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B2 verb #8,500 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

잠식하다

jamsikhada Top 8,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces 잠식하다 en 30 secondes

Explication 잠식하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '잠식하다' (jam-sik-ha-da) is a very difficult word. You don't need to use it yet. However, you can think of it as 'taking something slowly.' Imagine you have a big cake. If someone eats one small piece every hour, soon the cake is gone. That 'slow eating' is what this word means. In simple Korean, you might just say '조금씩 다 먹어요' (Eat everything little by little) or '뺏어요' (Take away). At this level, just remember that 'Jam' (잠) sounds like 'sleep' (잠), but here it means a small bug called a silkworm that eats leaves very slowly. It is a word for grown-ups and news reporters.

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For A2 learners, you might see '잠식하다' in simple news titles or in stories. It means 'to take over bit by bit.' It is usually used for business or land. For example, if a big store opens and all the small stores close because people go to the big store, we say the big store is 'jam-sik-ing' the neighborhood. You can use the pattern: [Thing A]가 [Thing B]를 잠식해요. It is more formal than '뺏다' (to take). If you use this word, Korean people will think your vocabulary is very good! Just remember: it's not a fast action. It's a slow, steady action like a bug eating a leaf.

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At the B1 level, you should start recognizing '잠식하다' in reading passages about the economy or society. It specifically describes 'encroachment' or 'gradual takeover.' The metaphor of the silkworm (蠶) eating a mulberry leaf (食) is key here. It is often used in the context of '시장 점유율' (market share). For example, '스마트폰이 MP3 플레이어 시장을 잠식했다' (Smartphones encroached on the MP3 player market). You should notice that it often has a negative nuance—the thing being taken over is usually losing something important. You can also use it for abstract things like 'privacy' (사생활) or 'leisure time' (여가 시간).

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B2 is the target level for this word. You should be able to use '잠식하다' to describe complex social and economic trends. You should understand the difference between this and '침식하다' (geological erosion) or '침범하다' (trespassing). At this level, you should be comfortable using it in various forms like '잠식당하다' (to be encroached upon) and '잠식해 나가다' (to continue encroaching). It is a perfect word for essays about the impact of technology on traditional industries or the expansion of global corporations. Use it when you want to emphasize that a change is happening steadily and is difficult to reverse once it starts.

For C1 learners, '잠식하다' should be part of your active academic and professional vocabulary. You should be able to use it metaphorically in literature or high-level political discourse. For instance, you might discuss how 'cultural hegemony' (문화적 패권) encroaches upon local identities. You should also be aware of related technical terms like '자본 잠식' (capital impairment/erosion), which is a specific financial term where a company's losses start eating into its paid-in capital. At this level, you use the word to provide precise, vivid descriptions of power shifts and systemic changes. You understand the historical and Hanja roots deeply and can use the word to create a specific rhetorical effect of 'creeping inevitability.'

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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of '잠식하다.' You can appreciate its use in classical-style prose or highly sophisticated editorials. You might use it to describe philosophical concepts, such as how 'nihilism encroaches upon the modern soul.' You are also capable of distinguishing the subtle connotations it carries in different historical periods of Korean literature. You can use the word in debate to characterize an opponent's strategy as a 'gradual encroachment on rights' to evoke a sense of silent but total threat. Your usage is flawless, and you can even play with the word's imagery in creative writing, perhaps referencing the silkworm metaphor explicitly to add layers of meaning to your text.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

잠식하다 en 30 secondes

To gradually take over territory or market share.
Derived from the image of a silkworm eating a leaf.
Commonly used in business, environment, and social contexts.
Implies a slow, steady, and often negative encroachment.

The Korean verb 잠식하다 (蠶食--) is a sophisticated and evocative term used to describe a process where one entity gradually, steadily, and often quietly takes over the territory, market share, rights, or space of another. The word is deeply rooted in a vivid metaphor: the way a silkworm (蠶) eats (食) a mulberry leaf. If you have ever watched a silkworm, it doesn't swallow the leaf whole in one aggressive bite; instead, it nibbles at the edges, slowly but relentlessly consuming the entire surface until nothing is left. This nuance of 'gradual yet total' consumption is what distinguishes jamsikhada from more violent or sudden words for 'invasion' or 'seizure.'

