까맣다
When you're describing something that's black in Korean, you can use the adjective 까맣다. Think of things like a dark night sky, black coffee, or a black cat.
For example, if you want to say "The night is black," you can say "밤이 까맣다." Or, if someone has black hair, you might say "머리가 까맣다." It's a useful word for basic descriptions of color.
When using the word 까맣다, one can also use it to express something being completely dark or obscure, such as a dark and starless night sky or a dark tunnel.
You can also use this term to describe something that is very distant or a long time ago, like a distant memory from your childhood or a faraway place you visited once.
In some contexts, 까맣다 can imply forgetfulness, like when you completely forget someone's name or a piece of information.
It can also be used to describe someone's face turning dark from dirt or sunburn.
When discussing the nuances of color in Korean, particularly 'black', it's interesting to note the different adjectives available depending on the context and the speaker's intent. While '검다' is the more general and commonly used adjective for 'to be black', '까맣다' often carries a connotation of a deeper, darker, or more intense blackness.
Think of '까맣다' as suggesting a more profound or absolute black, sometimes even implying a sense of being completely darkened, such as a pitch-black night sky or something that has been thoroughly burnt to a crisp. This distinction, while subtle at times, can add a richer layer of description to your Korean.
For instance, while a black car could be described as '검은 차', a burnt-out building might more aptly be described with '까만 건물'. Understanding these subtle differences enriches your descriptive abilities in Korean.
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
The Korean adjective 까맣다 (kka-ma-ta) directly translates to 'to be black'. It's a fundamental color word, and just like in English, it's used in many different contexts. You'll hear it and use it when talking about anything that is black in color, from objects to natural phenomena.
When you're first learning Korean, mastering basic color adjectives like 까맣다 is essential. It's a descriptive word, meaning it tells you about the quality or characteristic of a noun. Think of it like saying 'black car' or 'black hair'. In Korean, adjectives often come before the noun they describe, and they change their form slightly depending on how they're used in a sentence.
- DEFINITION
- To be black. This adjective is used to describe something that is dark in color, often referring to a deep, true black.
Let's look at some common scenarios where you would use 까맣다:
- Describing objects: This is the most straightforward use. Anything that is black can be described using 까맣다.
저 고양이는 까맣다. (That cat is black.)
- Talking about hair color: Many Koreans have naturally black hair, so you'll often hear 까맣다 in this context.
그녀는 까만 머리를 가지고 있어요. (She has black hair.)
- Describing the night sky or darkness: When it's very dark, you can use 까맣다 to emphasize the deep blackness.
밤하늘이 까맣다. (The night sky is black/dark.)
It's important to remember that 까맣다 specifically means 'to be black'. While it can sometimes be used to imply darkness, its core meaning is about the color black itself. There are other Korean words for general 'darkness' if that's what you want to convey, but for the color black, 까맣다 is your go-to word.
You'll find 까맣다 used in everyday conversations, in books, and in media. Pay attention to how native speakers use it, and try to incorporate it into your own vocabulary. It's a foundational word that will help you describe the world around you in Korean.
How Formal Is It?
"밤하늘은 별이 보이지 않을 정도로 까맣습니다. (The night sky is so black that stars are not visible.)"
"이 옷은 정말 까매요. (These clothes are really black.)"
"네 눈이 까매. (Your eyes are black.)"
"곰돌이 인형은 까만색이야. (The teddy bear is black.)"
"이번 시험 망쳐서 내 인생은 까맣다. (I messed up this exam, so my life is dark/bleak.)"
دليل النطق
- Mispronouncing the double 'ㄲ' as a single 'ㄱ'. It's a tense consonant.
- Not aspirating the 'ㅌ' sound correctly at the end of the word.
قواعد يجب معرفتها
When describing a noun, 까맣다 changes to 까만.
까만 고양이 (A black cat)
When used in a descriptive clause, it can be followed by ~아서/어서.
하늘이 까매서 별이 더 잘 보여요. (Because the sky is black, the stars are more visible.)
To express 'to become black', you can use 까매지다.
밤이 되니 하늘이 까매졌어요. (As night fell, the sky became black.)
It can be used metaphorically to mean 'ignorant' or 'to not know anything'.
그 사람은 세상 물정을 까맣게 몰라요. (That person is completely ignorant of the ways of the world.)
When used with adverbs like 아주 (very) or 새까맣게 (pitch black), it intensifies the meaning.
아주 까만 밤 (A very black night)
أمثلة حسب المستوى
그녀의 머리카락은 정말 까맣다.
Her hair is really black.
까맣다 is used to describe the color of an object.
