Nuance Dictionary / Taste & Texture
쫄깃하다 jjol-git-ha-da
Chewy, bouncy, and highly elastic texture, or a thrillingly tense situation
What does 쫄깃하다 mean?
쫄깃하다 (jjol-git-ha-da) means: Chewy, bouncy, and highly elastic texture, or a thrillingly tense situation.
The holy grail of Korean food textures. Mochi, fresh noodles, and high-quality sashimi are prized for being '쫄깃하다'. Interestingly, watching a terrifying horror movie or a tie-breaking penalty shootout also makes your heart feel '쫄깃하다' (tight and tense).
🎙️ 쫄깃하다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [쫄기타다]로 소리나요 (격음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 이 가래떡은 갓 뽑아서 엄청 쫄깃해요.
i garaetteokeun gat ppobaseo eomcheong jjolgit-haeyo.
This garaetteok was freshly made, so it's super chewy.
💡 Used for freshly made rice cakes or noodles with great bounce. - 회는 역시 식감이 쫄깃해야 맛있지.
hoeneun yeoksi sikgami jjolgit-haeya mas-itji.
Raw fish really needs a chewy texture to be delicious.
💡 Describes the ideal texture of fresh sashimi. - 이 가래떡은 갓 뽑아서 엄청 쫄깃하고 맛있어.
i gara tteogeun gat ppobaseo eomcheong jjolgitago masisseo.
This rice cake was freshly made, so it's super chewy and delicious.
💡 The ideal texture for rice cakes, noodles, and bouncy fish cakes.
Related words in Taste & Texture
퍽퍽하다 peok-peok-ha-da텁텁하다 teop-teop-ha-da칼칼하다 kal-kal-ha-da얼큰하다 eol-keun-ha-da쌉쌀하다 ssap-ssal-ha-da