Economic Context: In the business world, this is perhaps the most common application. When a new tech startup begins to steal customers from an established giant, or when an imported product starts to dominate a local market, Koreans say the market share is being 'eaten away.' It implies a loss of ground that happened bit by bit before the victim even realized the severity of the threat.
Geopolitical and Territorial Use: Historically and politically, it refers to the slow encroachment upon borders. Rather than an all-out war, it describes the 'salami slicing' tactics where small pieces of land or influence are taken over time, eventually leading to full occupation or loss of sovereignty.
Abstract and Environmental Application: It can also describe natural phenomena like rising sea levels 'eating away' at the coastline, or abstract concepts like 'leisure time being encroached upon by work.' It suggests a loss of boundaries and a gradual loss of control over one's own domain.

대기업의 무분별한 사업 확장이 골목상권을 잠식하고 있습니다. (The reckless business expansion of large corporations is encroaching upon local neighborhood commercial districts.)

To reach a high level of Korean proficiency, understanding the 'Hanja' (Chinese characters) behind this word is crucial. The 'Jam' (蠶) specifically means silkworm. This isn't just a generic word for 'eating'; it is a specific cultural reference to sericulture (silk farming), which was central to ancient East Asian economies. When you use this word, you aren't just saying 'taking over'; you are painting a picture of a patient, hungry organism methodically consuming its target. This makes it a powerful rhetorical tool in journalism and academic writing to describe systemic threats that are hard to stop once they've started.

외래종 식물이 토착 식물의 서식지를 빠르게 잠식해 나갔다. (Invasive plant species quickly moved to encroach upon the habitats of native plants.)

Using 잠식하다 correctly requires paying attention to the object of the verb. It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs a direct object—the thing being taken over. Common objects include 시장 (market), 영토 (territory), 권리 (rights), or 시간 (time). Because it describes a process, it is frequently used in the progressive form (-고 있다) or with auxiliary verbs that indicate direction or continuation like -해 나가다 (to go on doing).

Grammar Pattern: [Subject]이/가 [Object]을/를 잠식하다: This is the standard active voice. Example: '스마트폰이 카메라 시장을 잠식했다' (Smartphones encroached upon the camera market). Here, the smartphone is the 'silkworm' and the camera market is the 'mulberry leaf.'
Passive Nuance: [Object]이/가 [Subject]에게 잠식당하다: While '잠식되다' is possible, '잠식당하다' is often used to emphasize the victimhood of the entity being taken over. It highlights that the takeover was undesirable or harmful. Example: '그의 사생활은 일에 의해 잠식당했다' (His private life was eaten away by work).

온라인 쇼핑의 성장은 오프라인 매장의 매출을 서서히 잠식하고 있다. (The growth of online shopping is gradually encroaching upon the sales of offline stores.)

In formal writing, you will often see this word used in the form of a noun phrase: 시장 잠식 (Market Encroachment). In business strategy, 'cannibalization' (when a company's new product eats the sales of its old product) is often translated as 자기 잠식 (Self-encroachment). This shows how versatile the word is in professional settings. It isn't just about external enemies; it can be about internal processes where one thing displaces another.

정치적 무관심이 우리 사회의 민주주의를 잠식할 위험이 있다. (There is a danger that political indifference will erode the democracy of our society.)

Furthermore, consider the temporal aspect. Because jamsikhada implies a progression, it is often paired with adverbs like 서서히 (gradually), 야금야금 (bit by bit - an onomatopoeia for nibbling), or 점차 (increasingly). These adverbs reinforce the silkworm imagery. If you say '순식간에 잠식했다' (encroached in an instant), it feels slightly contradictory because the word itself suggests a duration of time. Instead, use it to describe long-term trends and shifts in power or space.

You are most likely to encounter 잠식하다 in formal media, particularly in the economy, technology, and environment sections of the news. It is a favorite word of news anchors and editorial writers because it adds a sense of gravity and 'creeping danger' to a report. When a foreign brand enters the Korean market and starts outperforming local brands, the headlines will almost certainly use jamsik.

In Business News: '중국산 저가 제품이 국내 시장을 잠식하고 있습니다.' (Low-priced Chinese products are encroaching on the domestic market.) This is a standard phrase used to describe competitive pressures in the global economy.
In Environmental Documentaries: '해수면 상승으로 인해 해안가 마을들이 잠식될 위기에 처했습니다.' (Due to rising sea levels, coastal villages are at risk of being swallowed/eroded.) Here, the word conveys the unstoppable and slow nature of environmental change.

신기술의 등장은 기존 산업의 기반을 잠식하기 마련이다. (The emergence of new technology is bound to encroach upon the foundations of existing industries.)

