Korean word

텅

Pronunciation

Romanizationteong

Meaning

  • adverbcompletely empty

Example

가방이 텅 비었어요.ka bang i teong pi eo sseo yo

The bag is completely empty.

Illustration for 텅 (completely empty)

More examples

가슴이 텅 비었어요.ka seu mi teong pi eo sseo yo

My heart feels completely empty.

Core concept

A space or container has nothing inside, leaving a striking sense of total emptiness.

Common phrases

  • 텅 비다teong pi da

    be completely empty

Similar words

텅텅teongteong: Shows an almost empty space with a hollow, echoing feel.
휑하니hwenghani: Shows a quiet place that feels lonely because few people or things are present.

Definition in Korean

물건이나 사람이 없어서 속이 완전히 비어 있음을 강조하는 부사로, 주로 '텅 비다'와 같이 장소나 용기의 빈 상태를 나타내는 말mul geo ni na sa ra mi eop sseo seo so gi wan jeon hi pi eo i sseu meul kang jo ha neun pu sa ro chu ro teong pi da wa ka chi chang so na yong gi ui pin sang tae reul na ta nae neun mal

Word origin

텅 (teong, "completely empty") is a Korean mimetic adverb whose sound-symbolic form evokes the stark state of having nothing inside.

Usage tips

  • English empty can sound neutral, whereas this word adds strong emphasis, so it helps show that a room, bag, or other space is strikingly bare.

Opposites

Related words

  • 텅텅teongteongcompletely emptyadverb

Word lists with this word