When diving into Korean language learning, you’ll discover unique words with undeniable charm. Among these are onomatopoeia (의성어) and mimetic words (의태어)—elements that capture the essence and vibrancy of the Korean language. This article explores their features, learning methods, and real-life applications. Let’s embark on this fun and compelling journey to mastering Korean!
Table
of Contents
- What Are Onomatopoeia and Mimetic Words?
- Why Should You Learn Onomatopoeia and
Mimetic Words?
- Commonly Used Examples in Everyday Life
- Fun Ways to Learn Onomatopoeia and Mimetic
Words
- Korean Learning Tips
1. What Are Onomatopoeia and Mimetic Words?
Onomatopoeia
mimics the sounds made by objects, animals, or nature. For example:
l A dog’s bark: 멍멍 ("meong-meong")
l The sound of wind blowing: 휘잉 ("hwee-ing")
In
contrast, mimetic words do not represent sounds but describe the state,
appearance, or movement of people and objects. For instance:
l The drip of water droplets: 똑똑 ("tok-tok")
l A person staggering or wobbling: 비틀비틀 ("bitul-bitul")
These
linguistic gems add vividness and life to the Korean language, allowing
listeners to picture the described situation mentally.
2. Why Should You Learn Onomatopoeia and Mimetic Words?
Mastering
onomatopoeia and mimetic words helps learners grasp Korean nuances and
emotions. Since native speakers frequently use them in everyday conversations,
they are invaluable for achieving natural fluency.
Example:
Understanding the Difference
l "비가 내린다." - "It’s raining."
l "비가 주룩주룩
내린다." - "It’s
raining jurook-jurook (pouring down steadily)."
When
comparing these two sentences, doesn’t the latter feel more vivid? This is the
magic of onomatopoeia and mimetic words—they add a new level of liveliness to
Korean sentences.
3. Commonly Used Examples in Everyday Life
3-1. Onomatopoeia: 의성어
l 멍멍 (Meong-meong): The
sound of a dog barking.
Korean: 강아지가 문 앞에서 멍멍 짖으며 주인을 기다리고 있어요.
English: The
dog is barking meong-meong at the door, waiting for its owner.
l 야옹야옹 (Ya-ong ya-ong): The
sound of a cat meowing.
Korean: 길고양이가 배가 고픈지 야옹야옹 울고 있네요.
English: A
stray cat is meowing ya-ong ya-ong, probably because it’s hungry.
l 꿀꿀 (Kkul-kkul): The
sound of a pig grunting.
Korean: 돼지들이 우리 안에서 꿀꿀거리며 먹이를 먹고 있어요.
English: The
pigs grunt kkul-kkul in the pen as they eat.
l 삐약삐약 (Ppi-yak ppi-yak): The
sound of chicks chirping.
Korean: 부화한 병아리들이 어미 닭을 따라다니며 삐약삐약 울고 있어요.
English: The
newly hatched chicks are chirping ppi-yak ppi-yak as they
follow their mother hen.
l 꼬르륵 (Ggo-reuk): The
sound of a growling stomach.
Korean: 점심시간이 가까워지자 배에서 꼬르륵 소리가 났어요.
English: As
lunchtime approached, my stomach growled ggo-reuk.
l 딸깍딸깍 (Ddal-kkak ddal-kkak): The
sound of clicking a switch or door.
Korean: 전등 스위치를 딸깍딸깍 눌러도 불이 켜지지 않았어요.
English: Even
after clicking the light switch ddal-kkak ddal-kkak, the light
wouldn’t turn on.
l 졸졸 (Jol-jol): The sound
of a stream flowing.
Korean: 숲 속에서 시냇물이 졸졸 흐르는 소리가 들렸어요.
English: I
heard the sound of the stream flowing jol-jol in the forest.
l 콸콸 (Kwal-kwal): The
sound of water gushing out.
Korean: 수도꼭지를 틀자 물이 콸콸 쏟아져 나왔어요.
English: When
I turned on the faucet, water gushed out kwal-kwal.
l 칙칙폭폭 (Chik-chik pok-pok): The
sound of a train running.
Korean: 기차가 산길을 따라 칙칙폭폭 소리를 내며 달려가고 있어요.
English: The
train runs along the mountain path, making a chik-chik pok-pok sound.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
l 빵빵 (Bbang-bbang): The
sound of a car horn.
Korean: 길을 막고 있는 사람에게 운전자가 빵빵 경적을 울렸어요.
English: The
driver honked bbang-bbang at the person blocking the road.
l 따르릉 (Tta-reu-reung): The
sound of a phone ringing.
Korean: 조용한 방 안에서 전화기가 갑자기 따르릉 울렸어요.
