Esta página en tu idioma

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A1 adjective #9,000 más común 7 min de lectura

싱겁다

singgeopda Top 9,000

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos 싱겁다 en 30 segundos

Explicación 싱겁다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most literal meaning of 싱겁다: describing food that needs more salt. In Korea, soup (guk) and stew (jjigae) are served at almost every meal. If you taste the soup and it feels like it lacks flavor, you can say "싱거워요." This is a basic survival phrase for dining. You should also learn the basic conjugation: 싱겁다 becomes 싱거워요 in the polite present tense. At this stage, don't worry about the metaphorical meanings; just use it to talk about your dinner!

At the A2 level, you begin to use 싱겁다 in more varied sentence structures. You might use it with '그래서' (so/therefore) to explain why you are adding salt: "국이 싱거워요. 그래서 소금을 넣었어요." You will also start to encounter the noun-modifying form 싱거운, as in "싱거운 음식" (bland food). This is also the stage where you should learn to distinguish it from 맛없다 (tastes bad), ensuring you are specifically commenting on the salt/seasoning level rather than the overall quality of the cooking.

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

By B1, you should be comfortable with the metaphorical use of 싱겁다. This includes describing people or situations. If a friend tells a joke that isn't funny because it's too simple, you can playfully say "싱겁긴!" (How bland/silly!). You will also see this word in health contexts, such as articles discussing "low-sodium diets" (싱겁게 먹는 식단). You should be able to use the adverbial form 싱겁게 to describe how someone cooks or eats: "건강을 위해 싱겁게 요리하세요."

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

At the B2 level, you can use 싱겁다 to describe abstract concepts like the 'climax' of a story or the 'outcome' of a competition. If a highly anticipated sports match ends in a 0-0 draw with no action, you might describe the game as "싱겁게 끝났다" (ended anticlimactically). You should also understand the nuance of calling a person "싱거운 사람"—someone who lacks 'substance' or acts in an unexpectedly frivolous way. This level requires understanding the social appropriateness of the word in various registers.

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

At the C1 level, you should master the idiomatic expressions involving 싱겁다. Phrases like "싱거운 소리" (nonsense/insipid talk) or "싱거운 짓" (silly/pointless act) should be part of your active vocabulary. You can compare 싱겁다 with more literary synonyms like 무미건조하다 (dry and flavorless) or 밋밋하다 (flat/plain). You should be able to discuss the cultural significance of 'gan' (seasoning) in Korean society and how '싱겁다' reflects a lack of that essential social or culinary 'kick.'

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

At the C2 level, you use 싱겁다 with full native-like intuition, recognizing its use in literature, poetry, and high-level social commentary. You might analyze how a writer uses the metaphor of 'blandness' to describe the existential emptiness of modern life. You understand the subtle irony when someone uses '싱겁다' to describe a person who is actually very complex but hides it behind a 'silly' exterior. Your usage is precise, capturing the exact degree of disappointment or lack of intensity in any given context.

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

싱겁다 en 30 segundos

싱겁다 primarily means food is bland or lacks salt. It is the direct antonym of 짜다 (salty) and is essential for dining conversations.
Metaphorically, it describes 'insipid' people or 'weak' jokes. If someone acts silly or a story ends anticlimactically, Koreans call it '싱겁다'.
It is a 'ㅂ' irregular adjective. This means when you conjugate it into 'sing-geo-wo-yo', the 'ㅂ' changes to '우'.
In a health context, 'eating blandly' (싱겁게 먹기) is encouraged in Korea to reduce high sodium intake and improve cardiovascular health.

The Korean word 싱겁다 (singgeopda) is a multi-layered adjective that every learner must master early on. At its most fundamental level, it describes food that lacks sufficient salt, seasoning, or flavor. In a culinary culture like Korea's, where bold flavors—salty, spicy, and savory (umami)—are celebrated, calling a dish '싱겁다' is a common way to express that it needs a little more 'gan' (seasoning). If you are eating a bowl of seolleongtang (ox bone soup) and find that the broth tastes like plain water because you haven't added salt yet, that is the quintessential moment to use this word.

