찌르다
jjireuda[t͡ɕ͈iɾɯda̠]
The English phrase 'poke' is translated into Korean as 찌르다 (jjireuda).
찌르다 is used to describe the action of poking or stabbing. This includes both a light poke, such as using a finger and a more forceful stabbing motion with a sharp object.
Meaning: to jab with an object such as a finger or a stick (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense form of 찌르다 is 찔렀다. For a polite but non-formal way to say 'poke' or 'pokes', you can use the conjugation 찔러요.
How do you pronounce it?
jjireuda
Did you know?
- The verb 찌르다 is used in the phrase 고자질하다 or 찌르다 to mean 'snitching' or reporting someone's secret to an authority figure, essentially 'stabbing' them in the back.
- The word 찌르다 actually contains the DNA of 'smashing' or 'breaking'. It is built from an ancient root meaning 'to break or smash', implying that a poke is a forceful strike that breaks a surface.
- In modern Korean, while 찌르다 can mean to poke, if you are talking about 'poking' someone with your finger to get their attention, Koreans often use the word 콕 찌르다 to emphasize the quick, sharp, and light nature of the touch.
Examples in context
- 저녁에 포케를 먹고 싶어요.I want to eat poke for dinner.
- 포케 좋아해?Do you like poke?
- 손가락으로 찔러요.I poke with a finger.
- 손가락으로 팔을 찌르다.songarak-euro pareul jjireuda.To poke an arm with a finger.
- 펜으로 종이를 찌르다.pen-euro jongireul jjireuda.To poke the paper with a pen.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 찌르다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 찌르다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
