Nuance Dictionary / Quantity, Generosity, & Limits
빠듯하다 ppa-deut-ha-da
Barely making ends meet; having just barely enough time or money with zero margin
What does 빠듯하다 mean?
빠듯하다 (ppa-deut-ha-da) means: Barely making ends meet; having just barely enough time or money with zero margin.
Living paycheck to paycheck, or a schedule packed so tight you can't breathe.
🎙️ 빠듯하다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [빠드타다]로 소리나요 (격음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 월세 내고 나면 이번 달 생활비가 너무 빠듯해요.
wolse naego namyeon ibeon dal saenghwalbiga neomu ppadeuthaeyo.
After paying rent, this month's living expenses are so tight.
💡 Use when money is barely enough to get by. - 시간이 너무 빠듯해서 지금 안 가면 기차 놓쳐요.
sigani neomu ppadeuthaeseo jigeum an gamyeon gicha nochyeoyo.
Time is so tight that if we don't leave now, we'll miss the train.
💡 Use when a schedule has zero breathing room. - 이번 달은 월급이 너무 빠듯해서 저축은 엄두도 못 내.
Ibeon dareun wolgeubi neomu ppadeuthaeseo jeochugeun eomdudo mot nae.
Money is so tight this salary month that I can't even think about saving.
💡 Describes a razor-thin budget or schedule.
Related words in Quantity, Generosity, & Limits
감질(이) 나다 gam-jil-i-na-da넘쳐나다 neom-chyeo-na-da푸짐하다 pu-jim-ha-da넉넉하다 neong-neok-ha-da야박하다 ya-bak-ha-da