You will also hear this in academic settings—lectures on sociology, political science, or history. Professors use it to describe how ideologies spread or how one culture's influence might 'erode' another's traditional values. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation between friends (like talking about who ate the most snacks), as it sounds overly formal and dramatic for such trivial matters. However, if a friend is complaining about how their hobby is 'taking over' their whole life, they might use it jokingly to sound intellectual.

In literature, jamsikhada is used to describe internal psychological states. A character's mind might be 'encroached upon' by doubt, fear, or madness. This metaphorical use suggests that the negative emotion didn't strike all at once but grew slowly, like a stain spreading on fabric or—again—the silkworm on the leaf. This usage is particularly common in psychological thrillers or introspective novels where the slow loss of self is a central theme.

공포가 그의 마음을 천천히 잠식해 들어왔다. (Fear slowly crept in and took over his mind.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 잠식하다 with 침식하다 (erosion). While they sound similar and both involve a gradual process, chimsikhada is almost exclusively used for physical, geological erosion (like water wearing away rock), whereas jamsikhada is more commonly used for abstract concepts like markets, rights, and influence. Using '잠식' for a riverbank might sound slightly poetic but technically incorrect in a scientific context.

Mistake: Using it for sudden actions: Incorrect: '강도가 우리 집을 잠식했다.' (The robber encroached my house.) - This is wrong because a robbery is a sudden, violent act. You should use 침입하다 (break in) or 강탈하다 (rob). Jamsik requires a slow, nibbling process.
Mistake: Confusing with 'Cannibalization' in a positive sense: In English, 'market cannibalization' can sometimes be a deliberate strategy. In Korean, jamsik almost always carries a negative or cautionary connotation. It suggests an unwelcome loss. If you want to describe a positive integration or merging, use words like 통합하다 (integrate) or 흡수하다 (absorb).

[Wrong]: 파도가 바위를 잠식했다. (The waves 'silkworm-ate' the rock.)
[Right]: 파도가 바위를 침식했다. (The waves eroded the rock.)

Another nuance to watch out for is the difference between 잠식 (Encroachment) and 침범 (Trespassing/Infringement). Chimbeom is about crossing a line or breaking a rule. It is a violation of a boundary. Jamsik is about the gradual disappearance of the boundary itself as one side expands into the other. For example, '사생활 침해' (privacy infringement) is a specific act of violation, while '일이 사생활을 잠식하다' (work encroaches on private life) describes a lifestyle trend where the boundary between work and life slowly fades away.

Finally, avoid using this word in very casual settings. If you say '동생이 내 과자를 잠식했어' (My brother encroached upon my snacks), you are being extremely hyperbolic. While it might be funny as a joke, in a normal context, it sounds like you are reading from a 19th-century economic treatise. Stick to 다 먹어버렸어 (ate them all) or 뺏어 먹었어 (stole and ate) for snacks!

To truly master 잠식하다, you should compare it with its 'cousins' in the Korean lexicon. These words all share themes of taking, occupying, or entering, but each has a distinct flavor and specific use-case.

침식하다 (Erode): Comparison: Both involve gradual loss. However, chimsik is geological/physical (water/wind), while jamsik is conceptual/territorial (market/influence). You 'erode' a cliff, but you 'encroach' a market.
장악하다 (Dominate/Grip): Comparison: Jang-ak implies a firm, total control. It doesn't necessarily have to be gradual. You can 'seize' control of a meeting (hoe-ui-reul jang-ak-hada). Jamsik is the process of getting there; jang-ak is the result of holding it.
침범하다 (Encroach/Trespass): Comparison: Chimbeom is about violating a boundary. It's often used for legal or moral violations (e.g., yeong-to chimbeom - territorial violation). Jamsik is the slow consumption of the area behind that boundary.
점유하다 (Occupy/Possess): Comparison: Jeomyu is a more neutral, often legal term for holding a space. '시장 점유율' (Market share) uses this root. While jamsik is the aggressive/negative action of taking share, jeomyu is the state of having it.

그 회사는 기술력을 바탕으로 시장을 장악했으며, 경쟁사들의 지분을 서서히 잠식해 나갔다. (The company dominated the market based on its technology and gradually encroached upon the shares of its competitors.)

When writing, choosing between these words depends on the 'vibe' you want to create. If you want to sound like a neutral observer, use 점유하다. If you want to sound like a victim or a concerned critic, use 잠식하다. If you want to describe a powerful, decisive leader or company, use 장악하다. Understanding these nuances is the hallmark of a B2 or C1 level learner. It shows you understand not just the 'what' but the 'how' and 'why' of Korean expression.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

In ancient East Asia, silk production was a major industry. Watching silkworms eat was a common sight, making this a very relatable metaphor for anyone in that era describing a slow takeover.

