찰싹 때리다
chalssak ttaerida
The Korean phrase for 'slap' is 찰싹 때리다 (chalssak ttaerida).
While 찰싹 때리다 describes the sound and action, 뺨을 때리다 is a common way to specify slapping someone on the cheek.
Meaning: A blow dealt with the open hand (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
찰싹 is an onomatopoeic adverb representing the sound of a sharp slap or a smack, and 때리다 is the base verb meaning to hit or strike.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the past tense 'slapped' in a polite, standard way, use 찰싹 때렸어요.
How do you pronounce it?
chalssak ttaerida
Did you know?
- While 'slap' describes a single strike, the adverb 찰싹 is so versatile that it can also be used to describe the sound of something wet, like a piece of clothing being hit with water.
- The verb 때리다 originally meant 'to break', 'to smash' or 'to crush' in Middle Korean.
- The sound represented by 찰싹 is so distinct that it is frequently used in Korean webtoons and comics to provide a visual sense of sound through text.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a scene in a dramatic movie.
- 서연 Seo-yeon영화에서 주인공이 찰싹 때리다.yeonghwaeseo juingongi chalssak ttaerida.The main character slaps in the movie.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 놀라운 장면이었어.jeongmal nollaun jangmyeonieosseo.It was a really surprising scene.
- 서연 Seo-yeon민준, 너라면 어떻게 했을까?Minjun, neoramyeon eotteoke haesseulkka?Minjun, what would you have done?
- 민준 Min-jun나는 그냥 참았을 거야.naneun geunyang chamasseul geoya.I would have just endured it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 때리다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