Literal Culinary Use: Used when food is under-salted or lacks the expected depth of flavor. It is the opposite of '짜다' (salty).
Metaphorical Use for People: Describes a person who is silly, frivolous, or lacks a sense of seriousness in a way that is slightly disappointing or underwhelming.
Describing Situations or Jokes: Used for jokes that fall flat or an anticlimactic end to a story or event.

소금이 부족해서 국이 너무 싱거워요.

Translation: The soup is too bland because it lacks salt.

Beyond the kitchen, '싱겁다' takes on a fascinating social nuance. When applied to a person, it doesn't mean they are 'boring' in a quiet way (which would be '지루하다'). Instead, it suggests they are acting in a way that lacks substance or is unexpectedly silly. If someone makes a joke that isn't funny because it's too obvious or weak, a Korean speaker might say, "참 싱거운 농담이네" (That's a really 'bland' joke). It implies a lack of 'punch' or 'kick' in their personality or humor.

그 사람은 실속 없이 싱거운 소리만 해요.

Translation: That person only says silly, insipid things without any substance.

In summary, whether you are critiquing a bowl of ramen or a disappointing movie ending, '싱겁다' is your go-to word for anything that feels diluted, weak, or lacking that necessary 'spark.' It is essential for navigating Korean social cues where 'saltiness'—both literal and figurative—is highly valued for making life and food interesting.

Using 싱겁다 correctly requires understanding its grammatical behavior as a 'ㅂ' irregular adjective. In Korean, adjectives function like verbs, meaning they can be the predicate of a sentence. When you want to say something 'is bland,' you conjugate the root '싱겁-'.

Present Tense (Polite): 싱거워요 (sing-geo-wo-yo) - It is bland.
Past Tense (Polite): 싱거웠어요 (sing-geo-wot-eo-yo) - It was bland.
Noun Modifying Form: 싱거운 (sing-geo-un) + Noun - Bland [Noun]

이 찌개는 저한테 너무 싱거운데 소금 좀 더 넣을까요?

Translation: This stew is too bland for me; shall we add some salt?

When talking about people, the word often appears as '싱거운 사람'. This isn't necessarily an insult, but it suggests the person is a bit of a jokester or someone who doesn't take things seriously enough. It can be used affectionately between friends. For example, if a friend tells a really bad dad joke, you might laugh and say, "아유, 싱거워!" which translates roughly to "Oh, you're so silly!" or "That was weak!"

결말이 너무 싱겁게 끝나서 아쉬웠어요.

Translation: It was a pity that the ending was so anticlimactic (bland).

In more formal or health-conscious settings, '싱겁다' can have a positive connotation. Doctors in Korea often advise patients to "싱겁게 먹다" (eat blandly/with less salt) to prevent high blood pressure. In this context, it is a recommendation for a healthy lifestyle rather than a critique of the food's quality.

In South Korea, you will hear 싱겁다 in three primary environments: the dining table, the workplace, and in entertainment media. Because Korean cuisine relies heavily on fermented pastes (jang) and soups, the seasoning level is a constant topic of conversation. At a restaurant, if a group is sharing a large pot of jeongol (stew), one person might taste it and say, "조금 싱거운 것 같아" (I think it's a bit bland), prompting the group to boil it down more or add seasonings.

요즘 건강을 위해서 일부러 음식을 싱겁게 요리해요.

Translation: These days, I intentionally cook food blandly for the sake of my health.

In K-Dramas and variety shows, you'll hear the metaphorical version. If a character builds up a huge secret only for it to be something trivial, other characters will react with "에이, 싱거워!" (Ugh, how anticlimactic!). It captures that feeling of 'deflation' when expectations aren't met. Variety show hosts like Yoo Jae-suk often use this word to tease guests who tell stories that lack a funny punchline.

