Korean word

쫄깃하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationjjolgitada

Meaning

  • adjectivechewy

Example

떡이 쫄깃해요.tteo gi jjol gi tae yo

The rice cake is chewy.

Illustration for 쫄깃하다 (chewy)

More examples

피자 치즈가 쫄깃해요.pi ja chi jeu ga jjol gi tae yo

The pizza cheese is chewy.

Core concept

A soft food gives way under the teeth but springs back instead of turning mushy.

Common phrases

  • 면발이 쫄깃해요myeon ba ri jjol gi tae yo

    chewy noodles

  • 오징어가 쫄깃해요o jing eo ga jjol gi tae yo

    chewy squid

  • 쫄깃한 식감jjol gi tan sik kkam

    chewy texture

Similar words

쫀득하다jjondeukada: Food has a soft, sticky texture that clings slightly during chewing.
탱탱하다taengtaenghada: Food has a highly elastic texture that quickly bounces back under the teeth.
질기다chilgida: Food is tough and takes a long time to chew through.
말랑하다mallanghada: Something soft dents easily when pressed.

Definition in Korean

입 안에서 말랑하면서도 되돌아오는 탄력이 있어 씹는 맛이 느껴지는 상태를 가리키는 형용사ip a ne seo mal lang ha myeon seo do toe do ra o neun tal lyeo gi i sseo ssim neun ma si neu kkyeo ji neun sang tae reul ka ri ki neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

The word combines a sound-symbolic Korean stem associated with a springy bite and the adjective-forming element -hada.

Usage tips

  • English chewy can suggest that food is hard to eat, but this word usually praises a pleasant, lively texture.

Other meanings

  • firmadjective
  • springyadjective

Opposites

  • 무르다mureudasoftadjective

Related words

  • 쫄깃거리다jjolgitkkeoridabe chewyverb
  • 쫄깃함jjolgitamchewinessnoun

Word lists with this word