Onomatopoeiac words are fun to learn in different languages, and the same is true for Korean onomatopoeia. They’re often a lot more memorable than regular vocabulary too, so you can learn them quite easily.
Korean is a language known for its vivid expression, and one of the most unique aspects of this is Korean onomatopoeia.
In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the world of Korean onomatopoeia and include a range of examples to help you start using these words in everyday conversations. But first, let’s clear up a few things.
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What is Korean Onomatopoeia?
의성어 vs. 의태어
The Importance of Onomatopoeia in Korean Language
Korean Onomatopoeic Words Examples:
– Animal Sounds
– Human Sounds
– Object Sounds
– Nature Sounds
– Movement and Motion
– Emotions and Reactions
– Food-Related Sounds
– Touch-Related Onomatopoeia
– More Korean Onomatopoeia
Using Korean Onomatopoeia in Sentences
What is Korean Onomatopoeia?
To understand Korean onomatopoeia, let’s take a moment to consider its English counterpart. Onomatopoeia in English refers to words that mimic, imitate or resemble the sound of the word they describe. Common English examples include words like “buzz,” “sizzle,” and “bang.”
In Korean, onomatopoeia goes beyond just mimicking sounds. It also captures the sense of movement and appearance of the actions or objects it’s describing.
Korean onomatopoeia is used for a range of situations, from mimicking animal noises to capturing the feeling of a soft breeze.
This feature of Korean gives the language a level of expressiveness that’s especially useful in storytelling and poetry. That being said, these words are also used widely in everyday conversation and writing to add description to your sentences.
So if you use them with a native speaker, you’ll undoubtedly sound like a pro!
There are two types of Korean onomatopoeia: 의성어 (uiseongeo) and 의태어 (uitaeeo).
What’s the difference between 의성어 and 의태어?
Simply put, 의성어 more specifically refers to sound-based onomatopoeic words, whereas 의태어 refers to appearance-based onomatopoeia.
For instance, animals sounds would be 의성어. An example of this is 멍멍 (meong-meong), which resembles the barking sound of a dog.
On the other hand, words that resemble the appearance of what the word describes would be 의태어. An example of this is 반짝반짝 (banjjakbanjjak), which is an onomatopoeic word used to describe the twinkling of shining objects such as stars.
The Importance of Onomatopoeia in Korean Language
In Korean culture, expressing emotions and sensory details is key to communication. Korean onomatopoeic words don’t just describe sounds but also convey the essence of experiences—how something feels, looks, or even tastes. This use of onomatopoeia enriches conversations and makes Korean a highly visual and emotive language.
Many onomatopoeic words in Korean have a rhythmic, repetitive quality that helps add emphasis. For example, 두근두근 (du-geun du-geun) mimics a quickened heartbeat, often used to describe excitement or nervousness. This expressive quality is one reason onomatopoeia is popular not just in spoken Korean but also in literature, movies, and advertising.
Let’s take a look at some examples.
Korean Animal Sounds
Animal sounds are used widely in Korean to represent how animals sound to the Korean ear. Here are some common examples:
- 멍멍 or 월월 (meong-meong or weol-weol) – a dog barking (“woof woof”)
- 야옹 (ya-ong) – a cat meowing
- 꿀꿀 (kkul-kkul) – a pig oinking
- 음매 (eum-mae) – a cow mooing
- 개굴개굴 (gae-gul gae-gul) – a frog croaking (“ribbit ribbit”)
- 꽥꽥 (kkwaek-kkwaek) – a duck quacking (“quack quack”)
- 짹짹 (jjaek-jjaek) – birds chirping
- 까악 까악 (kka-ak-kka-ak) – a crow cawing
- 꼬끼오 (kkokkio) – a rooster sound
- 우끼끼 (ukkikki) – a monkey sound
Human Sounds in Korean
Human sounds, often used to express emotions, are also a big part of Korean onomatopoeia. If you ever read webtoons or manga, you might come across these. Here are some frequently used examples:
- 쪽 (jjok) – kissing sound
- 쿨쿨 (kul-kul) – snoring, often used to describe someone sleeping soundly
- 드르렁드르렁 (deureureong-deureureong) – snoring loudly
- 엉엉 (eong-eong) – sound of someone crying loudly
- 하하 (ha-ha) – laughter, like “ha-ha” in English
- 으르렁 (eu-reu-reong) – roar or growling sound, usually representing anger or frustration
- 짝짝 (jjak-jjak) – sound of hands clapping
- 에취 (echwi) – sneezing
- 콜록콜록 (kollokkollok) – coughing
- “까꿍” (kkakkung) – peekaboo! (often said to children)
Object Onomatopoeia in Korean
From the ticking of clocks to the sound of glass breaking, Korean onomatopoeic words also capture various object sounds. These words are useful for setting scenes and adding realistic sound effects in storytelling. As a result, they’re commonly used in webtoons and manga.
