Explanation at your level:
You use 살짝 when something is small or light. If you are a little bit tired, you say '살짝 피곤해요'. It makes your sentences sound natural and soft.
Use 살짝 to describe actions that are not strong. For example, if you touch a table lightly, you '살짝 만져요'. It is a very useful word for beginners to learn early.
At the intermediate level, you can use 살짝 to express nuance. Instead of saying 'I am hungry', you can say '살짝 배고파요' to mean you are feeling a bit peckish. It adds a layer of politeness and precision.
In B2, you will notice 살짝 is used to soften criticism or requests. It helps in maintaining social harmony by making statements sound less direct or demanding.
Advanced speakers use 살짝 to describe abstract concepts, such as a 'slight' change in tone or a 'subtle' shift in perspective. It functions as a tool for linguistic precision in complex descriptions.
At the mastery level, you recognize 살짝 as part of the broader Korean aesthetic of 'delicacy'. It is used in literary contexts to evoke a sense of fleeting, ephemeral beauty or subtle psychological states.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Means slightly or lightly.
- Used in everyday conversation.
- Very versatile and common.
- Helps soften your tone.
When you hear 살짝 (sal-jjak), think of something gentle or small. It is one of those incredibly versatile Korean words that you will hear native speakers use all the time in their daily lives.
Essentially, it acts as a modifier to show that an action is not full-force. Whether you are 살짝 opening a door or feeling 살짝 hungry, it paints a picture of something subtle and light.
The word 살짝 is an ideophone or onomatopoeic-style adverb in Korean, which means it was created to mimic the feeling or rhythm of a light action. Historically, these types of words evolved to help speakers convey nuance that standard verbs could not capture alone.
It belongs to a rich family of Korean sensory words that describe movement. While it does not have a direct etymological root in Chinese characters (Hanja), it is deeply rooted in the native Korean linguistic tradition of describing physical sensations.
You can use 살짝 in almost any casual or semi-formal situation. It is very common to pair it with verbs related to movement, like 'touching' (건드리다) or 'opening' (열다).
In a formal setting, it remains acceptable, though you might choose more precise vocabulary if writing a formal report. However, in daily conversation, it is the perfect go-to word to soften the intensity of your statement.
1. 살짝 맛보다: To take a small taste. 2. 살짝 건드리다: To barely touch something. 3. 살짝 열다: To crack a door open. 4. 살짝 웃다: To give a faint smile. 5. 살짝 비치다: To show through slightly.
As an adverb, 살짝 does not change its form. It is placed directly before the verb it modifies. The pronunciation requires a tense 'jj' sound, which gives it that 'snappy' feeling.
It rhymes with words like 알짝 (a rare dialect form) and sounds similar to the rhythm of 깜짝 (surprise). Focus on the sharp 'jj' to sound like a native speaker.
Fun Fact
It is a purely Korean word, not derived from Chinese.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'sal' plus a tense 'jjak'.
Similar to standard Korean pronunciation.
Common Errors
- Softening the 'jj'
- Misplacing the stress
- Dropping the final consonant
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read.
Easy to use in sentences.
Requires good pronunciation.
Very common in media.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avancé
Grammar to Know
Adverb Placement
Adverb before Verb
Tense Consonants
jj sound
Sentence Softening
Using adverbs to be polite
Examples by Level
살짝만 열어주세요.
Open it slightly (please).
Adverb + Verb
살짝 아파요.
It hurts a little.
Describes pain level.
살짝 먹었어요.
I ate a little bit.
Quantifier usage.
살짝 웃었어요.
I smiled a little.
Verb modification.
살짝 보여요.
I can see it a little.
Visibility.
살짝 더워요.
It is slightly hot.
Degree of temperature.
살짝 만졌어요.
I touched it lightly.
Physical action.
살짝 추워요.
It is a bit cold.
Degree of cold.
살짝 늦을 것 같아요.
살짝 긴장돼요.
살짝 돌려주세요.
살짝 섞어주세요.
살짝 미안해요.
살짝 탔어요.
살짝 들었어요.
살짝 짰어요.
살짝 기분이 나빴어요.
살짝 힌트를 주세요.
살짝 어색한 분위기예요.
살짝 기대가 되네요.
살짝 빗나갔어요.
살짝 오해했어요.
살짝 덥혀주세요.
살짝 삐졌어요.
살짝 과장된 표현이에요.
살짝 의심이 가네요.
살짝 무리하는 것 같아요.
살짝 비꼬는 말투예요.
살짝 변화를 줬어요.
살짝 엿들었어요.
살짝 꼬였네요.
살짝 멍했어요.
살짝 반어법을 섞어서 말했어요.
살짝 냉소적인 반응을 보였어요.
살짝 궤도를 수정했습니다.
살짝 뉘앙스가 달라요.
살짝 경계심을 풀었어요.
