spicy)

More examples

술안주로 얼큰한 찌개가 잘 어울려요.su ran ju ro eol keun han jji gae ga chal eo ul lyeo yo

The spicy stew makes a great accompaniment to drinks.

Core concept

A lively heat in food that wakes the mouth while staying pleasantly easy to eat.

Common phrases

  • 얼큰한 찌개eol keun han jji gae

    spicy stew

  • 얼큰한 국물eol keun han kung mul

    spicy soup

Similar words

맵다maeptta: Spicy food gives the mouth a strong, hot, stinging sensation.
매콤하다maekomhada: A dish has a gentle spicy flavor with a pleasant balance of heat and aroma.
칼칼하다kalkalhada: A clear, light flavor gives the throat a mild spicy sensation as it passes.
얼얼하다eoreolhada: A powerful spicy sensation makes the tongue tingle and feel numb.

Definition in Korean

음식이나 국물이 혀를 자극하는 매운맛이지만 지나치지 않아 먹기에 개운한 상태를 말한다.eum si gi na kung mu ri hyeo reul cha geu ka neun mae un ma si ji man chi na chi ji a na meok kki e kae un han sang tae reul mal han da

Word origin

The word combines the native descriptive base eolkeun with hada, a common way to form Korean descriptive words, while the deeper origin of eolkeun is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • It often sounds like praise for a dish, not a complaint about excessive heat, which makes it useful in casual food conversations.

Opposites

Related words

  • 얼큰함eolkeunhamspicinessnoun
  • 얼큰하게eolkeunhagespicilyadverb

Word lists with this word