A2 adjective 2 min read

깐깐하다

Someone who is very careful, strict, and pays close attention to small details.

kkankkanhada
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use 깐깐하다 for someone who is very careful. If a person checks everything many times, they are 깐깐하다. It is like being a very strict teacher.

When someone is 깐깐하다, they want everything to be perfect. They notice small mistakes. If you are 깐깐하다, you do not like errors. It is common to say a boss is 깐깐하다.

The word 깐깐하다 describes a person who is fastidious or exacting. It is used when someone follows rules very strictly. You might feel a bit nervous around a 깐깐한 person because they will notice if you do something wrong.

In professional contexts, 깐깐하다 implies a high level of scrutiny. It is the perfect word to describe an auditor or a quality control inspector. It suggests that the person is not easily satisfied and demands high-quality work, which can be both a strength and a social challenge.

깐깐하다 carries a nuance of being 'unyielding' in one's standards. It describes a personality that is rigid and uncompromising. While it can be a sign of professional integrity, it is often used to describe someone who lacks flexibility in social or interpersonal dynamics, making them difficult to negotiate with.

At a mastery level, 깐깐하다 reflects a deep-seated cultural preference for precision. It captures the tension between the desire for perfection and the social cost of that pursuit. It is used in literature to depict characters who are trapped by their own rigid moral or professional codes, often leading to isolation or conflict.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Means meticulous or fastidious.
  • Used for people and personalities.
  • Can be positive or negative.
  • Common in workplace settings.

When you call someone 깐깐하다, you are highlighting their meticulous nature. It is a word that sits right on the border between being a positive trait (being thorough) and a slightly negative one (being difficult or picky).

Think of that one teacher who marks you down for a slightly messy margin, or a friend who refuses to eat at a restaurant unless the hygiene rating is perfect. That is the essence of 깐깐하다. It is not just about being smart; it is about having a high standard that others might find exhausting to keep up with.

The word 깐깐하다 is an ideophone, a type of word in Korean that mimics a sound or a feeling. The repetition of the syllable '깐' (kkan) creates a sharp, clicking sound that evokes the feeling of something being tight, narrow, or restricted.

Historically, it describes the physical sensation of something being 'tight' or 'pinched.' Over time, this evolved to describe a personality that is 'tight' with rules or 'pinched' in their judgment of others. It reflects a cultural value placed on precision and order, which is deeply embedded in the Korean social fabric.

You use 깐깐하다 when talking about people, standards, or even rules. It is very common in workplace settings. For example, you might say, "The manager is very 깐깐하다 about deadlines."

It is not usually used to describe objects, but rather the people who handle those objects. It is a neutral-to-negative word; while being thorough is good, being too 깐깐하다 can make you seem unfriendly or unapproachable. Use it carefully when describing someone to their face!

While 깐깐하다 is an adjective, it often appears in phrases like 깐깐하게 굴다 (to act in a fastidious manner). Another related expression is 깐깐한 성격, which translates to a "meticulous personality." You might also hear 깐깐하게 따지다, meaning to be overly critical or to nitpick every detail of a situation.

These expressions are used to emphasize that the person isn't just careful, but actively making things difficult for others through their high demands.

As an adjective, 깐깐하다 follows standard Korean conjugation rules. You can use it in the present tense (깐깐해요) or the past tense (깐깐했어요). It is often used as a modifier: 깐깐한 사람 (a meticulous person).

Pronunciation-wise, the double 'ㄲ' (kk) requires a tense, sharp sound produced by closing the glottis. It rhymes with the rhythmic feeling of 딱딱하다 (to be hard/stiff), which shares that same sharp 'kk' consonant structure.

Fun Fact

The repetition of '깐' mimics the sound of something being snapped or pulled tight.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kkan.kkan.ha.da/

Sharp 'kk' sounds, clear vowels.

US /kkan.kkan.ha.da/

Consistent with Korean romanization.

Common Errors

  • Softening the 'kk' sound
  • Misplacing the stress
  • Merging the syllables

Rhymes With

딱딱하다 착착하다 빡빡하다 막막하다 똑똑하다

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5
Speaking 2/5
Listening 2/5

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

사람 성격 일

Learn Next

꼼꼼하다 까다롭다 엄격하다

Advanced

완벽주의자 세심하다

Grammar to Know

Adjective Conjugation

깐깐해요

Noun Modification

깐깐한 사람

Adverbial Form

깐깐하게

Examples by Level

1

그는 깐깐해요.

