짧다
Something that has a small measurement from one end to the other.
Explanation at your level:
You use 짧다 to say something is small in size. If you have a short pencil, you say '연필이 짧다.' It is very easy to use! Just put it after the thing you are talking about.
At this level, you can use 짧다 to talk about time. 'The break is short' becomes '쉬는 시간이 짧다.' You can also use it to describe physical objects like hair, pants, or strings.
Intermediate learners should notice how 짧다 changes based on the noun. Use 짧은 when you want to describe a noun directly, like 'a short story' (짧은 이야기). It is a great way to make your sentences more descriptive.
At the B2 level, you can use 짧다 in more abstract ways. It can describe a person's patience (참을성이 짧다) or a lack of foresight. It adds nuance to your ability to criticize or analyze situations.
Advanced users employ 짧다 to convey subtle meanings. You might describe a 'short-lived' trend or a 'curt' response. It allows you to express complex ideas about duration and limitation with precision in both professional and creative writing.
At the mastery level, 짧다 is used in literary contexts to evoke a sense of fleeting existence. It is often paired with philosophical concepts regarding the brevity of life or the limitations of human understanding, showing a deep command of the language's emotional range.
الكلمة في 30 ثانية
- Means 'short' in length or time.
- Antonym is '길다' (long).
- Used for physical objects and abstract time.
- Common idiom: '생각이 짧다' (shortsighted).
When you use the word 짧다, you are talking about things that don't stretch very far. Imagine you have a crayon that has been used so much it is now just a tiny nub; that is a perfect example of something 짧다.
It is not just for physical objects, though! You can use it for time as well. If a movie is only 30 minutes long, you might say the movie is 짧다. It is a very versatile word that helps you describe the dimensions of your world, whether you are measuring a piece of string or the length of your summer vacation.
The word 짧다 has deep roots in the Korean language, tracing back to Middle Korean forms. Historically, it has always been associated with the concept of 'lacking length' or 'being cut off.'
Linguists note that it belongs to a group of native Korean adjectives that describe physical properties. Unlike some words that were borrowed from Chinese characters (Hanja), 짧다 is purely Korean. It has remained stable throughout centuries, proving just how essential the concept of 'shortness' is to human communication.
You will use 짧다 whenever you need to point out that something is not long enough. In daily life, you might say your hair is short (머리가 짧다) or that a meeting was short (회의가 짧았다).
It is important to remember that it is an adjective, so it changes form depending on the tense and politeness level. In a formal setting, you would use 짧습니다, while in a casual setting, you might just say 짧아. It is a very neutral, everyday word that fits into almost any conversation.
1. 생각이 짧다: Literally 'thoughts are short,' meaning someone is shortsighted or lacks deep consideration.
2. 꼬리가 짧다: Used when something is cut off or finished prematurely.
3. 짧고 굵게: 'Short and thick,' meaning to do something briefly but with great intensity or impact.
4. 인생은 짧다: 'Life is short,' a classic philosophical reminder to seize the day.
5. 짧은 지식: 'Short knowledge,' a humble way to say you have limited information on a topic.
Grammatically, 짧다 functions as an adjective. This means it can modify nouns directly, such as 짧은 치마 (a short skirt).
Pronunciation can be tricky for beginners because of the double consonant 'ㅉ' and the final 'ㄹㅂ' cluster. You should focus on a sharp, tense sound at the start. It rhymes with nothing specific in English, but the rhythm is quick and clipped, mirroring the meaning of the word itself.
Fun Fact
It has been used in Korean texts for over 600 years.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'jjal-da' with a sharp start.
Similar to UK, focus on the tense 'jj' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'jal-da'
- Ignoring the 'b' sound
- Adding an extra vowel
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read
Simple to use
Easy to pronounce
Clear sound
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
متقدم
Grammar to Know
Adjective conjugation
짧다 -> 짧아요
Noun modification
짧은 + Noun
Subject marker
치마가 짧다
Examples by Level
연필이 짧아요.
Pencil is short.
Polite ending.
머리가 짧아요.
Hair is short.
Subject marker.
바지가 짧아요.
Pants are short.
Descriptive adjective.
시간이 짧아요.
Time is short.
Abstract usage.
이것은 짧아요.
This is short.
Demonstrative pronoun.
치마가 짧아요.
Skirt is short.
Noun modification.
줄이 짧아요.
The string is short.
Basic sentence.
짧은 연필.
Short pencil.
Adjective form.
오늘 수업은 짧아요.
내 머리는 너무 짧아.
짧은 편지를 썼어요.
그 영화는 아주 짧아요.
짧은 휴가를 즐겼어요.
그는 짧은 대답을 했다.
짧은 다리를 가졌어요.
짧은 기간 동안 일했어요.
참을성이 짧은 사람이에요.
짧고 굵게 끝냅시다.
짧은 식견으로 판단하지 마세요.
그의 말은 짧지만 강렬했다.
짧은 만남이 아쉬웠어요.
짧은 소설을 읽고 있어요.
짧은 시간 안에 해결해야 해요.
그는 짧은 머리가 잘 어울려요.
생각이 짧아서 실수했어요.
인생은 짧으니 즐기세요.
짧은 평론을 기고했습니다.
그의 태도는 짧고 무례했다.
짧은 전성기를 누렸던 선수.
짧은 지식으로 아는 척하지 마.
짧은 탄식 소리가 들렸다.
짧은 여름밤이 지나갔다.
짧은 식견을 드러내고 말았다.
그의 짧은 생애는 많은 영감을 주었다.
짧은 문장 속에 깊은 의미가 있다.
짧은 불꽃처럼 타올랐다 사라졌다.
짧은 유예 기간을 얻었다.
짧은 통찰이 필요한 시점이다.
