Nuance Dictionary / Sounds & Sensations

주섬주섬 ju-seom-ju-seom

The clumsy, one-by-one physical act of gathering scattered items from the floor or a surface.

What does 주섬주섬 mean?

주섬주섬 (ju-seom-ju-seom) means: The clumsy, one-by-one physical act of gathering scattered items from the floor or a surface.

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How it's actually used

  • 지갑을 떨어뜨리는 바람에 동전이 다 쏟아져서 주섬주섬 주워 담았다.
    ji-gab-eul dteo-reo-ttri-neun ba-ram-e dong-jeon-i da sso-da-jyeo-seo ju-seom-ju-seom ju-wo dam-at-da.
    Because I dropped my wallet, all the coins spilled out, so I awkwardly scooped them up one by one.
    💡 Captures the classic helpless moment of chasing rolling coins in public.
  • 바닥에 흩어진 서류들을 주섬주섬 줍는 내 모습이 너무 처량했다.
    ba-dak-e heut-eo-jin seo-ryu-deul-eul ju-seom-ju-seom jub-neun nae mo-seub-i neo-mu cheo-ryang-haet-da.
    I looked so pathetic fumbling to pick up the scattered documents off the floor.
    💡 Adds a self-deprecating, comedic emotional layer to a clumsy situation.
  • 가방에서 물건들을 주섬주섬 꺼내더니 갑자기 울기 시작했다.
    ga-bang-e-seo mul-geon-deul-eul ju-seom-ju-seom kkeo-nae-deon-i gap-ja-gi ul-gi si-jak-haet-da.
    They fumbled around pulling things out of their bag, and then suddenly started crying.
    💡 Shows how the term paints the sluggish, tactile prelude to an unexpected emotional outburst.

Related words in Sounds & Sensations

깡충깡충 kkang-chung-kkang-chung끈적끈적 kkeun-jeok-kkeun-jeok꾸벅꾸벅 kku-beok-kku-beok몽글몽글 mong-geul-mong-geul느릿느릿 neu-rit-neu-rit

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