살짝 몰입하게 되네요.
살짝 긴장감이 감돌아요.
살짝 거리를 두는 편이에요.
살짝 몽환적인 분위기를 자아냅니다.
살짝 결이 다른 의견입니다.
살짝 유머를 가미했습니다.
살짝 경외심이 들었습니다.
살짝 비판적인 시각을 견지합니다.
살짝 정적인 미학이 느껴져요.
살짝 굴곡진 인생을 살았어요.
살짝 틈을 주어 생각하게 합니다.
Collocations courantes
Idioms & Expressions
"살짝 맛만 보다"
To try just a little bit.
음식을 살짝 맛만 봤어요.
casual"살짝 건드려보다"
To test the waters.
그 사람 생각을 살짝 건드려봤어요.
neutral"살짝 엿보다"
To peek at something.
창문으로 살짝 엿봤어요.
casual"살짝 빗나가다"
To slightly miss the mark.
예상이 살짝 빗나갔어요.
neutral"살짝 꼬이다"
To get slightly complicated.
일이 살짝 꼬였어요.
casual"살짝 멍하다"
To be slightly dazed.
아침에 살짝 멍했어요.
casualEasily Confused
Both mean slightly.
약간 is more formal.
약간 vs 살짝.
Both mean a little.
조금 is for quantity.
조금 더 주세요.
Both start with 'sal'.
살금 is for stealth.
살금살금 걸어요.
Both start with 'sa'.
잠깐 means a short time.
잠깐만요.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 살짝 + Verb
그가 살짝 웃었다.
살짝 + Adjective
살짝 덥네요.
살짝 + Verb + -아/어 주세요
살짝 열어주세요.
살짝 + Noun-particle + Verb
살짝 기분이 나빠요.
살짝 + Verb-ending
살짝 늦을 것 같아요.
Famille de mots
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Apparenté
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Erreurs courantes
살짝 implies a small degree.
살짝 is for light actions.
살금 is for stealth, 살짝 for degree.
약간 is more professional.
The 'jj' needs tension.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a tiny 'sal' (salt) grain.
Native Habit
Use it to soften your tone.
Cultural Insight
Koreans value subtlety.
Grammar Shortcut
Always before the verb.
Say It Right
Sharp 'jj' sound.
Don't Overdo It
Don't use it for big things.
Did You Know?
It's a native Korean word.
Study Smart
Use it with '아파요'.
Politeness
It makes you sound softer.
Practice
Record yourself saying it.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Sal' (salt) being sprinkled 'Jjak' (lightly).
Visual Association
A chef sprinkling a tiny bit of salt.
Word Web
Défi
Try using '살짝' five times today.
Origine du mot
Korean
Original meaning: A light, quick movement.
Contexte culturel
None
Similar to the English 'a bit' or 'slightly'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At a restaurant
- 살짝 데워주세요
- 살짝 맛만 볼게요
- 살짝 덜어주세요
At home
- 문을 살짝 열어
- 살짝 졸려
- 살짝 아파
With friends
- 살짝 늦어
- 살짝 기분 나빠
- 살짝 웃기다
At work
- 살짝 수정했습니다
- 살짝 늦을 것 같습니다
- 살짝 검토 부탁드려요
Conversation Starters
"오늘 기분이 살짝 어때요?"
"살짝 배고프지 않아요?"
"살짝 늦어도 괜찮아요?"
"살짝 웃긴 이야기를 해줄까요?"
"날씨가 살짝 덥지 않나요?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you felt 살짝 nervous.
Write about a room that is 살짝 messy.
What is something you only eat 살짝?
Describe a sound that is 살짝 들려요.
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsNo, use '조금' for weight.
It is informal but polite.
Yes, '딱'.
Yes, '살짝 늦다'.
Very similar, yes.
Yes, '살짝 기쁘다'.
Yes, very often.
With tension in the throat.
Teste-toi
문을 ___ 열어주세요.
살짝 means slightly.
Which means 'a little bit hungry'?
살짝 is a little bit.
살짝 can mean 'very hard'?
It means the opposite.
Word
Signification
Matches meanings.
Subject + Adverb + Verb.
머리가 ___ 아파요.
Common collocation.
Which is a synonym?
약간 means slightly.
살짝 is a noun?
It is an adverb.
Natural word order.
그는 ___ 삐졌다.
Slightly annoyed.
Score : /10
Summary
Use '살짝' to add a gentle, natural touch to your Korean sentences.
- Means slightly or lightly.
- Used in everyday conversation.
- Very versatile and common.
- Helps soften your tone.
Memory Palace
Imagine a tiny 'sal' (salt) grain.
Native Habit
Use it to soften your tone.
Cultural Insight
Koreans value subtlety.
Grammar Shortcut
Always before the verb.
Exemple
문을 살짝 열어 주세요.
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