젓가락
jeotgarak
The Korean word for "chopsticks" is 젓가락 (jeotgarak).
젓가락 refers to a pair of thin sticks used as eating utensils to pick up food.
Which one should you use?
While 젓가락 refers specifically to chopsticks, 숟가락 refers to a spoon. In Korean dining, these two are often used together as a set.
How do you pronounce it?
jeotgarak
Did you know?
- Korean chopsticks are uniquely often made of flat stainless steel, unlike the round wooden or bamboo sticks common in China and Japan.
- In Korean dining culture, it is considered impolite to hold the 숟가락 'spoon' and 젓가락 'chopsticks' in one hand at the same time.
- The word 젓가락 contains the element 가락 'garak', which refers to a thin rod or string, a word also used to describe the 'melody' of a song.
Examples in context
- 저는 젓가락을 사용할 수 있습니다.I can use chopsticks.
- 이 식당에서는 젓가락 말고 숟가락만 사용할 수 있어요.In this restaurant, you can only use spoons, not chopsticks.
- 나는 중국 음식을 먹을 때 젓가락을 써요.I use chopsticks when eating Chinese food.
- 젓가락 좀 주세요.Please give me some chopsticks.
- 젓가락이 필요해요.jeotgarak-i piryo-haeyo.I need chopsticks.
- 나무 젓가락을 주세요.namu jeotgarak-eul juseyo.Please give me wooden chopsticks.
- 젓가락질을 잘해요.jeotgarak-jil-eul jal-haeyo.I am good at using chopsticks.
Example conversation
Ji-hoon and Min-ji are at a Korean restaurant.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 젓가락 필요해요?Minji ssi, jeotgarak piryohaeyo?Min-ji, do you need chopsticks?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 하나만 주세요.ne, hanaman juseyo.Yes, please give me one pair.
- 지훈 Ji-hun여기 있어요.yeogi isseoyo.Here they are.
- 민지 Min-ji고마워요, 지훈 씨.gomawoyo, Jihun ssi.Thank you, Ji-hoon.