He is meticulous.

Basic adjective usage.

1

그 선생님은 아주 깐깐해요.

2

깐깐한 사람은 실수를 안 해요.

3

우리 엄마는 깐깐해요.

4

깐깐하게 고르지 마세요.

5

그는 깐깐한 성격이에요.

6

깐깐한 상사를 만났어요.

7

그거 너무 깐깐한 거 아니에요?

8

깐깐한 기준을 세웠어요.

1

그는 일 처리가 매우 깐깐하다.

2

깐깐한 사람과는 일하기 힘들다.

3

그녀는 깐깐한 성격 탓에 완벽주의자다.

4

깐깐하게 따지면 끝이 없다.

5

깐깐한 검사를 통과해야 한다.

6

그는 돈 문제에 있어서는 깐깐하다.

7

깐깐한 규칙 때문에 힘들어요.

8

깐깐한 고객을 상대하는 것은 어렵다.

1

그는 사소한 것까지 깐깐하게 챙기는 편이다.

2

깐깐한 성격 덕분에 실수가 거의 없다.

3

깐깐한 기준을 적용하니 불평이 많다.

4

그는 계약서 조항을 깐깐하게 검토했다.

5

깐깐한 태도가 때로는 독이 된다.

6

그는 깐깐한 관리자로 정평이 나 있다.

7

깐깐하게 굴지 말고 좀 여유를 가져.

8

깐깐한 심사위원 때문에 긴장했다.

1

그의 깐깐한 완벽주의는 팀원들을 지치게 했다.

2

깐깐한 절차를 거쳐야만 승인이 가능하다.

3

그는 깐깐한 도덕적 잣대를 타인에게도 적용한다.

4

깐깐한 분석 끝에 결론을 내렸다.

5

깐깐한 성격이 오히려 성공의 비결이 되었다.

6

그는 깐깐한 논리로 상대를 압박했다.

7

깐깐한 규정 준수가 안전을 보장한다.

8

그녀의 깐깐한 안목은 업계에서 유명하다.

1

그의 깐깐한 학구열은 타의 추종을 불허한다.

2

깐깐한 자기 검열이 오히려 창의성을 저해한다.

3

그는 깐깐한 정밀함을 요구하는 장인이다.

4

깐깐한 법 집행이 사회 질서를 유지한다.

5

그는 사소한 어휘까지 깐깐하게 따지는 학자다.

6

깐깐한 성정은 그를 고독하게 만들었다.

7

깐깐한 비판적 사고가 진리를 찾게 한다.

8

그녀는 깐깐한 미적 감각으로 작품을 완성했다.

Common Collocations

깐깐한 성격
깐깐하게 따지다
깐깐한 기준
깐깐한 상사
깐깐하게 굴다
깐깐한 검사
깐깐한 태도
깐깐하게 고르다
깐깐한 완벽주의
깐깐한 관리

Idioms & Expressions

"깐깐하게 굴다"

to act in a fastidious/picky way

그는 왜 그렇게 깐깐하게 굴어?

casual

"깐깐한 잣대를 대다"

to apply strict standards

타인에게 깐깐한 잣대를 대지 마라.

formal

"깐깐하게 따지다"

to nitpick/scrutinize

모든 비용을 깐깐하게 따졌다.

neutral

"깐깐한 성미"

a fastidious temperament

그의 깐깐한 성미는 모두가 안다.

neutral

"깐깐하기 짝이 없다"

to be extremely fastidious

그는 깐깐하기 짝이 없다.

formal

"깐깐하게 대하다"

to treat someone strictly

고객을 깐깐하게 대하면 안 된다.

neutral

Easily Confused

깐깐하다 vs 꼼꼼하다

Both imply detail.

꼼꼼하다 is positive; 깐깐하다 is strict.

꼼꼼한 일처리 vs 깐깐한 상사.

깐깐하다 vs 까다롭다

Both mean difficult.

