만지다
manjida[ma̠ɲd͡ʑida̠]
To say touch in Korean, as in making physical contact with something, use 만지다 (manjida). If unsure, use 만지다. Wiktionary also lists 닿다 (data) and 접촉하다 (jeopchokhada).
Meaning: make physical contact with (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 만지다 | manjida | [ma̠ɲd͡ʑida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 닿다 | data | [ˈta̠(ː)tʰa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ta̠t̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 접촉하다 | jeopchokhada |
만지다 is the most common verb for the physical act of using your hands to touch, feel or handle an object.
Which one should you use?
만지다 implies an intentional action with the hands, while 닿다 (data) describes two things coming into contact with each other. 접촉하다 (jeopchokhada) is a more formal or technical term for making contact, used in scientific or professional contexts. The loanword 터치 is common in modern Korean, especially for technology such as a touch screen and in sports or games.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask someone politely not to touch something, use the pattern -지 마세요 and say 만지지 마세요, meaning please do not touch. As a noun, the act of touching is 접촉 and the sense of touch is 촉각.
How do you pronounce it?
만지다 is romanized as manjida.
Did you know?
- In Korean, the concept of 'touching' someone's heart is expressed with the verb 울리다, which literally means 'to make ring' or 'to vibrate' like a bell.
- In modern Korean slang, 터치 ('touch') is used as a verb to describe someone interfering in another person's business or overstepping boundaries, such as saying 'don't touch me' when they want to be left alone.
- While 만지다 refers to the act of touching, the word 손대다 ('to put a hand on') is often used metaphorically to mean starting a project or attempting to fix something.
Examples in context
- 만지지 마시오.Do not touch.만지지 마시오 is the kind of notice you see on museum exhibits and means do not touch.
- 미생물과의 접촉을 피해야 해요.We must avoid contact with microorganisms.
- 내 애플워치를 건드리지 마!Don't touch my Apple Watch!
- 얼굴을 자꾸 만지다.eolgureul jakku manjida.To keep touching one's face.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “touch” translations and entries 만지다, 닿다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