밤하늘은 별 하나 없이 까맣다.
The night sky is black without a single star.
Here, 까맣다 emphasizes the complete absence of light.
커피가 너무 진해서 까맣게 보였다.
The coffee was so strong it looked black.
까맣게 is the adverbial form, meaning 'blackly' or 'so black as to appear'.
까만 옷을 입으니 더 날씬해 보여요.
Wearing black clothes makes me look slimmer.
까만 is the attributive form of 까맣다, used to modify nouns.
어두운 밤에 까만 고양이는 찾기 어렵다.
It's hard to find a black cat on a dark night.
This example uses 까만 to describe the color of the cat.
그을음으로 벽이 까맣게 변했다.
The wall turned black with soot.
까맣게 변하다 means 'to turn black'.
그의 마음은 새까맣게 타버렸다.
His heart was completely burned black (with despair).
새까맣게 emphasizes a deeper, more complete blackness, often used metaphorically.
까맣게 잊고 있었던 약속이 떠올랐다.
I remembered an appointment I had completely forgotten.
까맣게 잊다 means 'to completely forget' (literally, 'to forget blackly').
그녀의 머리카락은 칠흑같이 까맣다.
Her hair is as black as pitch.
밤하늘은 별 하나 없이 까맣다.
The night sky is completely black without a single star.
까만 옷을 입으니 더 날씬해 보여요.
Wearing black clothes makes you look slimmer.
커피는 설탕 없이 까맣게 마시는 걸 좋아해요.
I like to drink my coffee black, without sugar.
오래된 사진은 색이 바래서 까맣게 변했다.
The old photo faded and turned black.
석탄은 까만색이고 단단하다.
Coal is black and hard.
그의 눈동자는 매우 까맣고 깊었다.
His eyes were very black and deep.
불이 꺼지자 방안은 순식간에 까맣게 되었다.
As the light went out, the room instantly became pitch black.
그는 까맣게 탄 빵을 한 입 베어 물고는 얼굴을 찌푸렸다.
He took a bite of the burnt black bread and grimaced.
밤하늘은 까맣게 변했고, 별들이 반짝이기 시작했다.
The night sky turned pitch black, and the stars began to twinkle.
그녀는 까맣게 잊고 있던 약속을 떠올리고는 허둥지둥 집을 나섰다.
She suddenly remembered the completely forgotten appointment and rushed out of the house.
오랜 시간 기다리다 지쳐서 그는 까맣게 잠이 들었다.
Exhausted from waiting for a long time, he fell completely asleep.
커피를 쏟아서 하얀 셔츠가 까맣게 얼룩졌다.
He spilled coffee, and his white shirt was stained black.
산불로 인해 숲은 까맣게 타버렸다.
Due to the forest fire, the forest was burnt black.
그는 까맣게 그을린 얼굴로 고된 노동의 흔적을 보여주었다.
He showed the traces of hard labor with his sun-tanned black face.
어두운 밤, 그의 시야는 까맣게 가려져 아무것도 보이지 않았다.
In the dark night, his vision was completely obscured, and he couldn't see anything.
يُخلط عادةً مع
This is the noun form for the color black. '까맣다' is the adjective 'to be black'.
This is a direct loanword from English 'black', often used in fashion or specific contexts. '까맣다' is the native Korean adjective.
This is a Sino-Korean word for the color black, often used in more formal or technical contexts, similar to '검정색'.
أنماط نحوية
سهل الخلط
Many adjectives in Korean have an intensified version, often formed by adding '새' or '시' to the beginning. '까맣다' means 'to be black,' and '새까맣다' means 'to be jet black' or 'to be pitch black,' indicating a darker, more intense black.
'까맣다' is a general term for black, while '새까맣다' emphasizes a deeper, more intense black, often implying a lack of light or a very dark shade.
하늘이 새까매요. (The sky is jet black.)
Both '검다' and '까맣다' mean 'to be black.' They are often interchangeable, but there are subtle differences in nuance and common usage.
'까맣다' tends to be used more often when describing the color of things that are naturally black or when focusing on the visual aspect of the color. '검다' can sometimes have a slightly more formal or literary feel, and it's also used in some idiomatic expressions.
고양이가 검은 털을 가지고 있어요. (The cat has black fur.)
'어둡다' means 'to be dark,' which is related to 'black' but not the same. Learners might confuse them because black is a dark color.
'까맣다' specifically refers to the color black. '어둡다' refers to the state of having little or no light. Something can be dark without being black, and something can be black even in bright light.
방이 어두워서 아무것도 안 보여요. (The room is dark, so I can't see anything.)
