깎다 30秒で
- Used for peeling fruit like apples with a knife.
- Commonly used to ask for a discount (bargaining).
- Used for cutting hair short or shaving a beard.
- Can mean deducting points or damaging reputation.
The Korean verb 깎다 (kkak-da) is a versatile and essential word that primarily describes the action of removing the outer layer of something, reducing its size, or lowering a numerical value. At its core, it signifies a subtractive process where material is shaved or pared away from a surface. This can range from the literal peeling of an apple to the metaphorical reduction of a price during a heated negotiation at a traditional market. Understanding this word requires grasping its three main pillars of usage: physical peeling/whittling, grooming/cutting, and financial discounting. In daily life, you will encounter this word most frequently in the kitchen, at the hair salon, or while shopping.
- Physical Peeling
- When you use a knife to remove the skin of a fruit like a pear or a persimmon, you use 깎다. It implies a precise, shallow removal of the surface layer. This also extends to sharpening a pencil with a blade (연필을 깎다) or whittling wood.
어머니께서 부엌에서 사과를 깎고 계십니다. (Mother is peeling an apple in the kitchen.)
- Grooming and Maintenance
- Interestingly, Koreans use 깎다 for cutting hair (머리를 깎다), especially when it involves a significant shortening or a buzz cut, and for mowing the lawn (풀을 깎다). It conveys the idea of leveling a surface by removing the excess growth.
- Economic Negotiation
- Perhaps the most culturally significant use for travelers is bargaining. When you ask a shopkeeper to lower the price, you use '깎아 주세요' (Please give me a discount). Here, you are literally asking them to 'shave off' some of the cost.
시장에서 물건값을 깎는 것은 한국의 재미있는 문화 중 하나입니다. (Bargaining for prices at the market is one of the fun aspects of Korean culture.)
Beyond these, 깎다 can be used abstractly to describe the act of damaging someone's reputation or 'shaving off' their honor (체면을 깎다). It is a word that encompasses the physical, the social, and the financial, making it a cornerstone of intermediate Korean vocabulary. Whether you are preparing a snack, visiting a barber, or haggling for a souvenir, 깎다 is the verb that bridges these diverse actions through the singular concept of reduction by surface removal.
Using 깎다 correctly involves understanding its object-verb relationship and its specific nuances compared to other 'cutting' verbs. Because it is a transitive verb, it always requires an object marked by the particles -을/를. The sentence structure typically follows: [Subject] + [Object]-을/를 + 깎다.
- Conjugation Basics
- In the present tense, it becomes 깎아요 (polite) or 깎는다 (plain). In the past tense, it is 깎았어요. When making a request, especially for a discount, the -아/어 주다 form is essential: 깎아 주세요.
너무 비싸요. 조금만 깎아 주실 수 있나요? (It's too expensive. Could you please give me a small discount?)
When referring to fruit, the sentence usually specifies the tool or the result. For example, '칼로 사과 껍질을 깎다' (to peel an apple skin with a knife). Note that in Korean, you often say 'peel the apple' (사과를 깎다) rather than 'peel the apple's skin,' though both are grammatically acceptable.
- The 'Hair' Context
- When talking about hair, 깎다 is used for shaving beards (수염을 깎다) or cutting head hair very short. If you are getting a trim, '다듬다' (to trim) or '자르다' (to cut) might be more common, but '머리를 깎다' remains a standard masculine expression for getting a haircut.
군대에 가기 전에 머리를 짧게 깎았습니다. (I cut my hair short before going to the military.)
In more advanced contexts, you might see 깎다 used with abstract nouns like '점수' (score). '선생님이 점수를 깎았어요' means 'The teacher deducted points.' This highlights the verb's core meaning of 'reduction by removal.' Always remember that 깎다 implies a surface-level reduction or a thinning out, which distinguishes it from verbs like '베다' (to slash/cut into) or '쪼개다' (to split).
You will encounter 깎다 in several distinct environments in Korea. The most common is the traditional market (재래시장). While department stores and supermarkets have fixed prices, traditional markets still maintain a culture of 'Heung-jeong' (bargaining). You'll hear customers playfully pleading, '사장님, 좀 깎아 주세요!' (Boss, please give me a discount!) and the shopkeeper might respond with a smile and a small reduction.
