When you are learning Korean, you might encounter words that describe tastes and sensations. 쌉쌀하다 (ssap-ssal-ha-da) is one such word. It's an adjective that means 'to be slightly bitter'.
Think of the taste of dark chocolate, coffee, or green tea. They aren't overwhelmingly bitter, but they have a distinct, mild bitterness. That's the feeling 쌉쌀하다 describes.
You can use it to talk about food, drinks, or even a subtle, bitter aftertaste. It's a useful word for expressing nuanced flavors in Korean.
§ What 쌉쌀하다 Means
- Korean Word
- 쌉쌀하다 (ssapssalhada)
- Type
- Adjective
- Definition
- To be slightly bitter.
쌉쌀하다 is used to describe a taste that is faintly bitter, often in a pleasant or acceptable way. It's not a strong, unpleasant bitterness, but rather a mild one. Think of the taste of dark chocolate, certain teas, or some vegetables.
§ Examples of 쌉쌀하다 in Sentences
이 커피는 좀 쌉쌀해요.
- Hint
- This coffee is a little bitter.
녹차는 쌉쌀한 맛이 매력적이에요.
- Hint
- Green tea's slightly bitter taste is attractive.
쌉쌀한 자몽 맛을 좋아해요.
- Hint
- I like the slightly bitter taste of grapefruit.
§ Similar Words and When to Use Them
When talking about bitter tastes in Korean, you'll encounter a few words. Let's break them down to understand when to use 쌉쌀하다 versus its alternatives.
- 쓰다 (sseuda): This is the most general and common word for "bitter." It can describe any level of bitterness, from mild to very strong and unpleasant. If something is just plain bitter, you use 쓰다. It's the default word.
약이 너무 써요.
- Hint
- The medicine is too bitter.
인생은 때로 쓰다.
- Hint
- Life is sometimes bitter.
- 씁쓸하다 (sseupsseulhada): This word is very similar to 쌉쌀하다. It also means "slightly bitter" or "a little bitter." However, 씁쓸하다 often carries a nuance of melancholy, regret, or a slightly unpleasant feeling, even if the bitterness itself isn't strong. You might use it to describe a slightly bitter taste that leaves you feeling a bit sad or disappointed, or a situation that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.
결과가 씁쓸했어요.
- Hint
- The result was a little bitter/disappointing.
그 소식을 듣고 마음이 씁쓸했어요.
- Hint
- My heart felt a little bitter after hearing that news.
In summary:
- 쓰다: General bitter, can be strong or unpleasant.
- 쌉쌀하다: Mildly bitter, often pleasant or acceptable (e.g., certain foods/drinks).
- 씁쓸하다: Mildly bitter, but with a nuance of slight unpleasantness, melancholy, or disappointment.
When you're describing the taste of food or drink and it's just a light, agreeable bitterness, 쌉쌀하다 is your go-to word. If it's just bitter, no other nuance, use 쓰다. If it's a mild bitterness that leaves a slightly sad or regretful feeling, 씁쓸하다 is more appropriate.
慣用句と表現
"쌉쌀한 맛"
a slightly bitter taste
이 커피는 쌉쌀한 맛이 나요.
neutral"쌉쌀한 표정"
a slightly bitter/sarcastic expression
그녀는 쌉쌀한 표정으로 나를 쳐다봤다.
neutral"인생의 쌉쌀함"
the slight bitterness of life
가끔 인생의 쌉쌀함을 느낄 때가 있어요.
neutral"쌉쌀하게 웃다"
to smile slightly bitterly/sardonically
그는 쌉쌀하게 웃으며 고개를 끄덕였다.
neutral"쌉쌀한 농담"
a slightly bitter/sarcastic joke
그의 쌉쌀한 농담에 모두가 웃었다.
neutral"쌉쌀한 향기"
a slightly bitter scent
이 약초는 쌉쌀한 향기가 나요.
neutral"쌉쌀한 경험"
a slightly bitter experience
그것은 저에게 쌉쌀한 경험이었어요.
neutral"쌉쌀한 바람"
a slightly bitter/chilly wind
가을에는 쌉쌀한 바람이 불어요.
neutral"쌉쌀한 추억"
a slightly bitter memory
그는 쌉쌀한 추억을 떠올렸다.
neutral"쌉쌀한 기분"
a slightly bitter/unpleasant feeling
경기가 지자 쌉쌀한 기분이 들었다.
neutral語族
名詞
形容詞
暗記しよう
記憶術
Imagine eating a 'SSAP-ple' (a made-up fruit) that tastes slightly bitter. 'SSAP-ssal-ha-da' sounds a bit like 'SSAP-ple'.