'칙칙하다' describes something as being dull, gloomy, or drab, which can sometimes imply a dark or muted color, leading to confusion with 'black'.
'까맣다' is about the color black. '칙칙하다' describes a lack of vibrancy or brightness, often referring to colors that are dull or a general atmosphere that is gloomy. It doesn't necessarily mean black.
날씨가 칙칙해요. (The weather is gloomy.)
'깜깜하다' means 'to be pitch dark' or 'to be completely dark,' which is very close in meaning to '새까맣다' but focuses more on the absence of light.
While both imply intense darkness, '까맣다' (and '새까맣다') describes the color black. '깜깜하다' focuses on the absolute absence of light, making it difficult or impossible to see.
밤이 깜깜해요. (The night is pitch dark.)
أنماط الجُمل
X은/는 까맣다.
머리카락은 까맣다. (Hair is black.)
X이/가 까맣다.
눈이 까맣다. (Eyes are black.)
까만 X
까만 옷. (Black clothes.)
까맣게 되다.
피부가 햇볕에 까맣게 되었다. (Skin became black from the sun.)
X은/는 Y보다 까맣다.
이 펜은 저 펜보다 까맣다. (This pen is blacker than that pen.)
X은/는 까맣지만 Y은/는 Z이다.
내 고양이는 까맣지만 네 고양이는 하얗다. (My cat is black, but your cat is white.)
X은/는 까만색이다.
그 차는 까만색이다. (That car is black colored.)
X은/는 까맣게 보이다.
밤하늘은 까맣게 보인다. (The night sky looks black.)
اختبر نفسك 84 أسئلة
The cat is black.
I wore black clothes.
The night sky is black.
Read this aloud:
이 개는 까맣습니다.
Focus: 까맣습니다 (kka-mat-seup-ni-da)
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
제 머리카락은 까매요.
Focus: 까매요 (kka-mae-yo)
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
까만 커피를 주세요.
Focus: 까만 (kka-man)
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Translate this sentence into Korean: 'The cat is black.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
고양이는 까맣습니다.
Write a short sentence in Korean describing something black in your room.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
제 가방은 까매요.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '까맣다': 이 커피는 너무 ___.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
이 커피는 너무 까매요.
What kind of pen does the speaker like?
Read this passage:
저는 까만 펜을 좋아해요. 이 펜은 글씨가 잘 써져요.
What kind of pen does the speaker like?
The passage says '까만 펜', which means black pen.
The passage says '까만 펜', which means black pen.
What color is the room?
Read this passage:
이 방은 좀 어둡고 까매요. 저는 밝은 색깔을 더 좋아해요.
What color is the room?
The passage says '어둡고 까매요', meaning dark and black.
The passage says '어둡고 까매요', meaning dark and black.
What does the speaker think will happen?
Read this passage:
오늘 하늘은 정말 까매요. 비가 올 것 같아요.
What does the speaker think will happen?
The passage says '비가 올 것 같아요', meaning 'I think it will rain'.
The passage says '비가 올 것 같아요', meaning 'I think it will rain'.
The correct order is 'This coffee is black.'
The correct order is 'Those shoes are black.'
The correct order is 'The sky is black at night.'
She likes black clothes.
The night sky is black.
Coffee is black.
Read this aloud:
이 가방은 까매요.
Focus: 까매요 (kka-mae-yo)
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
그 고양이는 털이 까맣습니다.
Focus: 까맣습니다 (kka-mat-seup-ni-da)
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
저는 까만 색을 좋아해요.
Focus: 까만 (kka-man)
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Describe something that is black using '까맣다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
제 고양이는 털이 까매요. (My cat's fur is black.)
Write a sentence about something you own that is black. Use '까맣다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
이 가방은 까매요. (This bag is black.)
Imagine you are describing the color of coffee. Write a sentence using '까맣다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
커피가 까매요. (The coffee is black.)
무슨 색을 좋아해요?
Read this passage:
저는 까만색을 좋아해요. 제 옷은 대부분 까매요. 특히 겨울에는 까만 코트를 많이 입어요. 까만색은 따뜻해 보여요.
무슨 색을 좋아해요?
Passage says '저는 까만색을 좋아해요.' (I like black color.)
Passage says '저는 까만색을 좋아해요.' (I like black color.)
밤하늘은 무슨 색이에요?
Read this passage:
밤하늘은 별이 많지만 아주 까매요. 달이 없으면 더 까매요. 그래서 별들이 더 잘 보여요.
밤하늘은 무슨 색이에요?
Passage says '밤하늘은 ... 아주 까매요.' (The night sky is very black.)