짧은 회고록을 남겼다.
짧은 교신이 끊겼다.
짧은 영겁의 시간처럼 느껴졌다.
그의 짧은 격언은 시대를 관통한다.
짧은 단상들을 모아 책을 냈다.
운명은 짧은 찰나에 결정된다.
짧은 서사 속에 담긴 비극.
짧은 침묵이 방을 채웠다.
짧은 환희 뒤에 오는 허무.
짧은 궤적을 그리며 떨어졌다.
تلازمات شائعة
Idioms & Expressions
"생각이 짧다"
To be shortsighted.
내가 생각이 짧았어.
casual"짧고 굵게"
Brief but impactful.
짧고 굵게 끝내자.
casual"꼬리가 짧다"
To be caught quickly (for bad deeds).
꼬리가 길면 잡힌다.
proverbial"인생은 짧다"
Life is short.
인생은 짧으니 즐겨라.
neutral"짧은 지식"
Limited knowledge.
내 짧은 지식으로는...
formal"짧은 찰나"
A brief moment.
짧은 찰나의 순간.
literaryEasily Confused
Both imply 'small'.
작다 is for size/height, 짧다 is for length.
키가 작다 vs 머리가 짧다.
Both sound similar.
적다 is for quantity, 짧다 is for length.
사람이 적다 vs 시간이 짧다.
Both imply 'not big'.
좁다 is for width/space, 짧다 is for length.
방이 좁다 vs 줄이 짧다.
Both imply 'small'.
낮다 is for height/level, 짧다 is for length.
담장이 낮다 vs 치마가 짧다.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 이/가 + 짧다
치마가 짧다.
짧은 + Noun
짧은 시간.
생각이 짧다
내가 생각이 짧았다.
짧고 굵게 + Verb
짧고 굵게 끝내자.
짧은 + Noun + 을/를 + Verb
짧은 편지를 썼다.
عائلة الكلمة
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
أخطاء شائعة
Confusing long and short.
The correct spelling is '짧'.
Use '작다' for height, not '짧다'.
Use '짧은' before a noun.
Use '간결하다' for professional conciseness.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a ruler that is broken in half.
Native Context
Use it to complain about short breaks!
Cultural Insight
Koreans value 'short and impactful' work.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use '짧은' before a noun.
Say It Right
Focus on the tense 'jj' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for person height.
Did You Know?
It is a native Korean word.
Study Smart
Learn it with its antonym '길다'.
Professional Tip
Use '간결하다' in business emails.
Verb Pattern
Subject + 이/가 + 짧다.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Jjal' (short) sound like a 'snap' of fingers.
Visual Association
A short, stubby pencil.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Try to describe 3 things in your room that are '짧다'.
أصل الكلمة
Native Korean
Original meaning: Not reaching a certain length.
السياق الثقافي
None, it is a neutral descriptive word.
The concept of 'short' is universal, but '생각이 짧다' (shortsighted) is a very common Korean cultural expression for social maturity.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At school
- 수업이 짧다
- 쉬는 시간이 짧다
- 짧은 글쓰기
Shopping
- 바지가 너무 짧아요
- 치마가 짧은가요?
- 더 짧은 거 있어요?
Work
- 회의가 짧았다
- 짧은 보고서
- 짧은 기간
Daily life
- 머리가 짧다
- 짧은 만남
- 시간이 짧다
Conversation Starters
"요즘 머리 스타일이 짧은데 어때요?"
"오늘 회의가 짧았나요?"
"인생은 짧다고 생각하세요?"
"짧은 여행을 가고 싶어요."
"그 영화는 너무 짧지 않았나요?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time when you felt your time was too short.
Write about a short trip you took recently.
What does '생각이 짧다' mean to you in your culture?
Describe a short book or movie you enjoyed.
الأسئلة الشائعة
8 أسئلةOnly for body parts, not for their total height.
No, it is just a descriptive word.
You can use '아주 짧다' or '짧막하다'.
Yes, '짧았다'.
Yes, '거리가 짧다'.
No, it is an adjective.
It is often expressed as '짧음' or '길이'.
It is a standard Korean orthographic rule.
اختبر نفسك
내 머리는 ___.
Describing hair length.
Which means 'short time'?
Correct noun modification.
'생각이 짧다' means to be very smart.
It means to be shortsighted.
Word
المعنى
Basic opposites.
Subject-Object-Verb structure.
연필이 너무 ___.
Appropriate adjective for pencil.
What is the opposite of '짧다'?
Length antonym.
You can use '짧다' for a person's height.
Use '작다' for height.
Word
المعنى
Idiom matching.
Simple philosophical sentence.
النتيجة: /10
Summary
짧다 is the essential Korean word for describing anything that lacks length, whether it is a pencil, a meeting, or a moment in time.
- Means 'short' in length or time.
- Antonym is '길다' (long).
- Used for physical objects and abstract time.
- Common idiom: '생각이 짧다' (shortsighted).
Memory Palace
Imagine a ruler that is broken in half.
Native Context
Use it to complain about short breaks!
Cultural Insight
Koreans value 'short and impactful' work.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use '짧은' before a noun.
مثال
치마가 너무 짧아요.
Related Content
مزيد من كلمات general
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
정도
A2An approximate amount or degree.
위에
A1on top of
절대적
B2Being unconditional, unlimited, or not relative to anything else. It describes something that is certain, total, or supreme without comparison.
절대로
A2Never, absolutely not.
우연적이다
B2To be accidental or coincidental; happening by chance.
우연히
B1By chance, accidentally, or unexpectedly. Often used in TOEFL listening narratives or history passages about accidental discoveries.
데리다
A1To take (a person); to pick up.
따라
A2Along, according to.
