A2 Idiom तटस्थ

입에 대다

ib-e daeda

Put to one's mouth/Eat or drink

मतलब

To taste or consume food or drink.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

In Korean drinking culture, if an elder offers you a drink, it is polite to accept it with two hands and at least 'touch it to your lips' (입에 대다) even if you don't drink it, to show respect for the gesture. The phrase is often used by parents when complaining about their children's 'pyeonsik' (picky eating), which is a common topic of social conversation among Korean mothers. During traditional 'Jesa' (ancestral rites), family members might 'touch their lips' to the offered wine as a way of receiving the ancestors' blessings. With the rise of health-consciousness, many young Koreans use this phrase to proudly declare they don't 'touch' soda, fast food, or alcohol.

💡

Use with '도'

To sound more like a native, use '입에도 안 대다' when you want to emphasize you really don't eat something.

⚠️

Not for normal eating

Don't say 'I put rice to my mouth' for a normal lunch. Use '먹다' instead.

मतलब

To taste or consume food or drink.

💡

Use with '도'

To sound more like a native, use '입에도 안 대다' when you want to emphasize you really don't eat something.

⚠️

Not for normal eating

Don't say 'I put rice to my mouth' for a normal lunch. Use '먹다' instead.

💬

Respectful Refusal

In Korea, using this phrase to explain why you don't drink (e.g., for health or religion) is a very clear and respected way to refuse alcohol.

खुद को परखो

Fill in the blank with the correct form of '입에 대다'.

저는 매운 음식을 전혀 ( ).

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 입에 안 대요

The word '전혀' (at all) requires a negative form. '입에 안 대요' means 'don't even touch/eat'.

Complete the dialogue naturally.

A: 이 술 한 잔 마셔봐. 진짜 맛있어. B: 미안해, 나 ( ).

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 술을 입에 안 대

B is refusing the drink, so '입에 안 대' (I don't drink/touch it) is the correct idiomatic refusal.

Which situation best fits the phrase '입에도 안 대다'?

Which person would say this?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Someone who is a picky eater and refuses broccoli.

'입에도 안 대다' is used for total refusal of food.

Choose the most natural sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 너무 배가 불러서 디저트는 입에도 안 댔어요.

This correctly uses the idiom to show that because they were full, they didn't even taste the dessert.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

When to use '입에 대다'

🚫

Refusal

  • Allergies
  • Picky eating
  • Dieting
🚬

Habits

  • Alcohol
  • Smoking
  • Coffee
🤒

Physical State

  • Too full
  • Too sick
  • Too nervous

अभ्यास बैंक

4 अभ्यास
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '입에 대다'. Fill Blank A2

저는 매운 음식을 전혀 ( ).

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 입에 안 대요

The word '전혀' (at all) requires a negative form. '입에 안 대요' means 'don't even touch/eat'.

Complete the dialogue naturally. dialogue_completion A2

A: 이 술 한 잔 마셔봐. 진짜 맛있어. B: 미안해, 나 ( ).

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 술을 입에 안 대

B is refusing the drink, so '입에 안 대' (I don't drink/touch it) is the correct idiomatic refusal.

Which situation best fits the phrase '입에도 안 대다'? situation_matching A2

Which person would say this?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Someone who is a picky eater and refuses broccoli.

'입에도 안 대다' is used for total refusal of food.

Choose the most natural sentence. Choose B1

Which sentence is correct?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 너무 배가 불러서 디저트는 입에도 안 댔어요.

This correctly uses the idiom to show that because they were full, they didn't even taste the dessert.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

6 सवाल

Yes, it is very common for drinks, including water. '물도 입에 못 대겠어요' (I can't even drink water).

It can be a bit blunt. If a host offers food, it's better to say '제가 [음식]을 잘 못 먹어서요' rather than '입에도 안 대요' unless you have a strong reason.

'맛보다' simply means to taste. '입에 대다' is more about the act of starting to consume or the refusal to do so.

Usually no. For medicine, we use '복용하다' or '먹다'.

It is neutral. You can use it in formal settings with the correct endings (대지 않습니다).

Yes, you can say a dog 'won't touch' its food using this phrase.

संबंधित मुहावरे

🔗

입에 맞다

similar

To suit one's taste

🔗

손을 대다

similar

To touch with hands / To start something

🔗

입을 맞추다

contrast

To kiss / To coordinate stories

🔗

입에 풀칠하다

specialized form

To barely make a living (literally: to put paste on the mouth)

🔗

입도 안 대다

variation

To not even touch (food)

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