Guide de prononciation

UK /t͡ɕamsʰikʰada/

US /t͡ɕamsʰikʰada/

The primary stress is on the second syllable 'sik' (식).

Rime avec

침식하다 (chimsikhada) 부식하다 (busikhada) 채식하다 (chaesikhada) 육식하다 (yuksikhada) 포식하다 (posikhada) 과식하다 (gwasikhada) 금식하다 (geumsikhada) 후식하다 (husikhada)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing '잠' as 'jam' (like fruit jam) with an English 'j'. It should be a Korean 'ㅈ'.
Confusing the '식' (sik) with '십' (sip).
Failing to aspirate the 'ㅎ' in '하다', making it sound like '잠식아다'.
Mixing it up with '장식하다' (to decorate).
Over-stressing the first syllable.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 4/5

Common in news and books, but requires knowledge of the Hanja metaphor to grasp the nuance.

Écriture 4/5

Hard to use naturally without sounding overly formal unless the context is business/academic.

Expression orale 3/5

Used in professional speech; rarely used in casual daily conversation.

Écoute 4/5

Frequently heard in news broadcasts and documentaries.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

먹다 뺏다 시장 조금씩 침범하다

Apprends ensuite

침식하다 장악하다 점유율 도태되다 고갈되다

Avancé

자본잠식 헤게모니 독점 과점 수탈

Grammaire à connaître

Passive voice with -당하다

권리를 잠식당하다 (To have one's rights encroached upon).

Causal connective -아/어서

시장이 잠식되어서 회사가 어려워졌다.

Progressive -고 있다

기술이 일자리를 잠식하고 있다.

Noun modification with -는

시장을 잠식하는 신기술.

Compound verbs with -어 가다

영토를 잠식해 가다 (Continue to encroach).

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Exemples par niveau

큰 가게가 작은 가게를 잠식해요.

The big store takes over the small store slowly.

Basic Subject-Object-Verb structure.

벌레가 잎을 잠식해요.

The bug eats the leaf bit by bit.

Using the literal meaning of the Hanja.

나쁜 생각이 마음을 잠식해요.

Bad thoughts take over the mind slowly.

Simple metaphorical use.

일이 내 시간을 잠식해요.

Work takes away my time.

Abstract object 'time'.

바닷물이 땅을 잠식해요.

Sea water takes over the land.

Simple environmental use.

게임이 공부 시간을 잠식해요.

Games take away study time.

Common everyday situation.

그 회사가 시장을 잠식해요.

That company takes over the market.

Business context.

유튜브가 티비 시간을 잠식해요.

YouTube takes over TV time.

Modern media context.

대형 마트가 동네 시장을 잠식하고 있어요.

Big supermarkets are encroaching on neighborhood markets.

-고 있다 expresses a continuing action.

외국 브랜드가 한국 시장을 잠식했다.

Foreign brands took over the Korean market.

Past tense -했다.

걱정이 내 머릿속을 잠식하기 시작했다.

Worry started to take over my head.

-기 시작하다 (start to do).

인터넷이 신문 시장을 잠식했어요.

The internet encroached on the newspaper market.

Polite -어요 ending.

그는 일이 사생활을 잠식하게 두지 않았다.

He didn't let work encroach on his private life.

-게 두지 않다 (not let something happen).

도시가 숲을 조금씩 잠식하고 있다.

The city is gradually encroaching on the forest.

Adverb '조금씩' (little by little).

잡초가 정원을 잠식해 버렸다.

Weeds have completely taken over the garden.

-어 버리다 (completed action with feeling).

스마트폰이 우리의 삶을 잠식하고 있습니다.

Smartphones are encroaching on our lives.

Formal -습니다 ending.

저가 전략으로 시장을 빠르게 잠식해 나갔다.

They quickly encroached on the market with a low-price strategy.

-해 나가다 (continue to do something in a direction).

권력에 대한 욕심이 그의 이성을 잠식했다.

Greed for power encroached upon his reason.

Abstract psychological usage.

해안선이 파도에 의해 서서히 잠식당하고 있다.

The coastline is being gradually eroded by the waves.

Passive form -당하고 있다.

디지털 카메라가 필름 카메라 시장을 완전히 잠식했다.

Digital cameras completely encroached on the film camera market.

Adverb '완전히' (completely).

무관심이 민주주의의 기초를 잠식할 수 있다.

Indifference can erode the foundations of democracy.

-ㄹ 수 있다 (possibility).