- 딸랑딸랑 (ttal-lang ttal-lang) – the sound of a small bell or other hanging object ringing
- 따르릉따르릉 (tta-reu-reung tta-reu-reung) – sound of a ringing phone
- 쨍그랑 (jjaeng-geu-rang) – clinking, clanking, often used when clinking glasses or to describe glass breaking
- 똑똑 (ttok-ttok) – the sound of knocking on a door
- 주르륵 (ju-reu-reuk) – gurgling, the sound of water trickling, dribbling or dripping down
- 우르르 (u-reu-reu) – rumbling sound, often representing something heavy falling or thunder sounding
- 반짝반짝 (ban-jjak ban-jjak) – twinkling or sparkling, often used to describe stars or shiny objects
- 번쩍번쩍 (beon-jjeok beon-jjeok) – sound or visual of something flashing or a bright light appearing
- 똑딱똑딱 (ttok-ttak ttok-ttak) – sound of a clock ticking
- 부릉부릉 (bu-reung bu-reung) – sound of an engine revving
Nature-Related Onomatopoeia in Korean
Nature sounds in Korean help bring scenes to life. They range from wind blowing to rain falling:
- 쌩쌩 (saeng-saeng) – strong wind blowing, howling or screeching, can be used about fast objects too
- 졸졸 (jol-jol) – sound of a gentle stream flowing
- 후두두 (hu-du-du) – sound of rain or hail hitting the ground
- 보슬보슬 (bo-seul bo-seul) – sound of light, gentle rain or snow
- 부슬부슬 (bu-seul bu-seul) – softly falling rain
- 우르르 쾅쾅 (u-reu-reu kwang-kwang) – sound of thunder booming and rumbling
- 살랑살랑 (sal-lang sal-lang) – sound or feel of a light breeze or gentle swaying
Movement and Motion Onomatopoeia
Korean onomatopoeia also captures various types of motion. These words often mimic the sound or feel of an action:
- 깡총깡총 (kkang-chong kkang-chong) – hopping or jumping, often used about rabbits
- 휙휙 (hwi-hwi) – swift movement, like the sound of an object or time rushing by
- 벌떡 (beol-tteok) – quickly standing up
- 털썩 (teol-sseok) – sound of something collapsing or falling
- 터덜터덜 (teo-deol teo-deol) – trudging, sound of walking slowly or dragging feet, often from tiredness
- 휘청휘청 (hwi-cheong hwi-cheong) – swaying, staggering, tottering, sound or movement of wobbling or staggering
- 스르륵 (seu-reu-reuk) – sound of something sliding or slipping quietly
Korean Onomatopoeic Words Relating to Emotions and Reactions
Onomatopoeic words in Korean are essential for expressing emotions, adding depth to conversations and descriptions:
- 두근두근 (du-geun du-geun) – heartbeat sound, often showing excitement or nervousness
- 울먹울먹 (ul-meok ul-meok) – holding back tears
- 벌벌 (beol-beol) – shivering sound, often due to fear or cold
- 쿵쿵 (kung-kung) – pounding, banging or thudding sound, often representing a heartbeat or something heavy falling
- 따끈따끈 (tta-kkeun tta-kkeun) – warm feeling, often describing food or something cozy
Food and Eating Sounds
- 아삭아삭 (a-sak a-sak) – sound of something crisp or crunchy, like biting into an apple
- 우걱우걱 (u-geok u-geok) – sound of eating or chewing roughly and noisily
- 쩝쩝 (jjeop-jjeop) – sound of smacking lips while eating
- 꿀꺽 (kkul-kkeok) – sound of swallowing
Touch and Feeling-Related Words
- 따끈따끈 (tta-kkeun tta-kkeun) – feeling of something warm and cozy
- 말랑말랑 (mal-lang mal-lang) – feeling or sound of something soft and squishy
- 뭉글뭉글 (mung-geul mung-geul) – feeling or look of something mushy or squishy
- 딱딱 (ttak-ttak) – sound or feeling of something being solid or hard
- 보들보들 (bo-deul bo-deul) – feeling of something soft and smooth
- 꾹꾹 (kkuk-kkuk) – sound or feeling of pressing something down firmly, often repeatedly. Often used about cats making biscuits (꾹꾹이)
- 반들반들 (ban-deul ban-deul) – when a surface of something is smooth and shiny, like polished surfaces or worn stone
Miscellaneous Sounds
- 펑펑 (peong-peong) – sound of something bursting or popping
- 찌릿찌릿 (jjirit-jjirit) – feeling or sound of something stinging or tingling
- 덜덜 (deol-deol) – sound/feeling of shivering or trembling
- 깜빡깜빡 (kkam-ppak kkam-ppak) – blinking eyes or flickering lights and candles
- 탁탁 (tak-tak) – light tapping, snapping or hitting
- 푸석푸석 (pu-seok pu-seok) – something dry and brittle
How to Use Korean Onomatopoeia in Sentences
Using onomatopoeia in Korean sentences is fairly straightforward. Here’s are a few examples:
하늘에 별이 반짝반짝 빛나요. (Haneure byeori ban-jjak ban-jjak bitnayo) – “The stars are twinkling in the sky.”
개가 멍멍 짖어요. (Gae-ga meong-meong jijeoyo) – “The dog is barking.”
아기가 엉엉 울고 있어요. (Agiga eong-eong ulgo isseoyo) – “The baby is crying loudly: ‘wah wah.'”
Korean onomatopoeic words can also add emphasis:
그는 벌떡 일어났다. (Geuneun beol-tteok ireonnatta) – “He stood up quickly.”
What’s Your Favorite Korean Onomatopoeiac Word?
Let us know which word is your favorite in the comments below!