In the Kitchen: "간이 안 맞네, 너무 싱거워." (The seasoning is off; it's too bland.)
Social Teasing: "너 오늘 왜 이렇게 싱겁게 구니?" (Why are you acting so silly/nonsensical today?)

Lastly, you'll encounter it in health-related news. Korea has one of the highest sodium intake rates globally, so the phrase "싱겁게 먹기 캠페인" (Eat Blandly Campaign) is a common public health slogan. Hearing this word in a medical context is very common during check-ups or on health-focused TV segments.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using 싱겁다 to mean 'boring' in the sense of 'tedious.' If a lecture is boring, you should use 지루하다 (jiruhada). If a person is boring because they have no hobbies, you might use 따분하다 (ttabunhada). Using '싱겁다' in these cases would confuse a native speaker because it specifically implies a lack of 'saltiness' or 'seriousness,' not a lack of interest.

Mistake 1: Misconjugation: Incorrect: 싱겁어요 (Sing-geop-eo-yo). Correct: 싱거워요 (Sing-geo-wo-yo). The 'ㅂ' must change to '우'.
Mistake 2: Confusing with '맛없다': '맛없다' means it tastes bad. '싱겁다' means it just needs salt. You can enjoy a '싱거운' dish if you prefer low-sodium food, but no one enjoys '맛없는' food.

영화가 싱겁게 끝났어요.

Context: This means the ending was underwhelming or anticlimactic, NOT that the movie was long and boring.

Another nuance to watch out for is the social implication. Calling a superior '싱거운 사람' (a silly/insipid person) can be risky. While it's not a swear word, it implies a certain lack of gravity or authority. It is best reserved for friends, children, or peers. If a boss tells a bad joke, it's safer to just smile rather than calling the joke '싱겁다' unless you have a very close, informal relationship.

While 싱겁다 is the most common term for blandness, several other words offer specific nuances depending on whether you are talking about food, personality, or texture.

심심하다 (Simsimhada): Commonly means 'to be bored,' but when applied to food, it means 'pleasantly bland' or 'mild.' It is less critical than 싱겁다. It suggests the food isn't salty, which might be a good thing.
맹맹하다 (Maengmaenghada): Describes something that is watery and completely lacks flavor, like a soda that has lost its fizz or a soup that is mostly water.
밋밋하다 (Mitmithada): Used for things that are visually flat or stories that lack excitement. It's more about 'plainness' than 'saltiness.'

이 국은 심심해서 아이들이 먹기 좋아요.

Translation: This soup is mild (not salty), so it's good for children to eat.

If you want to describe a person who is 'insipid' in a more intellectual or artistic sense, you might use 무미건조하다 (mumigeonjohada), which literally means 'no flavor and dry.' This is much more formal than '싱겁다' and is used to describe a life, a style of writing, or a personality that lacks any passion or color. Understanding these distinctions allows you to move from basic communication to nuanced expression in Korean.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

In ancient Korea, salt was a precious commodity. Calling something '싱겁다' might have once implied that the host was being stingy with their expensive salt!

Guía de pronunciación

UK /ɕʰiŋ.ɡʌp.t͈a/

US /ʃiŋ.ɡʌp.t͈a/

The stress is equal on both syllables, but the second syllable '겁' feels slightly heavier due to the tense 'tt' sound that follows.

Rima con

무겁다 (mugeopda - to be heavy) 어렵다 (eoryeopda - to be difficult) 더럽다 (deoreopda - to be dirty) 가볍다 (gabyeopda - to be light) 즐겁다 (jeulgeopda - to be joyful) 부럽다 (bureopda - to be envious) 가깝다 (gakkapda - to be close) 차갑다 (chagapda - to be cold)

Errores comunes

Pronouncing it as 'sing-geob-da' with a soft 'd' instead of the tense 'tt'.
Forgetting the 'ㅂ' irregular conjugation in sentences (saying 'sing-geop-eo' instead of 'sing-geo-wo').
Confusing the 's' sound with a 'sh' sound incorrectly.
Not tensing the 'ㄷ' in '다'.
Pronouncing the 'ng' in '싱' too separately from the vowel.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts about food or health.