대기업의 진출은 소상공인의 생존권을 잠식한다.

The entry of large corporations encroaches on the survival rights of small business owners.

Noun phrase '생존권' (right to survive).

불안감이 그녀의 일상을 잠식하기 시작했다.

Anxiety began to encroach on her daily life.

Noun '일상' (daily life).

새로운 앱이 기존 시장을 야금야금 잠식하고 있다.

The new app is nibbling away at the existing market.

Onomatopoeia '야금야금' (bit by bit).

기술적 우위가 없는 기업은 결국 도태되어 시장을 잠식당한다.

Companies without a technological edge eventually fall behind and have their market share encroached upon.

Passive construction '잠식당한다'.

도시화는 주변 농경지를 빠르게 잠식하는 결과를 초래했다.

Urbanization resulted in the rapid encroachment of surrounding agricultural land.

Noun clause '~하는 결과'.

그의 논리는 상대방의 주장을 서서히 잠식해 들어갔다.

His logic gradually encroached upon and broke down the opponent's argument.

Compound verb '잠식해 들어가다'.

자본 잠식 상태에 빠진 회사는 회생하기 어렵다.

A company in a state of capital impairment is difficult to recover.

Economic term '자본 잠식'.

인공지능이 인간의 일자리를 잠식할 것이라는 우려가 크다.

There is great concern that AI will encroach upon human jobs.

Future tense with conjecture '-ㄹ 것이라는'.

편의점이 골목 안쪽까지 들어오며 구멍가게들을 잠식했다.

Convenience stores moved deep into the alleys and encroached on mom-and-pop shops.

Connective '-며' (while/and).

스트레스는 면역 체계를 잠식하여 만병의 근원이 된다.

Stress encroaches on the immune system and becomes the root of all diseases.

Causal connective '-하여'.

권위주의적 사고가 조직의 창의성을 잠식하고 있다.

Authoritarian thinking is encroaching on the organization's creativity.

Abstract object '창의성' (creativity).

신자유주의 논리가 공공 영역을 잠식하면서 사회적 불평등이 심화되었다.

As neoliberal logic encroached upon the public sphere, social inequality deepened.

Complex sentence with cause and effect.

제국주의 세력은 식민지의 경제적 자립 기반을 잠식해 나갔다.

Imperialist powers continued to encroach upon the foundations of the colonies' economic independence.

Historical/Political terminology.

대중문화의 상업주의가 순수 예술의 영역을 잠식하고 있다는 비판이 제기된다.

Criticism is raised that the commercialism of popular culture is encroaching upon the realm of pure art.

Passive reporting '비판이 제기된다'.

인간의 탐욕이 자연의 자정 능력을 잠식하여 환경 재앙을 부르고 있다.

Human greed encroaches upon nature's self-purifying capacity, leading to environmental disasters.

Sophisticated vocabulary '자정 능력'.

그 소설은 광기가 일상을 어떻게 잠식하는지를 치밀하게 묘사한다.

The novel meticulously describes how madness encroaches upon daily life.

Indirect question '-는지를'.

플랫폼 기업들의 독점은 중소 상공인들의 이익을 잠식하는 구조적 문제를 안고 있다.

The monopoly of platform companies has structural problems that encroach upon the profits of small and medium-sized businesses.

Complex noun modifier.

언어적 제국주의는 소수 민족의 정체성을 잠식하는 강력한 도구가 된다.

Linguistic imperialism becomes a powerful tool that encroaches upon the identity of ethnic minorities.

Sociolinguistic context.

자기 잠식(Cannibalization) 현상을 방지하기 위해 정교한 마케팅 전략이 필요하다.

A sophisticated marketing strategy is needed to prevent the phenomenon of self-encroachment (cannibalization).

Specific business terminology '자기 잠식'.

허무주의가 시대정신을 잠식할 때, 사회는 근본적인 가치의 혼란을 겪게 된다.

When nihilism encroaches upon the zeitgeist, society experiences a confusion of fundamental values.

Philosophical terminology '시대정신' (zeitgeist).

그의 문체는 침묵이 언어를 잠식해 들어가는 찰나의 순간을 포착해낸다.

His writing style captures the fleeting moment when silence encroaches upon language.

Literary/Poetic expression.

자본의 논리가 인간의 실존적 고뇌마저 잠식해 버린 현대 사회의 단면을 고발한다.

It denounces a facet of modern society where the logic of capital has even encroached upon human existential anguish.

Existentialist vocabulary.

역사적 수정주의는 객관적 사실의 영역을 잠식하며 집단 기억을 왜곡한다.

