길들여진
gildeullyeojin
The English adjective 'tame' is translated into Korean as 길들여진 (gildeullyeojin).
길들여진 is used to describe things that are not wild. This applies to animals that are no longer wild, as well as people who have become accustomed to a specific lifestyle or habit. To express the idea of training, you might also use the verb 훈련하다.
Meaning: not wild (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The form 길들여진 is the past participle of the causative verb 길들이다, literally meaning 'to have been made tame' or 'domesticated'.
Which one should you use?
While 길들여진 is the specific adjective meaning 'tamed', in casual conversation, speakers often use the verb forms 길들다 or 길들이다 to describe the state of being tame.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The transitive verb 길들이다 is used when an agent, such as a human, performs the action of taming something. The related verb 길들다 means 'to become tame'.
How do you pronounce it?
gildeullyeojin
Did you know?
- When talking about technology, Koreans use 길들이다 to describe the 'break-in' period for a new car engine or an electronic device. This implies the machine is being 'tamed' to reach its peak performance.
- While we use 'tame' for animals, Koreans use 길들이다 to describe the process of making a new leather wallet or a pair of shoes perfectly fit one's body. It suggests the object has been 'domesticated' to your shape.
- In a social context, calling a person 길들여진 can be an insult. It suggests that the person has lost their unique spirit or has become too submissive to their surroundings.
Examples in context
- 그 강아지는 잘 길들여졌어요.That dog is well-tamed.
- 내가 길들인 사자를 본 적이 있어.I've seen a tamed lion before.
- 그는 길들여진 야생마처럼 보였어요.geuneun gildeuryeojin yasengmarocheom boyeosseoyo.He looked like a tamed wild horse.
- 길들여진 동물은 사람을 잘 따라요.gildeuryeojin dongmureun sarameul jal ttarayo.Tamed animals follow people well.
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun are looking at a bird in a park.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 저 새 좀 보세요.Minjun ssi, jeo sae jom boseyo.Minjun, look at that bird.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 길들여진 새처럼 보이네요.jeongmal gildeuryeojin sae-cheoreom boineyo.It really looks like a tame bird.
- 수빈 Su-bin사람이 주는 먹이를 먹고 있어요.saram-i juneun meog-i-reul meokgo isseoyo.It is eating food given by a person.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 신기하고 귀여워요.jeongmal singihago gwi-yeowoyo.It is really amazing and cute.