Escritura 3/5

Requires remembering the 'ㅂ' irregular conjugation.

Expresión oral 3/5

Natural usage in metaphorical contexts takes practice.

Escucha 2/5

Commonly heard in daily life and TV shows.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

짜다 소금 맛있다 국 사람

Aprende después

심심하다 맹맹하다 간 조미료 건강

Avanzado

무미건조하다 허허실실 용두사미

Gramática que debes saber

ㅂ Irregular Adjectives

싱겁다 -> 싱거워요, 맵다 -> 매워요, 춥다 -> 추워요

Noun Modifying Adjectives (-ㄴ/은)

싱거운 국 (Bland soup)

Adverbial suffix -게

싱겁게 먹다 (To eat blandly)

Reasoning with -아서/어서

싱거워서 소금을 넣었어요.

Conditional -(으)면

싱거우면 말씀하세요.

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

Ejemplos por nivel

국이 싱거워요.

The soup is bland.

Present polite form of 싱겁다.

이것은 싱거운 음식이에요.

This is bland food.

Noun-modifying form '싱거운'.

소금을 넣으면 안 싱거워요.

If you add salt, it's not bland.

Negative form '안' + adjective.

밥이 너무 싱거워요.

The rice is too bland.

Using '너무' (too) for emphasis.

싱거워요? 네, 조금요.

Is it bland? Yes, a little.

Question and short answer.

이 국은 안 싱거워요.

This soup is not bland.

Negative '안' usage.

어제 먹은 국은 싱거웠어요.

The soup I ate yesterday was bland.

Past tense '싱거웠어요'.

싱거운 국을 좋아해요.

I like bland soup.

Object marker '을' with modifying adjective.

음식이 싱거우면 소금을 더 넣으세요.

If the food is bland, please add more salt.

Conditional '-(으)면'.

찌개가 너무 싱거워서 맛이 없어요.

The stew is so bland that it doesn't taste good.

Reasoning connector '-아서'.

저는 싱겁게 먹는 것을 좋아해요.

I like eating blandly (with less salt).

Adverbial form '싱겁게'.

이 라면은 물이 많아서 싱거워요.

This ramen is bland because there's too much water.

Reasoning with '-아서'.

싱거우니까 간장을 좀 찍어 드세요.

Since it's bland, please dip it in some soy sauce.

Reasoning with '-(으)니까'.

반찬이 하나도 안 싱겁고 맛있어요.

The side dishes aren't bland at all and are delicious.

Connector '-고' (and).

싱거운 음식이 건강에 더 좋아요.

Bland food is better for your health.

Comparative '더'.

국이 싱거운지 한번 먹어봐.

Try it and see if the soup is bland.

Indirect question '-는지'.

그 사람은 농담을 참 싱겁게 해요.

That person makes really bland (unfunny) jokes.

Metaphorical use for humor.

영화가 생각보다 싱겁게 끝났어요.

The movie ended more anticlimactically than I thought.

Metaphorical use for situations.

싱거운 소리 하지 말고 공부나 해.

Stop talking nonsense and just study.

Idiomatic '싱거운 소리' (nonsense).

축구 경기가 너무 싱겁게 한 팀의 승리로 끝났다.

The soccer match ended anticlimactically with one team's victory.

Describing a lack of competition.

그는 겉보기와 달리 아주 싱거운 사람이다.

Unlike his appearance, he is a very silly/frivolous person.

Contrastive '-(으)ㄴ 달리'.

간이 싱거우면 이 소스를 곁들여 보세요.

If the seasoning is bland, try it with this sauce.

Using '간' (seasoning) as a noun.

너무 싱겁게 굴지 마, 진지하게 들어줘.

Don't act so silly; listen to me seriously.

Negative command '-지 마'.

그의 반응이 너무 싱거워서 당황했어요.

