How do you pronounce 축축하다?

축축하다 is pronounced “chuk-chuk-ha-da” (revised romanization). You can hear it pronounced with Korean audio on this page.

When do Koreans use 축축하다?

The negative counterpart to 촉촉하다. For example: “비가 와서 빨래가 아직도 축축해요.” — “The laundry is still damp because of the rain.”

축축하다 (chuk-chuk-ha-da) means: Unpleasantly wet, damp, or soggy, leaving a bad feeling.

The negative counterpart to 촉촉하다. It implies an uncomfortable, heavy dampness like wet socks or a gloomy basement.

🎙️ 축축하다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [축추카다]로 소리나요 (격음화). 발음 연습하기 →

비가 와서 빨래가 아직도 축축해요.
biga wasseo ppallaega ajikdo chukchukhaeyo.
The laundry is still damp because of the rain.
💡 Use this when clothes or surfaces feel unpleasantly wet.
장마철이라 방안이 눅눅하고 축축한 느낌이에요.
jangmatcheorira pangan-i nuknukhago chukchukhan neukkimieyo.
It feels humid and damp in the room because of the monsoon season.
💡 Often paired with 눅눅하다 to describe indoor humidity.
빨래가 안 마르고 계속 축축해서 냄새가 나.
ppallaega an mareugo gyesok chukchukhaeseo naemsaega na.
The laundry won't dry and stays damp, so it smells.
💡 Used for unpleasant dampness like wet clothes or rainy days.