Describe Taste in Korean - Part 1
1. Jjah-da. 짜다. or Jjah-yo. 짜요. | It’s salty.
2. Shing-geop-da. 싱겁다. or Shing-geo-wah-yo. 싱거워요. | It’s bland (needs more salt).
3. Dal-da. 달다. or Dal-ah-yo. 달아요. | It’s sweet.
4. Shi-da. 시다. or Shi-uh-yo. 시어요. | It’s sour.
5. Maep-da. 맵다. or Mae-wah-yo. 매워요. | It’s spicy.
6. SSu-da. 쓰다. or Sseo-yo. 써요. | It’s bitter.
Describe Taste in Korean - Part 2
1. Shi-won-ha-da. 시원하다. or Shi-won-hae-yo. 시원해요.
When used in the context of dining, it can mean a few different things:
• It’s cool (temperature wise). This is the literal meaning.
• It’s refreshing.
• It’s soothing to the stomach or it’s removing the greasy feeling in the stomach. This can be
applied to even hot (temperature wise) or spicy soups.
2. Go-so-ha-da. 고소하다. or Go-so-hae-yo. 고소해요.
There is no exact equivalent meaning in English. Koreans use the phrase to describe the taste of sesame
oil, sesame seeds, nuts or soy milk. The closest expression in English would be “nutty.”
3. Goo-soo-ha-da. 구수하다. or Goo-soo-hae-yo. 구수해요.
This phrase describes the savory taste that come from doenjang (fermented soybean paste).
4. Neu-ki-ha-da. 느끼하다. or Neu-ki-hae-yo. 느끼해요.
This phrase describes the uncomfortable feeling in the stomach when you eat greasy or very creamy
food.
5. Ddurb-da. 떫다. or Ddur-beo-yo. 떫어요.
Similar to an astringent taste, Koreans use this to describe the taste of an unripe persimmon. It’s more
of a puckering sensation in the mouth, like when you eat cranberries.
The phrases that end with “yo” are used toward an older person or a stranger to be polite without being too formal.
You can use the phrases that end with “yo” as questions by raising the intonation at the end. For example, “Go-so-hae-yo?” can be used to ask, “Is it nutty?”
