쉽다
swipda[ˈʃʰɥi(ː)p̚t͈a̠]predicative
The English word 'easy' is expressed in Korean primarily through the forms 쉽다 (swipda) or 쉬운. Wiktionary also lists 용이하다 (yong'ihada).
Meaning: requiring little skill or effort (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 쉽다 | swipda | [ˈʃʰɥi(ː)p̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈʃʰy(ː)p̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
predicative |
| 용이하다 | yong'ihada | [joŋiɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 쉬운 | swiun | attributive |
The term is used to describe something requiring little skill or effort. Note that when something is both simple and convenient, offering a sense of comfort, speakers may also use 편하다.
Which one should you use?
쉽다 is the common way to say 'easy', whereas 용이하다 is a more formal, technical or literary term. 용이하다 is often used in official documents or academic contexts to mean 'easy to perform' or 'convenient'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes depending on its role in the sentence. Use the attributive form 쉬운 when the word 'easy' modifies a noun directly, such as 'an easy problem'. Use the predicative form 쉽다 when 'easy' is the main predicate of the sentence, such as 'It is easy'.
How do you pronounce it?
swipda
Did you know?
- In a common idiomatic expression, the phrase 식은 죽 먹기 (eating cold porridge) is used to say something is 'easy', similar to the English 'a piece of cake'.
- In Korean, the word 쉽다 is often used in the negative to describe a person's character, where 쉬운 사람 refers to someone who is overly permissive or easily manipulated.
- When a Korean speaker says 쉽지 않다 (it is not easy), they are often using a polite understatement to suggest that a situation is actually very difficult or impossible.
Examples in context
- 쉬운 건 아무것도 없어.Nothing is ever easy.This sentence is useful for demonstrating the attributive form 쉬운.Tatoeba #8533795 by Eunhee, translation #8510660 by CK
- 인생은 쉬운 게 아니다.Life's not easy.This sentence shows how to use the attributive form 쉬운 in a sentence about life.Tatoeba #11106059 by intertime, translation #1042323 by yessoos
- 이런 질문은 답하기 쉽다.These questions are easy to answer.This sentence demonstrates the use of the predicative form 쉽다.Tatoeba #11106231 by intertime, translation #55198 by CK
- 이 문제는 쉬워요.This problem is easy.
- 이거 쉬워?Is this easy?
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hyun-woo and Ji-eun are talking about a Korean language test.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo이번 시험은 정말 쉽다.ibeon siheomeun jeongmal swipda.This exam is really easy.
- 지은 Ji-eun맞아, 공부를 많이 안 했어.maja, gongbureul mani an haesseo.Right, I didn't study much.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은 씨도 그렇게 생각해요?Ji-eun ssido geureoke saenggakhaeyo?Do you think so too, Ji-eun?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 생각보다 훨씬 쉽다.ne, saenggakboda hwolssin swipda.Yes, it is much easier than I thought.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “easy” translations and entries 쉽다, 용이하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