視覚的連想
Picture a dark green leaf, like kale or arugula, which often has a slightly bitter taste. Associate this visual with the sound of '쌉쌀하다'.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Think of foods you've eaten recently that had a slightly bitter taste. Try to describe them using '쌉쌀하다' in a simple Korean sentence. For example, '이 초콜릿 쌉쌀해요.' (This chocolate is slightly bitter.)
よくある質問
10 問쌉쌀하다 (ssapssalhada) means slightly bitter, like the taste of dark chocolate or some vegetables. 쓰다 (sseuda) means bitter in a stronger sense, or sometimes it can also mean to write or to wear depending on the context. Think of 쌉쌀하다 as a milder, often more pleasant bitterness.
Yes, absolutely! If the coffee has a pleasant, slightly bitter taste, 쌉쌀하다 is a great word to use. For example, '이 커피는 쌉쌀하고 맛있어요.' (This coffee is slightly bitter and delicious.)
Not always, but often. It describes a bitterness that isn't overwhelmingly unpleasant. It can be a characteristic of certain foods or drinks that people enjoy, like green tea or dark chocolate. However, if something is just 'bitter' in a bad way, you'd probably use 쓰다.
It's pronounced ssap-ssal-ha-da. The '쌉' part is a strong 'ssap' sound, and '쌀' is like 'ssal' as in rice, and '하다' is 'ha-da'. You can listen to it on an online dictionary for the most accurate pronunciation.
Yes! Common examples include certain types of vegetables like spinach or wild greens, dark chocolate, some teas (especially green tea), and sometimes even certain fruits or alcoholic beverages. Think of tastes that have a mild bitterness that adds to their complexity.
No, 쌉쌀하다 is used specifically for taste, describing a slight bitterness. You wouldn't use it to describe emotions like sadness or disappointment. For emotions, you would use different adjectives.
Here's a simple one: '이 초콜릿은 쌉쌀해요.' (This chocolate is slightly bitter.)
As an adjective, 쌉쌀하다 itself doesn't have an honorific form. However, when you use it in a sentence, the ending of the verb or adjective will change depending on the formality and politeness level you want to express (e.g., 쌉쌀합니다, 쌉쌀해요).
Yes, 쌉쌀하다 is primarily used to describe the taste of food and drinks. It's not typically used for other sensory experiences or objects.
No, 쌉쌀하다 is specifically for 'a little bitter'. If something is 'a little sour', you would use 시큼하다 (sikeumhada) or 조금 시다 (jogeum sida).
自分をテスト 36 問
Write a short sentence describing a drink that tastes '쌉쌀하다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
커피는 쌉쌀해요. (Coffee is a little bitter.)
Imagine you tried a new food. Use '쌉쌀하다' to describe its taste.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
이 차는 쌉쌀한 맛이 나요. (This tea has a slightly bitter taste.)
Complete the sentence: '나는 쌉쌀한 ___ 좋아해요.' (I like slightly bitter ___.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
나는 쌉쌀한 커피를 좋아해요. (I like slightly bitter coffee.)
What kind of taste did the green tea have?
Read this passage:
저는 녹차를 마셨어요. 녹차는 조금 쌉쌀했어요. 하지만 저는 쌉쌀한 맛을 좋아해요.
What kind of taste did the green tea have?
The passage says '녹차는 조금 쌉쌀했어요.' which means 'The green tea was a little bitter.'
The passage says '녹차는 조금 쌉쌀했어요.' which means 'The green tea was a little bitter.'