Historical revisionism encroaches upon the realm of objective facts and distorts collective memory.

Academic/Political context.

기술 관료주의가 정치적 의사결정 과정을 잠식함으로써 민주적 정당성이 훼손될 우려가 있다.

There is a concern that democratic legitimacy may be undermined by technocracy encroaching upon the political decision-making process.

Instrumental connective '-함으로써'.

무의식 속에 잠재된 공포가 의식의 명료함을 잠식하는 과정을 정신분석학적으로 고찰하다.

To psychoanalytically examine the process by which latent fear in the unconscious encroaches upon the clarity of consciousness.

Psychoanalytic terminology.

디지털 전환은 아날로그적 감수성의 영토를 끊임없이 잠식하며 새로운 지각 방식을 강요한다.

Digital transformation constantly encroaches upon the territory of analog sensibility and forces new ways of perception.

Philosophical/Technological discourse.

본질이 아닌 현상이 본질을 잠식하는 '전도된 세계'에 대한 철학적 성찰이 요구된다.

A philosophical reflection on the 'inverted world' where phenomena encroach upon the essence is required.

Metaphysical terminology.

Synonymes

침식하다 침해하다 장악하다 빼앗다

Antonymes

반환하다 개방하다

Collocations courantes

시장 점유율을 잠식하다

영토를 잠식하다

사생활을 잠식하다

자본을 잠식하다

권리를 잠식하다

해안을 잠식하다

시간을 잠식하다

마음을 잠식하다

일상을 잠식하다

기반을 잠식하다

Phrases Courantes

야금야금 잠식하다

— To encroach bit by bit, like nibbling.

그는 경쟁자의 고객을 야금야금 잠식해 나갔다.

서서히 잠식하다

— To encroach slowly and gradually.

바닷물이 서서히 육지를 잠식하고 있다.

완전히 잠식하다

— To completely take over or consume.

외국 기업이 국내 시장을 완전히 잠식했다.

자기 잠식 현상

— The phenomenon of cannibalization (self-encroachment).

신제품 출시가 자기 잠식 현상을 일으켰다.

자본 잠식 상태

— A state of capital impairment/erosion.

그 회사는 현재 완전 자본 잠식 상태에 빠졌다.

영역을 잠식하다

— To encroach upon a specific domain or area.

AI가 창작의 영역을 잠식하고 있다.

기회를 잠식하다

— To take away or erode opportunities.

불황이 청년들의 취업 기회를 잠식하고 있다.

정신을 잠식하다

— To take over one's mind or spirit.

공포가 그의 정신을 서서히 잠식했다.

뿌리부터 잠식하다

— To encroach starting from the roots/foundations.

불신이 우리 관계를 뿌리부터 잠식했다.

빠르게 잠식하다

— To encroach at a fast pace (relative to the usual slow nature).

새로운 유행이 시장을 빠르게 잠식했다.

Souvent confondu avec

잠식하다 vs 침식하다

Used for physical/geological erosion (water/rock). '잠식' is for abstract/market encroachment.

잠식하다 vs 침범하다

Used for violating a boundary or trespassing. '잠식' is the gradual takeover of the area.

잠식하다 vs 장식하다

Sounds similar but means 'to decorate'.

Expressions idiomatiques

"누에가 뽕잎을 먹듯"

— Exactly like a silkworm eating a mulberry leaf; doing something gradually and thoroughly.

그는 누에가 뽕잎을 먹듯 경쟁사의 지분을 잠식했다.

Literary

"발붙일 곳이 없다"

— To have no place to stand (often a result of being 'jam-sik-ed').

대형 마트 때문에 재래시장은 이제 발붙일 곳이 없다.

General

"야금야금 먹어 치우다"

— To nibble and finish everything off.

그 회사는 작은 업체들을 야금야금 먹어 치우며 성장했다.

Colloquial

"뿌리가 뽑히다"

— To be uprooted (a severe consequence of encroachment).

전통문화가 서구 문화에 잠식되어 뿌리가 뽑힐 위기다.

Metaphorical

"안방까지 내주다"

— To give up even the inner room (to lose the core territory).

국산 화장품이 수입품에 안방까지 내주며 잠식당했다.

Idiomatic

"벼랑 끝에 서다"

— To stand on the edge of a cliff (to be pushed to the limit by encroachment).

시장 잠식으로 인해 소상공인들이 벼랑 끝에 서 있다.

General

"살을 깎아 먹다"

— To eat away at one's own flesh (self-cannibalization).

