Meaning and Usage
The adjective '통통하다' describes something or someone as chubby, plump, or pleasantly rounded. It is often used in a positive or affectionate way, especially when referring to babies, children, or features like lips.
Common Contexts
You will frequently hear '통통하다' when talking about body shape in a gentle or endearing manner. It can describe a person's build, facial features, or even objects that are rounded and full.
Collocations and Patterns
- 통통한 아기 (chubby baby): used to describe a cute, plump baby.
- 통통한 체격 (plump build): refers to a person's body shape.
- 통통한 입술 (plump lips): describes full lips, often considered attractive.
Register and Nuance
'통통하다' is informal to neutral in tone and is generally used in casual conversation. It carries a warm, affectionate nuance rather than a critical one.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '통통하다' with '뚱뚱하다' which means 'fat' in a more direct or sometimes negative sense. '통통하다' is softer and more positive, so use it when you want to express a cute or charming plumpness rather than overweight.