키가 큰
kiga keun
To say 'tall' in Korean when referring to a person, use 키가 큰 (kiga keun).
You can emphasize the degree of height by using the word 아주 (very) before it. If you want to specify that someone is taller than average, you would use the phrase 평균보다 키가 크다.
Meaning: of a person (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 키 (height), the particle 가 (subject marker) and 큰 (the adjective 'big' in its modifying form).
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 'tall' as a predicate in a sentence (e.g., 'He is tall'), the adjective form 큰 changes to the conjugated form 커요 or 큽니다.
How do you pronounce it?
kiga keun
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using 높은 to describe a person's height. While 높은 means high or tall for objects, in Korean, 키 is the specific noun used for human stature.
Did you know?
- When praising a child for being tall, Koreans often use the expression 쑥쑥 크다, where 쑥쑥 is an onomatopoeia representing the sound or feeling of rapid growth.
- To describe someone as 'short', Koreans do not use the opposite of 'big' (작은), but rather use 키가 작다, which literally means 'height is small'.
- Because the phrase relies on the noun 키, you are essentially saying 'height is big' rather than 'the person is tall' in a literal, word-for-word sense.
Examples in context
- 톰은 키가 큰 사람이다.Tom is a tall man.This sentence shows how to use 키가 큰 to describe a person.Tatoeba #11106247 by intertime, translation #3442424 by CK
- 그사람한테는 키가 큰 딸이 하나 있어.She has a daughter who is tall.This sentence demonstrates the use of 키가 큰 as an adjective modifying a person.Tatoeba #8358570 by Eunhee, translation #308799 by CK
- 저 건물은 높은 건물이에요.That building is a tall building.
- 나는 키가 크다고 할 수 있어.I can say that I'm tall.
- 그 친구는 키가 큰 편이에요.That friend is on the tall side.
- 아주 높은Very tall
- 키가 큰 사람A tall person
- 내 친구는 키가 큰 편이야.nae chin-gu-neun ki-ga keun pyeon-i-ya.My friend is on the tall side.
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are talking about a new friend.
- 민준 Min-jun그 친구는 키가 큰 편이에요?geu chinguneun kiga keun pyeonieyo?Is that friend on the taller side?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 정말 키가 큰 사람이에요.ne, jeongmal kiga keun saramieyo.Yes, he is a very tall person.
- 민준 Min-jun운동을 좋아할 것 같아요.undongeul joahall geot gat-ayo.I think he might like sports.
- 서연 Seo-yeon맞아요, 농구를 아주 잘해요.majayo, nonggureul aju jalhaeyo.That's right, he's very good at basketball.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