I was flustered because his reaction was so underwhelming.

Describing a reaction.

싱거운 농담으로 분위기를 망치지 마세요.

Don't ruin the atmosphere with bland jokes.

Modifying '농담' (joke).

기대했던 결말치고는 너무 싱거웠다.

For an ending I looked forward to, it was far too anticlimactic.

Comparison '-치고는'.

그는 싱거운 짓을 해서 사람들을 웃기곤 한다.

He often makes people laugh by doing silly things.

Habitual '-곤 하다'.

음식을 싱겁게 먹는 습관이 장수의 비결입니다.

The habit of eating blandly is the secret to longevity.

Gerund '-는 것/습관'.

이번 선거는 생각보다 싱겁게 결과가 나왔다.

The results of this election came out more anticlimactically than expected.

Describing an easy/expected outcome.

그의 말은 항상 알맹이가 없고 싱겁다.

His words are always hollow and insipid.

Metaphorical '알맹이가 없다' (hollow).

싱거운 사람이라는 평을 듣기도 합니다.

He sometimes hears that he is a 'silly' person.

Passive/Reported speech '-라는 평'.

국을 싱겁게 끓였더니 남편이 소금을 찾네요.

I boiled the soup blandly, so my husband is looking for salt.

Discovery/Result '-더니'.

사건의 전말이 밝혀졌지만 의외로 싱거웠다.

The full details of the case were revealed, but they were surprisingly underwhelming.

Describing a mystery resolution.

그는 싱거운 웃음을 지으며 위기를 모면했다.

He escaped the crisis by putting on a silly/vacant smile.

Describing a specific type of smile.

웅장한 서사에 비해 마무리가 너무 싱겁다는 비판이 있다.

There is criticism that the ending is too bland compared to the grand narrative.

Comparison '-에 비해'.

싱거운 소리 그만두고 본론으로 들어갑시다.

Stop the nonsense and let's get to the main point.

Command with '본론' (main point).

그의 연기는 화려함은 없지만 싱겁지 않은 깊이가 있다.

His acting lacks flashiness, but it has a depth that isn't 'bland'.

Double negative nuance.

대결이 싱겁게 끝나버려 관중들이 야유를 보냈다.

The match ended so anticlimactically that the crowd booed.

Completed action '-어 버리다'.

싱거운 녀석인 줄 알았는데 아주 치밀한 구석이 있더군.

I thought he was a silly fellow, but he has a very meticulous side.

Retrospective '-더군'.

현대인의 삶이 자극에 길들여져 싱거운 일상을 견디지 못한다.

Modern people are so used to stimulation that they cannot endure a 'bland' daily life.

Social commentary.

인생의 참맛은 화려한 성취보다 싱거운 일상 속에 있을지도 모른다.

The true taste of life might lie in 'bland' daily routines rather than flashy achievements.

Philosophical conjecture.

작가는 싱겁기 그지없는 문체로 오히려 강렬한 인상을 남긴다.

The author leaves a strong impression through an incredibly 'insipid' (plain) writing style.

Emphasis '-기 그지없다' (extremely).

그의 싱거운 농담 뒤에는 뼈 있는 진실이 숨겨져 있었다.

Behind his bland jokes, there was a 'bony' (pointed) truth hidden.

Idiomatic '뼈 있는' (meaningful/sharp).

정치적 공방이 싱겁게 마무리되자 언론은 허탈함을 감추지 못했다.

As the political battle ended anticlimactically, the media could not hide their sense of futility.

Complex noun phrases.

싱거운 사람으로 보이기 위해 그는 일부러 허허실실 작전을 썼다.

To appear like a silly person, he intentionally used a strategy of 'making the real look fake'.

Purpose clause '-기 위해'.

맹물처럼 싱거운 그의 삶에도 나름의 철학이 깃들어 있다.

Even in his life, which is as 'bland' as plain water, a philosophy of its own is embedded.

Simile '-처럼'.