- In the Kitchen
- Korean hospitality often involves serving sliced fruit to guests. You will hear hosts say, '과일 좀 깎아 올게요' (I'll go peel/slice some fruit). The sound of a knife against a crisp pear or apple is a nostalgic domestic sound associated with this verb.
후식으로 배를 깎아서 먹읍시다. (Let's peel and eat some pears for dessert.)
- At the Barber or Hair Salon
- In older barbershops (이발소), the phrase '머리 깎으러 왔어요' (I came to get my hair cut) is standard. While younger generations might use '머리 하러 왔어요' (I came to do my hair) or '자르러 왔어요' (I came to cut it), 깎다 still carries a sense of traditional grooming.
이발소에서 수염을 깔끔하게 깎았습니다. (I had my beard shaved cleanly at the barbershop.)
Finally, in educational settings, students might worry about '점수 깎이다' (having points deducted). If a student forgets to write their name on an exam, they might say '이름 안 써서 점수 깎였어요' (I lost points because I didn't write my name). This passive form, 깎이다, is very common when discussing consequences or results of reductions.
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 깎다 with 자르다 (to cut). While they both translate to 'cut' in English, their physical actions are very different. 자르다 is used for severing something into two pieces or cutting through an object (like paper, string, or a cake). In contrast, 깎다 is for removing the surface or reducing the volume from the outside in.
- Mistake 1: Peeling with '자르다'
- If you say '사과를 잘라요' when you mean to peel it, a Korean speaker will think you are slicing the apple into pieces without necessarily removing the skin. To remove the skin, you must use 깎다.
Incorrect: 사과 껍질을 잘라요.
Correct: 사과 껍질을 깎아요.
- Mistake 2: Confusing with '베다'
- '베다' (to cut/slash) is used for injuries (손을 베다 - to cut one's finger) or for harvesting crops with a sickle. Using 깎다 for a physical injury would sound like you are peeling your skin off intentionally, which is quite gruesome! Avoid saying '손가락을 깎았어요' unless you are a woodworker who had a very specific accident.
- Mistake 3: Overusing '깎다' for Discounts
- While '깎아 주세요' is perfect for markets, it's too informal for department stores or luxury boutiques where prices are fixed. In those settings, asking to '깎다' can seem rude or out of place. Use '할인' (discount) in formal retail contexts instead.
Lastly, be careful with the passive form 깎이다. Learners often use the active form 깎다 when they are the ones receiving the reduction. If your points were deducted, you should say '점수가 깎였어요' (The points were shaved off) rather than '점수를 깎았어요' (which means YOU deducted the points).
Korean has a rich vocabulary for 'cutting,' and choosing the right synonym for 깎다 depends entirely on the context. Here is a comparison of the most common alternatives.
- 깎다 vs. 자르다 (To Cut)
- As mentioned, 자르다 is for severing or cutting through. If you cut a rope, you use 자르다. If you whittle a stick to make it sharp, you use 깎다.
- 깎다 vs. 벗기다 (To Peel/Strip)
- Both can mean 'to peel,' but they use different methods. 깎다 requires a tool (like a knife) to shave off a layer. 벗기다 is used for peeling with your hands, like peeling a banana or an orange, or stripping off clothes.
바나나는 껍질을 벗겨서 먹고, 사과는 깎아서 먹습니다. (You peel a banana [with hands] and eat it, and you peel an apple [with a knife] and eat it.)
- 깎다 vs. 할인하다 (To Discount)
- 할인하다 is a Sino-Korean word (割引) and is the formal/standard term for 'to discount.' You see this on signs in stores ('30% 할인'). 깎다 is the native Korean word and is more colloquial, used in person-to-person bargaining.
- 깎다 vs. 다듬다 (To Trim/Tidy)
- 다듬다 is used for grooming or preparing vegetables by removing only the unwanted parts to make them look neat. While 깎다 for hair implies shortening, 다듬다 implies keeping the style but making it neat.
Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker. Using '벗기다' for an apple or '자르다' for a discount would be grammatically understandable but sounds very unnatural. Stick to 깎다 for anything involving shaving, paring, or haggling!
レベル別の例文
사과를 깎아요.
I peel an apple.
Simple present tense: 깎다 + -아요.
연필을 깎으세요.
Please sharpen the pencil.
Imperative form: 깎다 + -(으)세요.
배를 깎을까요?
Shall I peel the pear?
Suggestion form: -을까요?
칼로 깎아요.
I peel it with a knife.
Instrumental particle -로 indicates the tool used.
엄마가 과일을 깎아요.
Mom is peeling fruit.
Subject particle -가 used with '엄마'.
감자를 깎고 싶어요.
I want to peel potatoes.
Desire form: -고 싶어요.
이 사과를 깎아 주세요.
Please peel this apple for me.
Request form: -아/어 주세요.
연필을 깎았어요.
I sharpened the pencil.
Past tense: 깎다 + -았어요.
사장님, 좀 깎아 주세요.
Boss, please give me a discount.
The most common phrase for bargaining in Korea.
어제 머리를 깎았어요.
I got a haircut yesterday.
Commonly used by men for getting a haircut.
가격을 많이 깎았어요.
I got a big discount (I cut the price a lot).
Adverb '많이' modifies the verb.
매일 수염을 깎아요.
I shave every day.
Daily routine description.
과일 껍질을 깎지 마세요.
Don't peel the fruit skin.
Prohibition form: -지 마세요.
손톱을 깎아야 해요.
I have to clip my fingernails.
Obligation form: -아야 해요.
이발소에서 머리를 깎아요.
I get my hair cut at the barbershop.
Locative particle -에서.
얼마나 깎아 줄 수 있어요?
How much of a discount can you give?
Ability form: -ㄹ 수 있어요.
주말에 마당의 풀을 깎았어요.
I mowed the grass in the yard over the weekend.
Used for maintaining a lawn.
실수를 해서 점수가 깎였어요.
I made a mistake, so my score was deducted.
Passive form: 깎이다.
나무를 깎아서 인형을 만들었어요.
I whittled wood to make a doll.
Sequential action: -아서.
그는 가격을 깎는 데 달인이에요.
He is an expert at bargaining.
-는 데 (in the act of/at doing something).
체면을 깎는 행동은 하지 마세요.
Don't do things that damage your reputation.
Metaphorical use for 'face' or 'honor'.
연필을 너무 뾰족하게 깎지 마세요.
Don't sharpen the pencil too sharply.
Adverbial form: 뾰족하게.
깎아 달라고 부탁해 보세요.
Try asking for a discount.
Indirect request: -아 달라고 부탁하다.
깎은 과일이 접시에 담겨 있어요.
The peeled fruit is placed on the plate.
Noun modifying form (past): 깎은.
정부는 예산을 대폭 깎기로 결정했습니다.
The government decided to drastically cut the budget.
Formal usage in administrative contexts.
그의 무례한 태도가 팀의 위신을 깎았습니다.
His rude attitude damaged the team's prestige.
Abstract usage for 'prestige' (위신).
할인 기간이라서 이미 가격이 깎여 있어요.
Since it's a sale period, the price is already reduced.
Passive state: 깎여 있다.
사과를 깎을 때는 손을 조심해야 합니다.
You must be careful with your hands when peeling apples.
Temporal connector: -을 때.
그는 자기 얼굴에 침 뱉는 격으로 가문의 이름을 깎았다.
He tarnished the family name, which was like spitting in his own face.
Idiomatic expression usage.
가격을 깎아 주는 대신 덤을 더 주셨어요.
Instead of giving a discount, they gave me extra items for free.
-는 대신 (instead of).
조각가는 돌을 깎아 멋진 조각상을 만들었다.
The sculptor carved the stone to create a wonderful statue.
Artistic context.
늦게 도착해서 점수가 5점 깎였습니다.
I arrived late, so 5 points were deducted.
Passive past tense: 깎였습니다.
그는 가문의 명예를 깎아내리는 짓을 저질렀다.
He committed an act that disparaged the family's honor.
Compound verb: 깎아내리다 (to belittle/disparage).