What does the speaker like?
Read this passage:
아침에 커피를 마셨어요. 그 커피는 쌉쌀했지만 잠을 깨웠어요. 저는 쌉쌀한 커피가 좋아요.
What does the speaker like?
The last sentence '저는 쌉쌀한 커피가 좋아요.' directly states the speaker likes slightly bitter coffee.
The last sentence '저는 쌉쌀한 커피가 좋아요.' directly states the speaker likes slightly bitter coffee.
What is the advice for taking the medicine?
Read this passage:
이 약은 쌉쌀해요. 물과 함께 드세요. 그러면 덜 쌉쌀할 거예요.
What is the advice for taking the medicine?
The passage states '물과 함께 드세요.' which means 'Drink it with water.' to make it less bitter.
The passage states '물과 함께 드세요.' which means 'Drink it with water.' to make it less bitter.
Imagine you tried a new type of tea. Describe its taste using '쌉쌀하다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
어제 새로운 차를 마셨어요. 그 차는 조금 쌉쌀한 맛이 났지만, 괜찮았어요.
You are at a cafe and ordered a drink that was a bit bitter. Write a short sentence about it using '쌉쌀하다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
카페에서 시킨 음료가 쌉쌀했어요. 그래도 저는 쌉쌀한 맛을 좋아해요.
Describe a food or drink you like that has a '쌉쌀하다' taste. Explain why you like it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저는 커피를 좋아해요. 커피는 쌉쌀한 맛이 나지만, 그 맛이 저를 기분 좋게 만들어요.
Which season is mentioned as having many '쌉쌀한' vegetable dishes?
Read this passage:
한국 사람들은 쌉쌀한 맛의 나물을 즐겨 먹습니다. 특히 봄에는 쌉쌀한 맛이 나는 나물 요리가 많아요. 건강에도 좋고 입맛도 돋우기 때문입니다.
Which season is mentioned as having many '쌉쌀한' vegetable dishes?
The passage states '특히 봄에는 쌉쌀한 맛이 나는 나물 요리가 많아요.' which means 'Especially in spring, there are many bitter-tasting vegetable dishes.'
The passage states '특히 봄에는 쌉쌀한 맛이 나는 나물 요리가 많아요.' which means 'Especially in spring, there are many bitter-tasting vegetable dishes.'
What is mentioned about Min-su's friend regarding '쌉쌀하다'?
Read this passage:
민수는 쌉쌀한 맛의 음식을 잘 먹어요. 하지만 그의 친구는 쌉쌀한 맛을 싫어합니다. 그래서 민수는 친구와 식당에 갈 때 메뉴를 신중하게 고릅니다.
What is mentioned about Min-su's friend regarding '쌉쌀하다'?
The passage states '그의 친구는 쌉쌀한 맛을 싫어합니다.' which means 'His friend dislikes bitter tastes.'
The passage states '그의 친구는 쌉쌀한 맛을 싫어합니다.' which means 'His friend dislikes bitter tastes.'
Why did the person drink the '쌉쌀한' medicine?
Read this passage:
오늘 아침에 마신 약은 맛이 쌉쌀했어요. 하지만 약은 몸에 좋기 때문에 다 마셨어요. 쌉쌀한 맛이 나도 건강을 위해 참을 수 있습니다.
Why did the person drink the '쌉쌀한' medicine?
The passage says '약은 몸에 좋기 때문에 다 마셨어요.' which means 'Because medicine is good for the body, I drank it all.'
The passage says '약은 몸에 좋기 때문에 다 마셨어요.' which means 'Because medicine is good for the body, I drank it all.'
This sentence means 'Coffee has a slightly bitter taste.' The subject '커피는' comes first, followed by the adjective '쌉쌀한' describing '맛이', and then the verb '있어요'.
This sentence translates to 'This tea is a bit bitter.' '이 차는' is the subject, '좀' (a bit) modifies the adjective '쌉쌀하네요' (is bitter).
This sentence means 'Chocolate goes well with sweet and slightly bitter flavors.' '초콜릿은' is the subject. '단맛과 쌉쌀한 맛이' refers to the sweet and slightly bitter tastes, and '잘 어울려요' means 'goes well together'.