극의 긴장감이 싱겁게 풀려버려 관객의 몰입도가 떨어졌다.

The tension of the play was released too anticlimactically, causing the audience's immersion to drop.

Cause and effect with '몰입도'.

싱거운 소리라 치부했던 그의 말이 예언처럼 적중했다.

His words, which I had dismissed as nonsense, came true like a prophecy.

Relative clause with '치부하다' (dismiss/regard).

Colocaciones comunes

간이 싱겁다

싱겁게 먹다

싱거운 농담

싱거운 사람

싱겁게 끝나다

싱거운 소리

맛이 싱겁다

싱겁게 끓이다

싱거운 웃음

싱거운 짓

Frases Comunes

싱거워 죽겠다

— Extremely bland (literal or metaphorical).

이 국은 싱거워 죽겠네.

싱겁게 굴다

— To act silly or frivolous.

제발 싱겁게 굴지 마.

싱거운 녀석

— A silly fellow (often used between friends).

참 싱거운 녀석이군.

싱거운 말씨

— An insipid or lackluster way of speaking.

그의 싱거운 말씨가 마음에 안 든다.

싱겁게 대하다

— To treat someone in a lukewarm or unenthusiastic way.

그녀는 나를 싱겁게 대했다.

싱겁게 보이다

— To appear silly or lacking in substance.

싱겁게 보이기 싫어서 가만히 있었다.

싱거워서 못 먹겠다

— Too bland to eat.

국이 너무 싱거워서 못 먹겠어요.

싱겁게 간을 하다

— To season food lightly.

건강을 위해 싱겁게 간을 하세요.

싱거운 반응

— An underwhelming or tepid reaction.

선물을 줬는데 싱거운 반응뿐이었다.

싱겁게 놀다

— To play in a silly or childish way.

다 큰 어른들이 싱겁게 놀고 있네.

Se confunde a menudo con

싱겁다 vs 맛없다

Means 'tastes bad' or 'no flavor,' whereas 싱겁다 specifically means 'needs salt'.

싱겁다 vs 지루하다

Means 'boring' in terms of time/tedium, while 싱겁다 is 'insipid' or 'anticlimactic'.

싱겁다 vs 심심하다

Can mean 'bland' for food, but usually in a positive/mild way, whereas 싱겁다 is more critical.

Modismos y expresiones

"싱거운 소리"

— Nonsense or jokes that aren't funny.

싱거운 소리 하지 마.

Informal

"싱거운 사람"

— Someone who is unexpectedly silly or lacks depth.

그 과장님은 참 싱거운 사람이야.

Neutral

"간에 기별도 안 가다"

— Used when a portion is so small/bland it doesn't even signal the stomach.

이 양은 간에 기별도 안 가요.

Informal

"싱겁게 끝나다"

— To end in an anticlimactic way.

결투가 싱겁게 끝났다.

Neutral

"싱거운 웃음"

— A hollow, meaningless, or silly smile.

그는 싱거운 웃음만 흘렸다.

Literary

"싱거운 짓"

— A pointless or silly act.

그런 싱거운 짓은 왜 하니?

Informal

"싱겁기가 짝이 없다"

— To be incredibly bland or silly.

그의 행동은 싱겁기가 짝이 없다.

Formal

"싱겁게 굴다"

— To behave in a frivolous manner.

사람들 앞에서 싱겁게 굴지 마라.

Neutral

"싱거운 녀석"

— A goofy or silly guy.

참 싱거운 녀석일세.

Slang-ish

"맛이 싱겁다"

— Lacking salt (literal) or lacking excitement (figurative).

이번 축제는 맛이 싱겁다.

Neutral

Fácil de confundir

싱겁다 vs 심심하다

Both can mean bland.

심심하다 is mild/pleasant; 싱겁다 is lacking/critical.

심심한 맛 (Mild taste) vs 싱거운 맛 (Bland taste).

싱겁다 vs 지루하다

Both can translate to 'boring'.

지루하다 is for long, tedious events; 싱겁다 is for weak jokes or endings.