Passage says '밤하늘은 ... 아주 까매요.' (The night sky is very black.)
무슨 펜을 자주 사용해요?
Read this passage:
이 펜은 까만색이에요. 글씨를 쓸 때 아주 잘 보여요. 저는 까만 펜을 자주 사용해요. 다른 색 펜보다 까만 펜이 좋아요.
무슨 펜을 자주 사용해요?
Passage says '저는 까만 펜을 자주 사용해요.' (I often use a black pen.)
Passage says '저는 까만 펜을 자주 사용해요.' (I often use a black pen.)
밤하늘은 별들로 가득 차서 아름답게 ___.
The night sky is black. '까맣다' means 'to be black'.
그녀의 머리카락은 마치 숯처럼 ___.
Her hair is black like charcoal. '까맣다' means 'to be black'.
오래된 사진 속 할머니의 눈동자는 매우 ___ 보였다.
The grandmother's eyes in the old photo looked very black. '까맣다' means 'to be black'.
갑자기 불이 꺼지자 방 안은 순식간에 ___졌다.
When the lights suddenly went out, the room instantly became dark. '어두워지다' (to become dark) is related to '까맣다' (to be black).
깊은 바닷속은 빛이 없어 ___ 공간이다.
The deep sea is a dark space without light. '어두운' (dark) is related to '까맣다' (to be black).
밤이 되자 창밖은 온통 ___ 색으로 변했다.
When night fell, the outside of the window turned entirely black. '까만' is the adjectival form of '까맣다' (to be black).
Choose the sentence where '까맣다' is used correctly to describe something as very dark or black.
While '까만 옷' is correct, '까맣다' is often used idiomatically or adverbially to emphasize an intense blackness or even to describe forgetting something completely. The sentence '밤하늘이 까맣게 보였다' directly describes the night sky as intensely black, which aligns with a common usage at B1.
Which sentence uses '까맣다' to express forgetting something completely?
'까맣게 잊다' is a common idiom meaning to completely forget something. This is a good example of how '까맣다' extends beyond just literal color.
Select the most natural sentence using '까맣다' to describe hair color.
While all options convey black hair, '그녀의 머리는 까맣다' is the most concise and natural way to simply state someone's hair color is black at a B1 level.
If you say '까맣게 탔다,' it means something literally caught fire and turned black.
'까맣게 타다' usually means something got very tanned from the sun, or perhaps overcooked to a crisp. While it involves turning dark, it doesn't necessarily mean it caught fire.
'까맣다' can be used to describe the color of coffee.
Yes, it is common to describe black coffee as '까맣다' (e.g., '까만 커피').
If you describe someone's future as '까맣다,' you are saying their future is bright and promising.
If someone's future is described as '까맣다' (암울하다, bleak), it usually implies a dark, uncertain, or bleak future, not a bright one.
Her hair color
What happened to the night sky?
The coffee is very strong and...
Read this aloud:
까만 옷이 더 어울려요.
Focus: 까만 (kkaman), 어울려요 (eoulljeoyo)
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
제 그림은 까만색 물감으로 그렸어요.
Focus: 그림은 (geurimeun), 물감으로 (mulgameuro)
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
까만 고양이가 제 옆을 지나갔어요.
Focus: 고양이가 (goyangiga), 지나갔어요 (jinagatseoyo)
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
밤하늘은 별들로 가득 차 있었고, 그 배경은 마치 벨벳처럼 ___.
The night sky is black. '까맣다' means 'to be black'.
어두운 밤, 숲 속은 아무것도 보이지 않을 정도로 ___.
The forest was so dark that nothing could be seen. '까맣다' means 'to be black'.
그는 자신의 그림자가 길게 늘어져 땅바닥에 ___ 것을 보았다.
He saw his shadow stretched long and black on the ground. '까맣다' means 'to be black'.
옛날이야기 속 마녀는 항상 ___ 옷을 입고 다녔다.
The witch in old stories always wore black clothes. '까맣다' means 'to be black'.
커피를 너무 오래 끓였더니 색깔이 거의 ___ 변했다.
The coffee was boiled for too long, and its color changed almost to black. '까맣다' means 'to be black'.
그의 머리카락은 마치 잉크처럼 ___ 빛깔이었다.
His hair was a black color, like ink. '까맣다' means 'to be black'.
Choose the most natural sentence using '까맣다' to describe a dark, moonless night.
'새까맣다' is a more emphatic way to say 'pitch black' or 'very black,' which is suitable for describing a moonless night. '어둡다' means 'dark' in general, and '검다' means 'black' but without the same intensity.