English: In
the quiet room, the phone suddenly rang tta-reu-reung.
l 윙윙 (Wing-wing): The
sound of a buzzing bee.
Korean: 꽃 주변에서 벌들이 윙윙 소리를 내며 날아다니고 있어요.
English: Bees
buzzed wing-wing as they flew around the flowers.
l 뚝딱뚝딱 (Ttuk-ttak ttuk-ttak): The
sound of a carpenter hammering.
Korean: 공사장에서 목수가 뚝딱뚝딱 소리를 내며 나무를 다듬고 있었어요.
English: At
the construction site, the carpenter hammered away ttuk-ttak ttuk-ttak while
shaping the wood.
l 쩝쩝 (Jjeop-jjeop): The
sound of eating noisily.
Korean: 그는 배가 고팠는지 쩝쩝거리며 음식을 소리를 내며 먹었어요.
English: He
seemed hungry and ate noisily, making jjeop-jjeop sounds.
l 꿀꺽 (Kkul-ggeok): The
sound of gulping.
Korean: 목이 말라 물을 한 컵 마시자 꿀꺽 소리가 났어요.
English: Thirsty,
he gulped down a cup of water, making a kkul-ggeok sound.
l 쓱쓱 (Sseuk-sseuk): The
sound of scrubbing or wiping.
Korean: 그녀는 칠판에 남은 글씨를 지우개로 쓱쓱 문질렀어요.
English: She
wiped off the writing on the board with an eraser, making sseuk-sseuk sounds.
l 툭툭 (Ttuk-ttuk): The
sound of lightly tapping or patting.
Korean: 친구가 제 어깨를 툭툭 치며 부르더라고요.
English: My
friend tapped me lightly on the shoulder ttuk-ttuk to get my
attention.
l 바스락바스락 (Ba-seu-rak
ba-seu-rak): The sound of crunching dry leaves or crumpling paper.
Korean: 가을길을 걸으며 낙엽을 바스락바스락 밟는 재미를 느꼈어요.
English: Walking
along an autumn path, I enjoyed the ba-seu-rak ba-seu-rak sound
of stepping on dry leaves.
l 째깍째깍 (Jjae-kkak jjae-kkak): The
ticking sound of a clock.
Korean: 방 안은 조용하고, 시계 초침이 돌아가는 째깍째깍 소리만 울리고
있었어요.
English: The
room was silent except for the jjae-kkak jjae-kkak sound of
the clock ticking.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
l 뚜벅뚜벅 (Ttu-beok ttu-beok): The sound of footsteps.
Korean: 누군가 계단을 뚜벅뚜벅 내려오는 소리가 들렸어요.
English: I heard someone walking down the stairs ttu-beok
ttu-beok.
l 웅성웅성 (Ung-seong ung-seong): The sound of people chattering.
Korean: 강의실 앞에서 학생들이 모여 웅성웅성 이야기하고
있었어요.
English: Students were gathered in front of the lecture hall,
chatting ung-seong ung-seong.
l 삐뽀삐뽀 (Ppi-po ppi-po): The sound of an ambulance siren.
Korean: 응급 상황인지 구급차가 삐뽀삐뽀 소리를 내며
지나갔어요.
English: The ambulance passed by, blaring its ppi-po ppi-po siren.
l 지지직 (Ji-ji-jik): The sound of static or friction on electric wires.
Korean: 오래된 라디오에서 지지직 소리가 나며 방송이
끊겼어요.
English: The old radio made a ji-ji-jik sound as the
broadcast was interrupted.
l 으르렁 (Eu-reu-reong): The sound of a dog growling.
Korean: 낯선 사람이 다가오자 개가 으르렁거리며 경계했어요.
English: When a stranger approached, the dog growled eu-reu-reong in
warning.
l 와장창 (Wa-jang-chang): The sound of dishes or objects breaking at once.
Korean: 접시 여러 개가 바닥에 떨어지며 와장창 소리가 났어요.
English: Several plates fell to the floor with a wa-jang-chang crash.
l 쨍그랑 (Jjaeng-geu-rang): The sound of glass breaking.
Korean: 실수로 컵을 떨어뜨리자 쨍그랑 소리가 나며 깨졌어요.
English: The cup accidentally fell, breaking with a jjaeng-geu-rang sound.
l 휘리릭 (Hwi-ri-rik): The sound of something moving or spinning quickly.
Korean: 바람에 나뭇잎이 휘리릭하고 날아갔어요.
English: The leaves hwi-ri-rik flew away in the wind.
l 철썩철썩 (Cheol-sseok cheol-sseok): The sound of waves crashing.
Korean: 해변에서 파도가 바위에 철썩철썩 부딪히는 소리를 들었어요.
