귀엽다

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Meaning and Usage

The adjective '귀엽다' means 'to be cute' or 'adorable' and is commonly used to describe people, animals, or objects that evoke affection or charm. It is a very frequent word in everyday Korean, especially when talking about children, pets, or anything visually appealing.

Common Contexts

You will often hear '귀엽다' when complimenting someone's appearance or behavior, such as a child's smile or a pet's actions. It can also be used to express fondness or endearment.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 귀엽다 + 고 하다: to report someone saying something is cute (e.g., 귀엽다고 말했어요)
  • 정말 귀엽다: really cute, emphasizing the cuteness
  • 너무 귀엽다: too cute, expressing strong affection

Register and Politeness

'귀엽다' is neutral and can be used in both casual and polite speech by adjusting the sentence ending. For example, '귀엽다' (plain), '귀여워요' (polite).

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '귀엽다' with '예쁘다' (pretty). '귀엽다' often implies a charming or endearing quality, not just attractiveness. Use '귀엽다' when you want to express affection or cuteness rather than just beauty.

Example Sentences

그 강아지는 정말 귀엽다.

Geu gangajineun jeongmal gwiyeopda.

That puppy is really cute.

귀엽다면서 자꾸 만지고 싶어 해요.

Gwiyeopdamyeonseo jakku manjigo sipeo haeyo.

They keep wanting to touch it because they say it’s cute.

그 아이는 귀엽다고 칭찬을 많이 받았어요.

Geu aineun gwiyeopdago chingchaneul mani badasseoyo.

That child received a lot of compliments for being cute.