시다
sida[ɕʰida̠]
The English word 'sour' is 시다 (sida) in Korean. Wiktionary also lists 신 (sin).
Meaning: having an acidic, sharp or tangy taste (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 시다 | sida | [ɕʰida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 신 | sin |
The word refers to something having an acidic, sharp or tangy taste.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 신 is the noun-modifying form of 시다 and is used to describe a noun. For stating that something is sour, you can use the polite present tense conjugation 셔요 or the informal/casual present tense conjugation 셔 when speaking with friends or younger people.
How do you pronounce it?
sida
Did you know?
- The Korean word for 'sour', 시다, is closely related to the verb 쉬다, which means 'to rest' but also 'to go bad'.
- In Korean, the word 신 can be a homonym for many different things depending on the Hanja used, including 'god/spirit', 'subject/servant', or even 'kidney'.
- The Korean word for 'sour' may be related to the Japanese words for 'vinegar' 酢 and 'sour' 酸い.
Examples in context
- 레몬이 아주 시다.lemon-i aju sida.The lemon is very sour.
- 이 요구르트는 너무 시다.i yogureoteun neomu sida.This yogurt is too sour.
- 사과가 약간 시다.sagwa-ga yakgan sida.The apple is a bit sour.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Seoyeon are tasting a piece of fruit.
- 지훈 Ji-hun이 귤 좀 먹어봐.i gyul jom meogeobwa.Try some of this tangerine.
- 서연 Seo-yeon와, 진짜 시다!wa, jinjja sida!Wow, it's really sour!
- 지훈 Ji-hun그렇게나 셔?geureokena syeo?Is it that sour?
- 서연 Seo-yeon응, 너무 시다.eung, neomu sida.Yes, it's too sour.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sour” translations and entries 시다, 신, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 시다, 신, CC BY-SA 4.0.
