Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to express the word “delicious” in Korean! Whether you are visiting Korea, planning to cook Korean cuisine, or simply want to learn a new word, this guide will provide you with formal and informal ways to express “delicious” in Korean. We will share tips, examples, and cover regional variations if necessary. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions for “Delicious”
When speaking formally, it is important to use the appropriate language to show respect. Here are the formal ways to say “delicious” in Korean:
1. 맛있습니다 (Mas-isseumnida)
This is the standard and most commonly used expression to describe something as delicious in formal settings. It can be used in various contexts, such as in restaurants or when complimenting someone’s cooking.
예쁘다 보다도 이 음식은 정말 맛있습니다. (Yeppuda bodado i eumsigeun jeongmal masisseumnida.)
This food is really delicious, even more than it is pretty.
2. 훌륭합니다 (Hullyunghamnida)
This expression is slightly more formal and can be used in situations where you want to convey that something is not only delicious but also excellent in quality.
Informal Expressions for “Delicious”
When speaking informally with friends, family, or peers, you can use these expressions to describe something as delicious:
1. 맛있어 (Matitseo)
맛있어 (Matitseo) is the most common and casual way to say “delicious” in Korean. It is suitable for use with friends, close acquaintances, or when speaking casually.
이 음식 정말 맛있어! (I eumsik jeongmal matitseo!)
This food is really delicious!
2. 맛있대 (Matitdae)
맛있대 (Matitdae) is a more colloquial expression used in various regions in Korea. It is commonly used in informal conversations and among friends.
Regional Variations
While the expressions mentioned above are widely used throughout Korea, there are some regional variations in how “delicious” is expressed. Here are a few examples:
1. 맛있네 (Mas-issne)
맛있네 (Mas-issne) is commonly used in the Gyeongsang region of Korea. It has a similar meaning to “delicious” and can be used in informal or formal situations.
2. 맛있염 (Mas-isse-yum)
맛있염 (Mas-isse-yum) is used in the Jeolla region of Korea. It is the regional dialect’s way of expressing “delicious” informally.
Additional Tips
Here are some additional tips to enhance your understanding of expressing “delicious” in Korean:
- When referring to specific foods, you can replace “이 음식” (i eumsik) in the examples with the name of the dish. For instance, “비빔밥 (bibimbap) 맛있습니다” (Bibimbap masisseumnida) means “Bibimbap is delicious.”
- In Korean culture, it is polite to compliment someone’s food by saying “맛있습니다” (masisseumnida) when you’re offered a meal.
- If you want to say something was not delicious, you can use the expression “맛없어요” (mat-eopseoyo) in both formal and informal settings.
Congratulations on learning how to express “delicious” in Korean! By using these formal and informal expressions, you will be able to communicate your appreciation for tasty food in Korean-speaking settings. Enjoy your Korean language journey and get ready to savor the flavors of Korea!