English: I heard the waves crashing against the rocks cheol-sseok
cheol-sseok at the beach.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
3-2. Mimetic Words: 의태어
l 깡충깡충 (Kkang-chung kkang-chung): The motion of hopping, like a rabbit.
Korean: 토끼가 초원을 깡충깡충 뛰어다니고 있어요.
English: The rabbit is hopping kkang-chung kkang-chung across
the meadow.
l 아장아장 (A-jang a-jang): The motion of a baby’s wobbly steps.
Korean: 아기가 처음으로 아장아장 걸음을 떼는 모습을
보니 감격스러웠어요.
English: I felt emotional watching the baby take its first a-jang
a-jang steps.
l 뒤뚱뒤뚱 (Dwi-ttung dwi-ttung): The waddling motion of a duck.
Korean: 오리 한 마리가 연못가를 뒤뚱뒤뚱 걸어가고 있어요.
English: A duck waddled dwi-ttung dwi-ttung by the
pond.
l 성큼성큼 (Seong-keum seong-keum): The motion of walking with large strides.
Korean: 그는 중요한 회의에 늦지 않으려고 성큼성큼 걸어갔어요.
English: He walked seong-keum seong-keum quickly to
avoid being late for the important meeting.
l 허겁지겁 (Heo-geop ji-geop): The motion of hurrying frantically.
Korean: 지각할까 봐 학생들이 허겁지겁 교실로 뛰어 들어갔어요.
English: The students rushed into the classroom heo-geop
ji-geop, afraid of being late.
l 느릿느릿 (Neu-rit neu-rit): The motion of moving slowly.
Korean: 거북이는 산길을 따라 느릿느릿 움직이고 있었어요.
English: The turtle moved neu-rit neu-rit along the
mountain path.
l 뒹굴뒹굴 (Dwing-gul dwing-gul): The motion of rolling around lazily.
Korean: 주말 아침에는 침대에서 뒹굴뒹굴 쉬는 게 최고죠.
English: On weekend mornings, nothing beats lazing around dwing-gul
dwing-gul in bed.
l 반짝반짝 (Ban-jjak ban-jjak): The motion of something sparkling.
Korean: 밤하늘에 별이 반짝반짝 빛나고 있었어요.
English: The stars were sparkling ban-jjak ban-jjak in
the night sky.
l 새록새록 (Sae-rok sae-rok): The motion of memories or thoughts coming anew.
Korean: 어릴 적 추억이 사진을 보며 새록새록 떠올랐어요.
English: Childhood memories came flooding back sae-rok sae-rok as
I looked at the photos.
l 소곤소곤 (So-gon so-gon): The motion of whispering softly.
Korean: 학생들이 시험 중에 소곤소곤 이야기하다가 선생님께
혼났어요.
English: The students whispered so-gon so-gon during
the test and got scolded by the teacher.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
l 살랑살랑 (Sal-lang sal-lang): The motion of a soft breeze blowing.
Korean: 봄바람이 창문 사이로 살랑살랑 불어와 기분이
좋아졌어요.
English: A spring breeze sal-lang sal-lang wafted
through the window, lifting my spirits.
l 울긋불긋 (Ul-geut bul-geut): The motion of various colors blending together.
Korean: 가을 산은 단풍이 들어 온통 울긋불긋 화려했어요.
English: The autumn mountains were vibrant with ul-geut
bul-geut colors from the foliage.
l 옹기종기 (Ong-gi jong-gi): The motion of a group gathering closely together.
Korean: 아이들이 모래놀이를 하려고 옹기종기 모여 앉았어요.
English: The children sat together ong-gi jong-gi to
play in the sand.
l 우글우글 (U-geul u-geul): The motion of a large crowd or group of animals gathered
together.
Korean: 주말에 놀이공원에 갔더니 사람들이 우글우글 몰려
있어서 정신이 없었어요.
English: The amusement park was packed u-geul u-geul with
people on the weekend, making it chaotic.
l 주렁주렁 (Ju-reong ju-reong): The motion of fruits or flowers hanging heavily in clusters.
Korean: 감나무에 감이 주렁주렁 열려 있네요.
English: The persimmon tree was laden with fruit ju-reong
ju-reong.
l 쫄래쫄래 (Jjol-lae jjol-lae): The motion of a small child or animal following someone.
Korean: 강아지가 주인을 쫄래쫄래 따라다니며 애교를 부렸어요.
English: The puppy followed its owner jjol-lae jjol-lae,
showing affection.
l 파릇파릇 (Pa-reut pa-reut): The motion of fresh sprouts or greenery emerging.
Korean: 봄이 오자 마당에 새싹이 파릇파릇 돋아났어요.