다음 중 '쌉쌀하다'의 맛을 가장 잘 표현하는 것은 무엇입니까?
'쌉쌀하다'는 약간 쓴맛을 나타내는 형용사입니다.
아침에 마시는 커피 맛이 너무 ___ 이라서 설탕을 좀 넣었어요.
커피는 쓴맛이 날 수 있으므로 '쌉쌀하다'가 적절합니다.
이 나물은 몸에 좋지만 맛이 좀 ___ 아이들은 잘 안 먹으려고 해요.
아이들이 잘 안 먹는 나물은 쓴맛이 나는 경우가 많습니다.
초콜릿은 보통 쌉쌀한 맛이 난다.
다크 초콜릿 같은 경우 쌉쌀한 맛이 날 수 있습니다.
과일은 모두 쌉쌀한 맛이 난다.
과일은 주로 달콤하거나 시큼한 맛이 나며, 쌉쌀한 맛이 나는 경우는 드뭅니다.
인삼은 건강에 좋지만 쌉쌀한 맛 때문에 먹기 힘들 때도 있다.
인삼은 특유의 쓴맛 즉, 쌉쌀한 맛이 있습니다.
This coffee has a slightly bitter taste, which makes it even more appealing.
Vegetables with a slightly bitter taste are known to be good for your health.
I like slightly bitter chocolate.
Read this aloud:
쌉쌀한 맛이 나는 맥주는 어떠세요?
Focus: 쌉쌀한
あなたの回答：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
이 약은 쌉쌀해서 먹기 힘들어요.
Focus: 쌉쌀해서
あなたの回答：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
쌉쌀한 인생의 맛도 때로는 필요하죠.
Focus: 쌉쌀한 인생
あなたの回答：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
다음 중 '쌉쌀하다'의 뉘앙스를 가장 잘 포착한 것은 무엇입니까?
'쌉쌀하다'는 기분 좋은 정도의 약한 쓴맛을 표현할 때 사용됩니다.
친구가 커피를 마시며 '음, 이 커피 좀 쌉쌀하네'라고 말했다면, 커피 맛이 어떻다는 의미일까요?
'쌉쌀하다'는 부정적인 의미보다는 적당히 쓴 맛을 묘사할 때 주로 쓰입니다.
다음 상황 중 '쌉쌀하다'를 가장 적절하게 사용할 수 있는 경우는 언제입니까?
'쌉쌀하다'는 주로 커피나 다크 초콜릿처럼 약간의 쓴맛을 가진 음식에 사용됩니다.
'쌉쌀하다'는 매우 강하고 불쾌한 쓴맛을 나타낼 때 사용한다.
'쌉쌀하다'는 강렬하고 불쾌한 쓴맛보다는 은은하고 견딜 만한 쓴맛을 표현할 때 사용합니다.
어떤 음식이 달콤하면서도 동시에 '쌉쌀하다'고 표현할 수 있다.
단맛과 쓴맛이 조화를 이루는 음식에 대해 '쌉쌀하면서 달콤하다'와 같이 표현할 수 있습니다.
'쌉쌀하다'는 주로 맛을 표현하는 형용사이며, 감정이나 기분을 묘사할 때는 사용하지 않는다.
'쌉쌀하다'는 맛뿐만 아니라, 씁쓸한 감정이나 인생의 쓴맛 등을 비유적으로 표현할 때도 사용될 수 있습니다.
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関連コンテンツ
この単語を他の言語で
cookingの関連語
콩나물
A1Bean sprouts.
버터
A1Butter.
치즈
A1Cheese.
쫄깃하다
A1To be chewy; to be springy.
조리하다
A1To cook or prepare food.
식용유
A1Cooking oil, used for frying, stir-frying, or baking.
바삭하다
A1To be crispy; to be crunchy.
도마
A1Cutting board.
깊게
A2Deeply; to a great depth, used for deep-frying.
식기
A2Utensils and dishes used for eating and serving food; tableware.
