Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 미소를 짓다 | miso-reul jitda | |
| 미소짓다 | misojitda | [misʰo̞d͡ʑit̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 웃다 | utda | [ˈu(ː)t̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 미소하다 | misohada | [misʰo̞ɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The verb 미소를 짓다 is used to describe the act of having a smile on one's face. You can also use the noun 미소 to refer to a smile itself. In casual situations, such as when someone is taking a photograph, the English loanword 스마일 is frequently used to ask someone to smile.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 미소를 짓다 breaks down into 미소, which means smile and the verb 짓다, meaning to make, build or form. Literally, the phrase means 'to make/form a smile'.
Which one should you use?
While 미소를 짓다 specifically refers to the act of smiling, the verb 웃다 is a broader term that can mean both to smile and to laugh. Additionally, 미소 is the noun form meaning 'a smile', whereas 미소를 짓다 is the full verbal expression 'to smile'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 미소를 짓다, 미소 acts as the object of the verb, which is indicated by the object marker 를.
How do you pronounce it?
miso-reul jitda
Did you know?
- In Korean social etiquette, a 'smile' can sometimes be used to mask embarrassment or apology, a nuance that doesn't always translate to the English 'smile'.
- While 미소 means 'smile' in modern Korean, the Hanja characters used for the word literally translate to 'small' and 'laugh'.
- The verb 짓다 used in 미소를 짓다 is the same word used for building a house or composing a poem.
Examples in context
- 저의 얼굴에 웃음이 번지네요.A smile spread across my face.
- 도착하자마자 그녀는 미소를 지었다.She smiled as soon as she arrived.
- 우리가 함께 웃는 모습이 최고야.The sight of us laughing together is the best.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smile” translations and entries 미소짓다, 웃다, 미소하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