Which sentence correctly uses '까맣다' to describe forgetting something completely?
'까맣게' is used idiomatically with '지워지다' (to be erased) to mean 'completely forgotten' or 'erased from memory.'
Which of the following describes a person's hair as very black?
While '까맣다' and '검다' both mean 'black,' '새까맣다' specifically emphasizes a very deep, rich black, which is often used to describe hair.
It is natural to say '마음이 까맣다' to describe a feeling of deep despair or hopelessness.
'마음이 까맣다' is an idiom that means one's heart is full of sorrow, despair, or worry, implying a very dark emotional state.
If someone is described as '속이 까맣다,' it means they are very honest and straightforward.
'속이 까맣다' is an idiom meaning someone is sly, malicious, or has bad intentions, the opposite of honest and straightforward.
You can use '까맣게 잊다' to express that you have completely forgotten something.
'까맣게 잊다' is a common idiom meaning to completely forget something, often implying that it slipped one's mind entirely.
Listen for what she was wearing.
Listen for the description of the night sky.
Listen for how the coffee looked.
Read this aloud:
까만색 펜 좀 빌려줄 수 있나요?
Focus: 까만색 (kkaman-saek), 빌려줄 수 있나요? (billyeo-jul su issnayo?)
قلت:
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제 친구는 머리카락이 까매요.
Focus: 머리카락이 (meorikarak-i), 까매요 (kkamaeyo)
قلت:
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밤이 깊어질수록 주위가 까맣게 변했어요.
Focus: 깊어질수록 (gipeojil-surok), 주위가 (juwi-ga), 까맣게 (kkamah-ge)
قلت:
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밤하늘은 별들로 가득 차 있었지만, 도시의 불빛 때문에 모든 것이 ___ 보였다.
Contextually, city lights would make the stars less visible, making the sky appear darker or 'black'.
오랜 시간 동안 햇빛에 노출된 그의 피부는 건강하게 ___ 변했다.
Prolonged sun exposure typically makes skin darker or 'black' (tanned).
실수로 끓는 물에 손을 데인 후, 그의 손톱은 ___ 멍이 들었다.
A severe burn often causes bruising that can appear very dark, or 'black'.
그는 슬픈 소식을 듣고 나서 얼굴이 ___ 굳어버렸다.
Figuratively, '까맣게 굳어버렸다' can mean becoming extremely distressed or grim-faced, as if a shadow has fallen over one's face.
밤중에 전기가 나가자 주변은 순식간에 ___ 암흑이 되었다.
Without electricity at night, the surroundings would become completely 'black' with darkness.
오래된 목조 건물은 불에 타서 모든 것이 ___ 재로 변했다.
When something burns completely, it turns into 'black' ash.
다음 중 '까맣다'의 의미로 가장 적절한 것은?
'까맣다'는 색깔이 검다는 의미입니다.
검은색을 뜻하는 단어는?
'까맣다'는 검은색을 의미하는 형용사입니다.
다음 문장에서 '까맣다'가 가장 잘 어울리는 것은?
'까맣다'는 주로 피부색이나 물체의 색깔을 묘사할 때 사용됩니다.
'까맣다'는 '하얗다'와 반대되는 의미이다.
'까맣다'는 검은색, '하얗다'는 흰색을 의미하므로 반대되는 의미입니다.
그녀의 머리카락은 까맣다. (Her hair is black.) 이 문장은 올바르다.
머리카락의 색을 표현할 때 '까맣다'를 사용하는 것은 자연스럽습니다.
'까맣다'는 주로 긍정적인 감정을 나타낼 때 사용된다.
'까맣다'는 색깔을 나타내는 형용사로, 감정과는 직접적인 관련이 없습니다.
Her eyes are so black that their depths cannot be known.
The night sky turned pitch black without a single star.
Sun-tanned skin symbolizes the hot summer.
Read this aloud:
그의 마음은 칠흑같이 까맣다.
Focus: 칠흑같이
قلت:
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까맣게 잊고 있던 약속이 떠올랐다.
Focus: 까맣게 잊고 있던
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
까마귀는 깃털이 까맣다.
Focus: 까마귀는 깃털이 까맣다
قلت:
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/ 84 correct
Perfect score!
مثال
밤하늘은 까맣다.
محتوى ذو صلة
مزيد من كلمات general
몇몇
A2An unspecified small number of; some or a few.
조금
A1A little/a bit
적게
A1A little / Few
약간
A2A little; slightly; somewhat.
많이
A1A lot/much
잠시
A2For a moment; briefly.
잠깐
A2For a short time; a moment.
아까
A2A little while ago, earlier.
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
