Level 4

짜다

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Meaning and Usage

The Korean verb '짜다' primarily means 'to be salty' when describing taste. It is commonly used to talk about food that has a strong salt flavor. For example, '김치가 짜다' means 'the kimchi is salty.'

Extended Meanings

Besides taste, '짜다' can also mean 'to be stingy' or 'to be tight-fisted' in informal contexts, often describing a person's unwillingness to spend money or share.

Another usage is in the sense of 'to arrange' or 'to structure' something tightly or carefully, such as a schedule or a plan.

Common Collocations

  • '음식이 짜다' (food is salty): used when describing taste.
  • '짜게 먹다' (eat salty): describes a habit of eating salty food.
  • '짜게 굴다' (be stingy): informal expression meaning to be tight with money or resources.
  • '계획을 짜다' (make a plan): to arrange or organize something carefully.

Register and Nuance

'짜다' is a common verb used in everyday conversation. When used to describe taste, it is neutral and widely understood. The slang meaning related to stinginess is informal and should be used carefully depending on the social context.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '짜다' with '짜이다' which is the passive form meaning 'to be squeezed' or 'to be arranged.' Remember that '짜다' itself can be active or descriptive depending on context.

Example Sentences

이 김치는 너무 짜서 물을 많이 마셨어요.

I gimchineun neomu jjaseo mureul mani masyeosseoyo.

This kimchi is too salty, so I drank a lot of water.

그는 항상 짜게 음식을 먹어서 건강에 좋지 않아요.

Geuneun hangsang jjage eumsigeul meogeoseo geongange joji anayo.

He always eats salty food, so it's not good for his health.

소금을 너무 많이 넣으면 음식이 짜져요.

Sogeumeul neomu mani neoeumyeon eumsigi jjajyeoyo.

If you add too much salt, the food becomes salty.

그는 친구에게 짜게 굴지 말라고 말했다.

Geuneun chinguege jjage gulji mallago malhaetda.

He told his friend not to be stingy.

이 문제는 너무 짜여 있어서 쉽게 풀 수 없어요.

I munjeneun neomu jjayeo isseoseo swipge pul su eopseoyo.

This problem is structured so tightly that it can't be solved easily.