까다롭다 is for taste/choices; 깐깐하다 is for rules.

까다로운 입맛 vs 깐깐한 규칙.

깐깐하다 vs 엄격하다

Both mean strict.

엄격하다 is objective; 깐깐하다 is personal.

엄격한 법 vs 깐깐한 사람.

깐깐하다 vs 세심하다

Both mean detailed.

세심하다 is thoughtful.

세심한 배려.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + 은/는 + 깐깐하다

그는 깐깐하다.

A2

깐깐한 + Noun

깐깐한 사람.

B1

Subject + 은/는 + 깐깐하게 + Verb

그는 깐깐하게 일한다.

B2

깐깐한 + Noun + 이/가 + Verb

깐깐한 상사가 화를 냈다.

C1

깐깐하다 + 고 + 생각하다

그가 깐깐하다고 생각한다.

Word Family

Nouns

깐깐함 meticulousness

Adjectives

깐깐스럽다 to be somewhat fastidious

Related

꼼꼼하다 synonym

How to Use It

frequency

7/10

Formality Scale

Formal: 엄격하다 Neutral: 깐깐하다 Casual: 까다롭다 Slang: N/A

Common Mistakes

Using '깐깐하다' for objects → Use '꼼꼼하다' or '정밀하다'
깐깐하다 is for people/personalities.
Confusing with '딱딱하다' → 딱딱하다 means hard/stiff
Phonetically similar but different meanings.
Using it as a compliment → Use '세심하다' or '꼼꼼하다'
깐깐하다 often has a negative connotation.
Overusing in formal writing → Use '엄격하다' or '철저하다'
깐깐하다 is more colloquial.
Ignoring the tense → 깐깐해요 / 깐깐했다
Ensure correct conjugation.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Visualize a person with a checklist.

💡

Context Matters

Use it when someone is being too strict.

🌍

Cultural Insight

Koreans value precision.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

Always follows a noun or subject.

💡

Say It Right

Sharpen the 'kk' sound.

💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't use it for objects.

💡

Did You Know?

It's an ideophone.

💡

Study Smart

Use it in sentences about teachers.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'CAN' (깐) that is so tight you can't open it because it's too '깐깐하다'.

Visual Association

A person with a magnifying glass checking a tiny speck.

Word Web

strict careful perfect rules

Challenge

Describe a strict teacher using 깐깐하다.

Word Origin

Korean ideophone

Original meaning: tight/pinched

Cultural Context

Can be offensive if used to describe a person's character in a negative way.

Closest English equivalent is 'picky' or 'fastidious'.

Used frequently in K-drama workplace settings

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

at work

  • 깐깐한 상사
  • 깐깐한 업무
  • 깐깐한 검토

at school

  • 깐깐한 선생님
  • 깐깐한 채점
  • 깐깐한 규칙

daily life

  • 깐깐한 성격
  • 깐깐하게 따지다
  • 깐깐한 기준

shopping

  • 깐깐한 소비자
  • 깐깐하게 고르다
  • 깐깐한 품질 검사

Conversation Starters

"Do you know anyone who is 깐깐하다?"

"Is it better to be 깐깐하다 or relaxed?"

"Why are some bosses 깐깐하다?"

"How do you deal with a 깐깐한 person?"

"Is being 깐깐하다 a good skill?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you were 깐깐하다.

Write about a 깐깐한 person you know.

Is being 깐깐하다 helpful in life?

How can someone be less 깐깐하다?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

It depends on the context; it can mean thorough or annoying.

Yes, but be careful of your tone.

No, 꼼꼼하다 is usually positive (thorough), while 깐깐하다 is more about strict standards.

깐깐해요 (polite), 깐깐하다 (plain).

Yes, 깐깐함.

No, use 까다롭다 for picky eating.

No, Korean adjectives don't have plurals.

Yes, in descriptive essays.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

그는 성격이 ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 깐깐해요

깐깐하다 is used for personality.

multiple choice A2

Which means meticulous?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 깐깐하다

깐깐하다 means meticulous.

true false B1

깐깐하다 is a positive trait only.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It can be negative/annoying.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Matches adjective to noun.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Subject + adverb + adjective.

Score: /5

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

严厉 Chinese 厳重な Japanese
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!