착하다
chakhada[t͡ɕʰa̠kʰa̠da̠]
The English phrase "someone is nice" is expressed in Korean as 착하다 (chakhada).
착하다 is used to describe a person's innate character or temperament, specifically meaning they are kind-hearted or well-behaved. While the English word "nice" can sometimes describe a pleasant situation or a polite manner, 착하다 specifically refers to a person's virtuous or gentle nature.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form 착하다 changes to 착해요 for polite, everyday conversation and changes to 착해 when speaking informally to friends or younger people.
How do you pronounce it?
chakhada
Did you know?
- In some social contexts, calling an adult 착하다 can be interpreted as a backhanded compliment implying they are naive or a pushover.
- The word 착하다 might not be originally Korean, but instead a loan-calque from the Manchu language. It may have been adapted from the Manchu phrase ᠴᠠᡴ ᠰᡝᡵᡝ, which means 'to be strict' or 'to be orderly'.
- While 착하다 describes a kind person, it is also frequently used to describe well-behaved pets and young children who are obedient.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 착하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 착하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