English: With the arrival of spring, new sprouts pa-reut
pa-reut appeared in the yard.
l 한들한들 (Han-deul han-deul): The motion of something swaying lightly and gently.
Korean: 바람에 얇은 커튼이 한들한들 흔들리고 있었어요.
English: The thin curtains swayed han-deul han-deul in
the breeze.
l 휘적휘적 (Hwi-jeok hwi-jeok): The motion of rummaging or waving hands loosely.
Korean: 아이는 장난감 자동차를 찾으려고 바구니 속을
휘적휘적 뒤지고 있었어요.
English: The child rummaged hwi-jeok hwi-jeok through
the basket, looking for a toy car.
l 꿈틀꿈틀 (Kkum-teul kkum-teul): The motion of worms or snakes wriggling.
Korean: 땅에서 지렁이가 꿈틀꿈틀 움직이는 모습을 보았어요.
English: I saw an earthworm wriggling kkum-teul kkum-teul on
the ground.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
l 끄덕끄덕 (Kkeu-deok kkeu-deok): The motion of nodding the head up and down.
Korean: 아이가 선생님의 말을 들으며 끄덕끄덕 고개를
끄덕였어요.
English: The child nodded kkeu-deok kkeu-deok while
listening to the teacher.
l 꼼지락꼼지락 (Kkom-ji-rak kkom-ji-rak): The motion of small, slow movements.
Korean: 고양이가 손을 꼼지락꼼지락거리며 장난을 치고
있었어요.
English: The cat kkom-ji-rak kkom-ji-rak wiggled its
paw as it played.
l 나풀나풀 (Na-pul na-pul): The motion of something light fluttering.
Korean: 나비가 꽃 위를 나풀나풀 날아다니고 있어요.
English: The butterfly fluttered na-pul na-pul over
the flowers.
l 너울너울 (Neo-ul neo-ul): The motion of gentle, slow waves or flowing fabric.
Korean: 파도가 해변으로 밀려오며 너울너울 춤을 추는
듯했다.
English: The waves neo-ul neo-ul rolled onto the shore
as if dancing.
l 들썩들썩 (Deul-sseok deul-sseok): The motion of moving up and down or swaying.
Korean: 음악에 맞춰 사람들이 어깨를 들썩들썩 움직였어요.
English: People deul-sseok deul-sseok swayed their
shoulders to the music.
l 두리뭉실 (Du-ri mung-sil): The motion or state of being vague or unclear.
Korean: 그의 설명은 너무 두리뭉실해서 이해하기가 어려웠어요.
English: His explanation was so du-ri mung-sil vague
that it was hard to understand.
l 둥실둥실 (Dung-sil dung-sil): The motion of floating lightly on water or air.
Korean: 풍선이 하늘로 둥실둥실 떠올라갔어요.
English: The balloon dung-sil dung-sil floated up into
the sky.
l 모락모락 (Mo-rak mo-rak): The motion of steam or smoke rising gently.
Korean: 찜통에서 만두의 김이 모락모락 피어오르고 있었어요.
English: Steam mo-rak mo-rak rose from the steamer
filled with dumplings.
l 무럭무럭 (Mu-reok mu-reok): The motion of plants or animals growing rapidly and healthily.
Korean: 정원에 심은 채소가 비를 맞고 무럭무럭 자라고
있어요.
English: The vegetables in the garden mu-reok mu-reok thrived
after the rain.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
4. Fun Ways to Learn Onomatopoeia and Mimetic Words
l Use Korean TV Shows and Movies
Dialogues in dramas and movies often include onomatopoeia and mimetic words.
Pay close attention to what the characters say and jot down interesting
expressions. For example, words like “쫄깃쫄깃” (chewy) frequently appear in
cooking shows.
l Read Comics and Webtoons
Comics express sounds through text and illustrations, making them a great
resource for learning onomatopoeia and mimetic words.
l Create Your Dictionary
Compile the words you learn into a personal dictionary, and practice by using
them in sentences.
l Practice with Korean Friends
Conversations with native speakers help you understand how these words are used naturally in daily life.
5. Korean Learning Tips
l Repetition is Key
Practice listening, speaking, and writing repeatedly to internalize the words.
l Connect Related Words
Categorize onomatopoeia and mimetic words by context or situation to improve
recall.
l Leverage Songs
Many Korean children’s and pop songs include onomatopoeia and mimetic words, making them fun to learn.
Conclusion
Learning Korean isn’t just about mastering grammar and vocabulary—it’s about experiencing the language’s vivid charm. Onomatopoeia and mimetic words make Korean more colorful and enhance your expressive abilities. Start learning them “ssok-ssok” (quickly) and using them “cheok-cheok” (effectively) today!
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