지루한 수업 (Boring class) vs 싱거운 농담 (Bland joke).

싱겁다 vs 맹맹하다

Both mean lacking flavor.

맹맹하다 is more about being watery or having no kick at all.

맹맹한 맥주 (Flat beer).

싱겁다 vs 밋밋하다

Both mean plain.

밋밋하다 is usually visual or structural; 싱겁다 is taste or personality.

밋밋한 디자인 (Plain design).

싱겁다 vs 묽다

Both relate to thin flavor.

묽다 refers specifically to the consistency of a liquid.

묽은 스프 (Thin soup).

Patrones de oraciones

N이/가 싱거워요.

국이 싱거워요.

N이/가 싱거워서 V.

국이 싱거워서 소금을 넣어요.

싱거운 N

싱거운 농담을 해요.

V-게 싱겁다

끝나기가 싱겁다 (Ends anticlimactically).

N처럼 싱겁다

물처럼 싱겁다.

싱겁기 그지없다

인생이 싱겁기 그지없다.

싱겁다기보다 ADJ

싱겁다기보다 담백해요.

싱겁게 마무리되다

사건이 싱겁게 마무리되었다.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

싱거운 사람 A silly/insipid person

싱거운 소리 Nonsense/insipid talk

Verbos

싱거워지다 To become bland

싱겁게 하다 To make something bland

Adjetivos

싱겁다 Bland/insipid

Relacionado

짜다 (salty)

달다 (sweet)

쓰다 (bitter)

시다 (sour)

맵다 (spicy)

Regístrate gratis para ver todos los ejemplos

Cómo usarlo

frequency

Very high in culinary and daily social contexts.

Errores comunes

싱겁어요 → 싱거워요
The 'ㅂ' irregular rule requires 'ㅂ' to change to '우' before '-어요'.
Using 싱겁다 for a boring lecture. → 지루하다
싱겁다 is for insipid/silly things, not for tedious/long things.
싱겁은 음식 → 싱거운 음식
The noun-modifying form also follows the 'ㅂ' irregular rule (ㅂ -> 우 + ㄴ).
Confusing 싱겁다 with 맵다. → N/A
싱겁다 is about salt; 맵다 is about spice. They are different dimensions of taste.
Using 싱겁게 for 'quietly'. → 조용하게
싱겁게 means blandly or anticlimactically, not quietly.

Consejos

Master the ㅂ-Irregular

Remember: 싱겁다 -> 싱거워. This applies to many adjectives like 맵다, 춥다, 덥다. Practice them together!

Ask for Salt

If your food is '싱겁다', ask '소금 좀 주시겠어요?' (Can I have some salt?). It's common in Korea.

Bland vs. Bad

Don't say '맛없다' if you just mean it needs salt. '싱겁다' is more specific and less offensive to the cook.

Tread Lightly

Calling a new acquaintance '싱거운 사람' might be misunderstood. Use it for close friends.

Health Context

When you see '싱겁게 드세요' in a hospital, it means 'Follow a low-sodium diet'.

Listen for the 'ㅂ'

In the dictionary form, the 'ㅂ' is clear. In speech, listen for the '우' sound (sing-geo-wo).

Adverb Use

Use '싱겁게' (blandly) to modify verbs like '먹다' (eat) or '끝나다' (end).

Reacting to Jokes

If someone tells a bad joke, '싱거워요!' is a perfect, natural reaction.

Bland vs. Mild

Use '심심하다' for mild food you like, and '싱겁다' for food that feels like it's missing something.

Daily Practice

Check your lunch today. Is it 싱거워요 or 짜요? Say it out loud!

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of a 'Singing' 'Cup' (싱겁). If a cup of soup is singing, it's probably full of water and very 'bland' because there's no salt to keep it quiet!

Asociación visual

Imagine a bowl of soup that is completely clear like water. It looks 'sing-geop-da'.

