Nuance Dictionary / Meat & Seafood Specifics

질기다 jil-gi-da

Tough, rubbery, and difficult to chew, like overcooked steak

What does 질기다 mean?

질기다 (jil-gi-da) means: Tough, rubbery, and difficult to chew, like overcooked steak.

A frustrating texture that wears out your jaw.

How it's actually used

  • 고기를 너무 오래 구웠더니 너무 질겨서 씹기 힘들다.
    gogireul neomu orae guwotdeoni neomu jilgyeoseo ssipgi himdeulda.
    I grilled the meat for too long, so it's too tough and hard to chew.
    💡 Commonly used for overcooked meat or chewy squid.
  • 이 오징어는 너무 질겨서 턱이 아플 지경이야.
    i ojing-eoneun neomu jilgyeoseo teog-i ap-eul jigyeong-iya.
    This squid is so chewy/tough that my jaw hurts.
    💡 Highlights the frustrating, rubbery texture.
  • 고기를 너무 오래 구웠더니 질겨져서 씹기가 힘들다.
    gogireul neomu orae guwotdeoni jilgyejyeoseo jjipgiga himdeulda.
    I grilled the meat for too long so it became rubbery and hard to chew.
    💡 Use when food is unpleasantly tough or chewy.

Related words in Meat & Seafood Specifics

꼬들꼬들하다 kko-deul-kko-deul-ha-da푸석푸석하다 pu-seok-pu-seok-ha-da육즙(이 터지다) yuk-jeup-i-teo-ji-da살살 녹다 sal-sal-nok-da싱싱하다 sing-sing-ha-da

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