크다
keuda[kxɯda̠]
The English phrase 'large' can be translated into Korean as 크다 (keuda).
크다 means to be of greater size, but it can also be used as a verb meaning 'to grow', such as when referring to a person or a plant growing.
Meaning: of greater size (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
While 크다 is the dictionary form, you must use the attributive form 큰 when you want to use 'large' as an adjective to modify a noun. For the present tense in a polite style, use 커요. To describe something that was large in the past, use 컸다.
How do you pronounce it?
keuda
Did you know?
- When describing a 'large' voice or sound, Koreans use 크다, which also means 'loud'. This is a common way to describe volume rather than just the physical size of the sound wave.
- The word 크다 is thought to have originated from a Late Old Korean form, huku-n, which was recorded as early as the year 1103.
- In Korean, 크다 is grammatically a descriptive verb rather than a simple adjective. This means it can function as the main predicate of a sentence without needing a linking verb like 'to be'.
Examples in context
- 큰 집large house
- 큰 강big river
- 큰 나무large tree
- 큰 도시big city
- 거대한 건물gigantic building
- 거대한 산massive mountain
- 커다란 가방big bag
- 커다란 별large star
- 커다란 텔레비전big television
- 대단한 현상tremendous phenomenon
- 집이 커요.The house is large.
- 이 가방은 너무 크다.i gabang-eun neomu keuda.This bag is too large.
- 그 집은 정말 크다.geu jip-eun jeongmal keuda.That house is really large.
- 수박이 아주 크다.subak-i aju keuda.The watermelon is very large.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “large” translations and entries 크다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 크다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