Word Web

소금 (Salt) 국 (Soup) 농담 (Joke) 사람 (Person) 간 (Seasoning) 맛 (Taste) 건강 (Health) anticlimactic

Desafío

Try to use '싱겁다' three times today: once for food, once for a joke, and once for a situation.

Origen de la palabra

The word '싱겁다' has been used in the Korean language for centuries to describe the lack of salt. It likely originates from the root '싱-', which is associated with 'coolness' or 'thinness' in some archaic forms.

Significado original: Lacking the proper amount of salt or seasoning in food.

Koreanic

Contexto cultural

Be careful when calling a person '싱겁다' in a professional setting; it can imply they are not reliable or serious.

In English, 'bland' is almost always negative. In Korean, '싱겁다' can be neutral or even positive in a health context.

Baek Jong-won (Famous chef) often uses this word when critiquing restaurant food. K-Drama 'Let's Eat' features many scenes discussing the 'gan' of food. The 'Silly Person' trope in variety shows like 'Running Man'.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

At a Restaurant

여기 소금 좀 주세요, 국이 싱거워요.
이 찌개는 전혀 안 싱겁네요.
좀 더 싱겁게 해 주실 수 있나요?
간이 딱 맞고 안 싱거워요.

At Home

오늘 국이 왜 이렇게 싱겁지?
엄마, 저 싱겁게 먹어야 해요.
소금을 깜빡해서 싱거워졌어.
싱거우면 간장 찍어 먹어.

Socializing

싱거운 농담 좀 그만해.
그 사람은 참 싱거운 구석이 있어.
이야기가 싱겁게 끝났네.
싱겁게 굴지 말고 빨리 말해.

At the Doctor

앞으로 싱겁게 드셔야 합니다.
짠 음식 피하고 싱겁게 드세요.
싱겁게 먹는 게 습관이 됐어요.
어떻게 하면 싱겁게 요리하죠?

Watching a Movie

결말이 너무 싱거운데?
액션 장면이 좀 싱거웠어.
반전이 있을 줄 알았는데 싱겁네.
예고편에 비해 싱거운 영화였어.

Inicios de conversación

"한국 음식이 당신에게는 싱거운 편인가요, 아니면 짠 편인가요?"

"최근에 본 영화 중에서 결말이 싱거웠던 영화가 있나요?"

"친구들 중에 '싱거운 사람'이라고 불리는 사람이 있나요?"

"건강을 위해 음식을 싱겁게 먹으려고 노력하시나요?"

"농담을 싱겁게 하는 사람을 어떻게 생각하세요?"

Temas para diario

오늘 먹은 음식 중에서 가장 싱거웠던 음식에 대해 써보세요.

기대했던 일이 싱겁게 끝났을 때의 기분을 묘사해 보세요.

자신이 '싱거운 사람'인지 아니면 '진지한 사람'인지 생각해 보세요.

한국의 '싱겁게 먹기 캠페인'에 대한 당신의 의견을 적어보세요.

싱거운 농담이 분위기를 바꿀 수 있는 상황을 상상해 보세요.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Yes, but it's not a strong insult. It implies they are silly or frivolous. It's more like calling someone 'insipid' than 'hateful'.

The most common opposite is 짜다 (salty). For spicy food, it could be 맵다.

It can be slightly critical. It's better to say '조금 싱거워요' (It's a little bland) and ask for salt or soy sauce.

In food, yes, usually salt or soy sauce. Figuratively, it means lacking 'flavor' or 'excitement'.

It becomes 싱거웠어요 (Polite) or 싱거웠다 (Plain).

The noun form is 싱거움, but it's not used very often. '싱거운 것' is more common.

Yes, if the ending was disappointing or the plot lacked tension, you can say '영화가 싱거워요'.

It is an adjective (descriptive verb in Korean).

Because it ends in 'ㅂ', which changes to '우' when followed by a vowel-starting suffix.

It literally means 'bland sound' but idiomatically means 'nonsense' or 'unfunny talk'.

Regístrate gratis para ver consejos y notas