Describing Taste
In this lesson, you'll learn adjectives that describe how food tastes. With these words, you can talk about food in a much more vivid way.
Basic Taste Adjectives
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| λ§΅λ€ | maepda | to be spicy |
| λ¬λ€ | dalda | to be sweet |
| μ§λ€ | jjada | to be salty |
| μλ€ | sida | to be sour |
| μ°λ€ | sseuda | to be bitter |
| μ±κ²λ€ | singgeopda | to be bland |
| κ³ μνλ€ | gosohada | to be nutty/savory |
| λλΌνλ€ | neukkihada | to be greasy |
| λ¨κ²λ€ | tteugeopda | to be hot (in temperature) |
| μ°¨κ°λ€ | chagapda | to be cold |
To describe a taste, change the adjective into the polite '~μμ/μ΄μ' (ayo/eoyo) form.
μ΄ λ‘λ³Άμ΄λ λ무 맀μμ.
I tteokbokkineun neomu maewoyo.
This tteokbokki is too spicy.
μ΄ μΌμ΄ν¬λ μ’ λ¬μμ.
I keikeuneun jom darayo.
This cake is a little sweet.
κ΅μ΄ μ‘°κΈ μ§μ.
Gugi jogeum jjayo.
The soup is a little salty.
μ΄ λΉ΅μ κ³ μνκ³ λ§μμ΄μ.
I ppangeun gosohago masisseoyo.
This bread is nutty and delicious.
κ³ κΈ°κ° μ’ λλΌν΄μ.
Gogiga jom neukkihaeyo.
The meat is a bit greasy.
κ΅μ΄ μμ§ λ¨κ±°μμ. μ‘°μ¬νμΈμ.
Gugi ajik tteugeowoyo. Josimhaseyo.
The soup is still hot. Be careful.
Talking About Amount and Degree
Put 'λ무' (neomu, too), 'μ‘°κΈ/μ’' (jogeum/jom, a little), or 'μμ£Ό' (aju, very) before an adjective to express degree.
μ΄ μμμ μ 맀μμ.
I eumsigeun an maewoyo.
This food isn't spicy.
Overall Taste Evaluation
λ§μμ΄μ!
Masisseoyo!
It's delicious!
λ§μ΄ μμ΄μ.
Masi eopseoyo.
It doesn't taste good.
μ
λ§μ λ± λ§μμ.
Immate ttak majayo.
It's exactly to my taste.
π‘ Tip: 'λ무' (neomu) literally means 'too' or 'excessively,' but in everyday conversation it's often used like 'very' as a compliment, as in 'λ무 λ§μμ΄μ!' (so delicious!).