Nuance Dictionary / Taste & Texture

삼삼하다 sam-sam-ha-da

Mildly seasoned but in a very pleasant, clean, and non-overpowering way

What does 삼삼하다 mean?

삼삼하다 (sam-sam-ha-da) means: Mildly seasoned but in a very pleasant, clean, and non-overpowering way.

Unlike '밍밍하다' (which is an insult), '삼삼하다' is a massive compliment for high-end Korean cuisine. It means the chef didn't rely on heavy salt or spice, allowing the natural, subtle flavors of the ingredients to shine through.

◆ The Soul of Korean Broth — The perfect balance for health-conscious eaters who want to taste the ingredient itself.

How it's actually used

  • 이 집 평냉은 국물이 삼삼해서 계속 들이켜게 돼.
    I jip ppyeong-naeng-eun guk-mul-i sam-sam-hae-seo gye-sok deul-i-kyeo-ge dwae.
    The broth of the Pyongyang cold noodles here is mildly clean and savory, so I keep slurping it.
    💡 A compliment for clean, subtle flavors.
  • 엄마가 만든 나물 무침이 간이 삼삼하니 아주 맛있다.
    Eom-ma-ga man-deun na-mul mu-chim-i gan-i sam-sam-ha-ni a-ju mas-it-da.
    Mom's seasoned wild greens have a very pleasant, light seasoning and are delicious.
    💡 Implies healthy, non-salty perfection.
  • 이 집 국물은 간이 삼삼해서 원재료 맛이 다 느껴지네.
    i jip gukmureun gani samsamhaeseo wonjaeryo masi da neukkyeojine.
    The soup here is mildly seasoned, so you can really taste all the natural ingredients.
    💡 A compliment for foods where the subtle, natural flavors shine.

Related words in Taste & Texture

밍밍하다 ming-ming-ha-da고소하다 go-so-ha-da느끼하다 neu-kki-ha-da쫄깃하다 jjol-git-ha-da퍽퍽하다 peok-peok-ha-da

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