들다
deulda[tɯɭda̠]
To say hold in Korean, use 들다 (deulda) for holding something up in your hand. To stress the grip, use 쥐다 (jwida). If unsure, use 들다.
Meaning: to grasp (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 들다 | deulda | [tɯɭda̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 쥐다 | jwida | [ˈt͡ɕɥi(ː)da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈt͡ɕy(ː)da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
Use 들다 when you are holding something up, such as a bag, a sword or an object to show someone. The general word for gripping or holding onto something is 잡다.
Which one should you use?
들다 involves lifting or carrying something up. 쥐다 focuses on gripping or clenching something tightly in the hand or fingers, like a handle or a small stone.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
들다 drops its l sound before certain endings, while the dictionary form stays 들다.
How do you pronounce it?
Say it as deulda.
Did you know?
- While 들다 is used to hold an object, the same word is also used in Korean to say that someone is eating a meal in a formal context.
- The verb 들다 is used to describe a cost being incurred, such as when saying 'it costs money'.
- The word 쥐다 describes the physical grip of a hand, but it is also the standard term used when someone seizes political power.
Examples in context
- 손으로 쥐고 놓지 않다To hold something in one's hand and not let it go쥐고 means holding something tightly in the hand here.
- 칼을 들다To hold a sword칼을 들다 means to hold a sword.
- 코트를 들어 드릴까요?Shall I hold your coat?들어 appears in this polite offer to hold a coat.
- 이걸 좀 잡아주세요 ( igeol jom japajuseyo )Please hold this for me
- 이거 좀 잡아 줄래? ( igeo jom jaba jullae? )Can you hold this for me?
- 이렇게 꼭 잡아 ( ireoke kkok jab-a )Hold it tightly like this
- 유리잔을 손으로 잡아주세요 ( yurijaneul son-euro jabajuseyo )Please hold the glass with your hand
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hold” translations and entries 들다, 쥐다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