뼈를 깎는 고통을 참으며 연습에 매진했다.
He devoted himself to practice while enduring bone-shaving pain.
Idiom: 뼈를 깎는 (extremely painful/diligent).
선반을 이용해 정밀하게 금속을 깎는 공정입니다.
This is a process of precisely machining metal using a lathe.
Technical/Industrial usage.
상대방의 논리를 하나하나 깎아내며 반박했다.
He refuted the opponent by shaving down their logic piece by piece.
Metaphorical use in debate/logic.
공무원들의 월급을 깎는 법안이 통과되었다.
A bill to cut the salaries of civil servants was passed.
Political/Economic context.
그의 비판은 나의 자존심을 심하게 깎아놓았다.
His criticism severely damaged my self-esteem.
-아 놓다 (resultative state).
장인은 밤새도록 나무를 깎아 가구를 완성했다.
The craftsman finished the furniture by carving wood all night.
Emphasis on the process of creation.
불필요한 지출을 깎아서 저축을 늘려야 합니다.
We must increase savings by cutting unnecessary expenses.
Financial management context.
단발령은 당시 유교적 가치관을 깎아내리는 처사로 여겨졌다.
The hair-cutting edict was regarded as an act that belittled Confucian values at the time.
Historical/Academic register.
그 논문은 기존 학설의 권위를 정면으로 깎아내리고 있다.
The thesis is directly undermining the authority of existing theories.
Academic critique context.
자연의 풍파가 바위를 깎아 기묘한 형상을 만들었다.
The elements of nature carved the rocks into strange shapes.
Geological/Poetic usage.
그는 자신의 과오를 깎아내리며 변명하기에 급급했다.
He was busy making excuses while downplaying his own mistakes.
Psychological nuance of 'downplaying'.
뼈를 깎는 혁신 없이는 기업의 생존이 불가능하다.
Without bone-shaving innovation, a company's survival is impossible.
Business metaphor for drastic change.
경쟁사의 점유율을 깎기 위해 공격적인 마케팅을 펼쳤다.
They launched aggressive marketing to shave off the competitor's market share.
Strategic business usage.
그 조각은 세밀하게 깎여 있어 장인의 숨결이 느껴진다.
The sculpture is so finely carved that one can feel the craftsman's breath.
Appreciation of fine art.
예산 삭감안이 국회에서 깎이지 않고 그대로 통과되었다.
The budget cut proposal passed the National Assembly without being reduced further.
Double negative nuance (not being cut).
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
— Please give me a discount. Used in markets.
사장님, 너무 비싸요. 좀 깎아 주세요!
— To get a haircut. Often implies a shorter cut.
이발소에 머리 깎으러 가요.
— In sports like table tennis, to put backspin on the ball.
탁구에서 공을 깎아서 쳤어요.
— To tarnish someone's honor or reputation.
그의 거짓말이 가문의 명예를 깎았다.
— To peel the skin of a fruit or vegetable.
감자 껍질을 깎아 주세요.
— To cut hair very short or shave cleanly (refreshing).
여름이라 머리를 시원하게 깎았어요.
— To cut or reduce a budget.
회사가 올해 마케팅 예산을 깎았어요.
— To interrupt or cut someone off while speaking (less common).
남의 말을 깎지 말고 끝까지 들어라.
— To have points deducted (passive).
숙제를 안 내서 점수가 깎였어요.
— Describes someone with a clean, well-shaped face (like a peeled chestnut).
그 아이는 깎아 놓은 밤처럼 잘생겼다.
慣用句と表現
— Extreme, excruciating effort (literally 'bone-s
Summary
The word 깎다 is essential for daily life in Korea. Whether you are in the kitchen peeling fruit, at a hair salon, or bargaining at a traditional market, this verb describes the act of 'shaving off' or 'reducing' a layer or a value. Example: '사과를 깎고 가격도 깎았어요' (I peeled the apple and also got a discount on the price).
- Used for peeling fruit like apples with a knife.
- Commonly used to ask for a discount (bargaining).
- Used for cutting hair short or shaving a beard.
- Can mean deducting points or damaging reputation.
例文
좀 깎아 주실 수 있나요?
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