무리한 가격 인하는 결국 제 살 깎아 먹기식 잠식이다.

Colloquial

"잠식의 마수"

— The evil hands of encroachment.

거대 자본의 잠식의 마수가 시골 마을까지 뻗쳤다.

Dramatic

"성한 곳이 없다"

— No part is left intact/healthy.

질병이 몸을 잠식하여 이제 성한 곳이 하나도 없다.

General

"설 자리를 잃다"

— To lose one's place to stand.

기계화로 인해 숙련공들이 설 자리를 잠식당하고 있다.

General

Facile à confondre

잠식하다 vs 침식 (Erosion)

Sounds similar and both mean gradual loss.

Chimsik is for nature/geology; Jamsik is for markets/territory.

강물이 둑을 침식했다 (Correct) vs 강물이 둑을 잠식했다 (Awkward).

잠식하다 vs 침범 (Trespass)

Both involve entering another's space.

Chimbeom is a single act of violation; Jamsik is a continuous process of taking over.

영토를 침범했다 (Crossed the border) vs 영토를 잠식했다 (Slowly took the land).

잠식하다 vs 장악 (Grip/Seize)

Both end in total control.

Jang-ak is the state of control; Jamsik is the slow process of getting there.

그는 시장을 장악했다 (He holds the market).

잠식하다 vs 점유 (Occupation)

Both relate to holding space.

Jeomyu is neutral/legal; Jamsik is aggressive/negative.

시장 점유율 (Market share percentage).

잠식하다 vs 포식 (Predation)

Both involve eating/taking.

Posik is an animal eating prey; Jamsik is metaphorical 'eating' of a domain.

사자가 사슴을 포식했다.

Structures de phrases

A가 B를 잠식해요.

큰 회사가 작은 회사를 잠식해요.

A가 B를 잠식하고 있다.

인터넷이 신문을 잠식하고 있다.

A에 의해 B가 잠식당하다.

경쟁사에 의해 시장을 잠식당했다.

A가 B를 잠식해 나가다.

앱이 시장을 잠식해 나갔다.

A가 B를 잠식하는 결과를 초래하다.

독점이 성장을 잠식하는 결과를 초래했다.

A가 B를 잠식할 우려가 제기되다.

AI가 일자리를 잠식할 우려가 제기되었다.

A가 B를 잠식함에 따라 C가 발생하다.

자본이 문화를 잠식함에 따라 다양성이 사라졌다.

A의 잠식으로부터 B를 수호하다.

거대 자본의 잠식으로부터 전통을 수호하다.

Famille de mots

Noms

잠식 (Encroachment/Cannibalization)

자본 잠식 (Capital impairment)

Verbes

잠식하다 (To encroach)

잠식당하다 (To be encroached upon)

잠식되다 (To be encroached/eroded)

Adjectifs

잠식적인 (Encroaching - rare)

잠식된 (Encroached)

Apparenté

침식

침범

장악

점유

누에

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

High in news, business, and academic writing; low in casual speech.

Erreurs courantes

Using '잠식' for physical erosion of a cliff. → 침식 (chimsik)
Jamsik is for markets/territory; Chimsik is for geological erosion by nature.
Using '잠식' for a sudden robbery. → 침입/강탈 (chim-ip/gang-tal)
Jamsik must be a slow, gradual process.
Confusing '잠식' with '장식' (decoration). → 잠식 (jamsik)
They sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Using '잠식' as an intransitive verb without an object. → 시장이 잠식되다 (Passive)
Jamsik-hada is transitive. Use Jamsik-doeda if there is no object.
Using '잠식' in very casual settings for small things. → 뺏어 먹다 / 다 먹다
It sounds too formal for casual contexts like sharing snacks.

Astuces

The Silkworm Rule

Always remember the silkworm. If the takeover is slow, quiet, and starts from the edges, '잠식하다' is the perfect word.

Business Context

When talking about market share (점유율), use '잠식' to describe losing ground to a competitor.

Passive Voice

Use '당하다' (to suffer) with '잠식' to sound more like a victim of the encroachment.

Academic Tone

Replace simple words like '뺏다' or '없어지다' with '잠식하다' in essays to immediately sound more academic.

Jamsik vs Chimsik

Nature/Rocks = Chimsik (침식). Markets/Rights = Jamsik (잠식). Don't swap them!

Environmental Use

Use it to describe how cities are taking over nature or how deserts are growing.

Mental States

Use it metaphorically for feelings like 'fear' or 'doubt' taking over someone's mind.

Hyperbole

Use it jokingly with friends to describe how a small thing is taking over your life (like a new TV show).

