Nuance Dictionary / Pride & Joy
기특하다 gi-teuk-ha-da
Commendable, praiseworthy, and surprisingly mature (for someone younger)
What does 기특하다 mean?
기특하다 (gi-teuk-ha-da) means: Commendable, praiseworthy, and surprisingly mature (for someone younger).
Speakers use this to describe actions or thoughts that are unexpectedly admirable or commendable coming from someone, often a younger person. It frequently pairs with nouns like 생각, 짓, and 행동, or appears with verbs describing speech and action. An adult addressing a child or younger person can use it directly when praising helpful behavior such as doing chores or earning one's own tuition.
This can sometimes carry a slight tone of mild condescension if directed toward an equal or superior, as it inherently frames the subject from an evaluating perspective.
◆ Endearing praise — Carries a vertical warmth. It's never used upward to a boss; it's what an older person or senior says when they look at your effort and feel a swell of affectionate respect. It means 'you handled that so well, I'm quietly impressed.'
This can sometimes carry a slight tone of mild condescension if directed toward an equal or superior, as it inherently frames the subject from an evaluating perspective.
◆ Endearing praise — Carries a vertical warmth. It's never used upward to a boss; it's what an older person or senior says when they look at your effort and feel a swell of affectionate respect. It means 'you handled that so well, I'm quietly impressed.'
🔊 From part 2’s story
기특하다 — gi-teuk-ha-da
대견하다 — dae-gyeon-ha-da
흐뭇하다 — heu-mut-ha-da
요즘 열심히 공부하는 모습이 참 기특해요 — listen & repeat
혼자서 그 일을 끝내다니 정말 대견해요 — listen & repeat
네가 성장하는 모습을 보면 마음이 흐뭇해 — listen & repeat
본 콘텐츠는 — listen & repeat
기술을 활용하여 제작되었습니다 — listen & repeat
Other sides of 기특하다
◆ Protective affection — Speakers reach for this word when a younger person shows unexpected maturity, responsibility, or effort, such as helping with household chores or taking initiative with tuition. It frequently appears alongside actions and thoughts, combining in phrases like 아이가 기특하다, 행동이 기특하다, and 기특한 생각. An adult often pairs the expression with physical reassurance like patting a child's head, or speaks it directly to praise a younger person's helpful remark.
This framing often carries a protective, nurturing warmth, where the speaker's praise simultaneously shelters and encourages the younger person's growth.
◆ Irony of the underperformer — Speakers use this word when someone does something surprisingly helpful or responsible, such as a child doing chores or a peer managing a basic task. It pairs with subjects like a young person, a student, or a behavior, and often appears in expressions where an adult or superior acknowledges a pleasant surprise. A parent or senior might utter this when a younger person offers unsolicited help with housework.
Among peers, speakers sometimes apply this word with gentle irony to someone who usually struggles or fails, praising them for merely managing the absolute bare minimum of a task.
This framing often carries a protective, nurturing warmth, where the speaker's praise simultaneously shelters and encourages the younger person's growth.
◆ Irony of the underperformer — Speakers use this word when someone does something surprisingly helpful or responsible, such as a child doing chores or a peer managing a basic task. It pairs with subjects like a young person, a student, or a behavior, and often appears in expressions where an adult or superior acknowledges a pleasant surprise. A parent or senior might utter this when a younger person offers unsolicited help with housework.
Among peers, speakers sometimes apply this word with gentle irony to someone who usually struggles or fails, praising them for merely managing the absolute bare minimum of a task.
Read the full story → · More on this word (part 2) →
🎙️ 기특하다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [기트카다]로 소리나요 (격음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 아주머니는 학비를 스스로 벌겠다는 지수의 기특한 생각을 듣고 매우 흐뭇해하셨다.
a-ju-m-neun hak-bi-reul seu-seu-ro beol-get-da-neun ji-su-ui gi-teuk-han saeng-g-ak-eul deut-go mae-u heum-j-ut-hae-ha-sy-eot-da.
The middle-aged woman was very pleased to hear Jisu's commendable thought of earning her own tuition.
💡 Describes an admirable and independent plan. - 아이들이 기특하게도 집 청소를 말끔하게 해 놓았다.
a-i-deul-i gi-teuk-ha-ge-do jip cheong-so-reul mal-kkeum-ha-ge hae no-at-da.
Praiseworthily, the children cleaned up the house neatly.
💡 Describes commendable help around the house. - 어린아이가 하는 짓이 기특하다.
eo-rin-a-i-ga ha-neun jis-i gi-teuk-ha-da.
What a young child does is commendable and endearing.
💡 General observation of a child's endearing behavior.
Related words in Pride & Joy
대견하다 dae-gyeon-ha-da흐뭇하다 heu-mut-ha-da신나다 sin-na-da통쾌하다 tong-kwae-ha-da짜릿하다 jja-rit-ha-da