Formal Meetings

This word is very safe and impressive to use in a professional Korean office environment.

News Keywords

In Korean news, '시장 잠식' is one of the most common phrases in the business segment. Listen for it!

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a 'Silkworm (Jam)' that 'Eats (Sik)' a leaf. Jam + Sik = Encroach bit by bit.

Association visuelle

Picture a green leaf with small semi-circle bites taken out of the edges. That is the essence of '잠식'.

Word Web

Silkworm Eat Market Share Territory Gradual Erosion Business Creeping

Défi

Try to write a sentence about how a new habit (like exercise or a hobby) is '잠식'-ing your weekend schedule.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Hanja characters 蠶 (누에 잠 - silkworm) and 食 (먹을 식 - eat). The word literally means 'to eat like a silkworm.'

Sens originel : The methodical, edge-inward consumption of a mulberry leaf by a silkworm.

Sino-Korean (Hanja-eo)

Contexte culturel

Be careful when using this word about people or cultures, as it implies an unwanted or parasitic takeover. It can sound xenophobic if used improperly in a political context (e.g., 'Immigrants encroaching on our culture').

The closest English equivalents are 'encroach,' 'eat away at,' 'erode,' or 'cannibalize' (in business). However, 'encroach' is the most direct translation for territorial/rights contexts.

News headlines regarding 'Chinese Capital Encroachment' in Jeju Island. Economic reports on 'Self-Cannibalization' (자기 잠식) of the Galaxy S series vs Note series. Environmental documentaries on the 'Encroachment of the Desert' (Sa-mak-hwa).

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Business Competition

시장 점유율 잠식
경쟁사 잠식
자기 잠식 효과
수익 잠식

Environmental Issues

해안 잠식
산림 잠식
서식지 잠식
사막화 잠식

Social/Political Issues

사생활 잠식
권리 잠식
공공 영역 잠식
문화 잠식

Financial/Accounting

자본 잠식
부분 자본 잠식
완전 자본 잠식
이익 잠식

Personal Life

시간 잠식
취미 잠식
스트레스 잠식
일상 잠식

Amorces de conversation

"최근에 어떤 기술이 우리 삶을 가장 많이 잠식하고 있다고 생각하세요?"

"대기업의 시장 잠식에 대해 어떻게 생각하시나요?"

"일과 삶의 균형이 잠식당할 때 어떻게 대처하시나요?"

"온라인 쇼핑이 오프라인 매장을 완전히 잠식할 날이 올까요?"

"당신의 취미가 일상 생활을 잠식한 적이 있나요?"

Sujets d'écriture

나의 소중한 여가 시간을 잠식하는 것들에 대해 쓰고, 그것을 어떻게 해결할지 계획해 보자.

기술의 발전이 인간의 고유한 영역을 잠식하고 있는지에 대한 자신의 견해를 서술하시오.

내가 경험한 '자기 잠식(Cannibalization)'의 사례가 있다면 무엇인지 기록해 보자.

우리 사회에서 가장 시급하게 막아야 할 '잠식' 현상은 무엇이라고 생각하는가?

어떠한 감정(불안, 분노 등)이 나의 이성을 잠식했을 때의 경험과 그 결과에 대해 써 보자.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

In 95% of cases, yes. It implies an unwelcome takeover or loss of ground. However, in business, 'self-cannibalization' can be a calculated risk, though the word still carries a sense of 'sacrifice' or 'loss' of the older product.

Only if you are being very dramatic or funny. For example, '쓰레기가 내 방을 잠식했어' (Trash has encroached upon my room). In normal speech, you'd just say it's messy.

Both are passive. '잠식되다' is more neutral and objective (it happened). '잠식당하다' emphasizes that the subject is a victim who suffered from the action.

Yes! It is very common to say '일이 내 휴식 시간을 잠식했다' (Work encroached on my rest time).

The most common term is '자기 잠식' (jagi-jamsik), meaning 'self-encroachment'.

Yes, to describe slow territorial gains without a major offensive, often called 'salami tactics' in English.

It means 'capital impairment.' It's when a company's accumulated losses exceed its retained earnings, starting to eat into the original capital invested by shareholders.

No. The 'Jam' in sleep is a pure Korean word. The 'Jam' in '잠식' is the Hanja character 蠶, which means silkworm.

No, unless you are a silkworm eating a mulberry leaf. For humans eating food, use '먹다' or '해치우다'.

Yes, it frequently appears in Topik II (Intermediate/Advanced) reading and listening sections, especially those involving economics or social issues.

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