Personality Traits

Words in this collection

• 대범하다 (dae-beom-ha-da) — Literally 'big-hearted'. If you accidentally crash a '대범한' friend's car, they will say 'It's just metal, are you hurt?' instead of screaming about the cost. They see the big picture and don't sweat the small stuff.
• 덤벙대다 (deom-beong-dae-da) — The direct opposite of '꼼꼼하다'. This is the person who leaves their phone in the taxi, wears their shirt inside out, and constantly trips over flat ground. Often seen as somewhat endearing but frustrating.
• 허술하다 (heo-sul-ha-da) — Can apply to a person, a plan, or a building. If an elaborate heist movie plot has obvious plot holes, the writing is '허술하다'. If a strict boss suddenly forgets their own rules, they look surprisingly '허술하다'.
• 까칠하다 (kka-chil-ha-da) — Literally means 'rough to the touch' (like sandpaper or a stubbly beard). A '까칠한' person gets annoyed easily, speaks sharply, and is generally hard to approach. It is the signature personality of a K-Drama male lead.
• 꼼꼼하다 (kkom-kkom-ha-da) — A '꼼꼼한' person double-checks their luggage three times before a trip and reads the entire terms and conditions before clicking 'Agree'. They are highly reliable workers, though sometimes tiring to live with.
• 소심하다 (so-sim-ha-da) — Literally 'small-hearted'. A '소심한' person might spend three days worrying about a minor joke they made, or secretly hold a grudge for a year because you forgot their birthday. They lack boldness.
• 털털하다 (teol-teol-ha-da) — A '털털한' person doesn't care if they spill soup on their shirt or if they eat at a cheap street stall instead of a fancy restaurant. They are extremely comfortable to be around because they never nitpick.
• 야무지다 (ya-mu-ji-da) — A high compliment, especially for a young person. If a 10-year-old child cooks a perfect meal and cleans the kitchen flawlessly, adults will say '정말 야무지다!' It means they are incredibly sharp and dependable.
• 얌전하다 (yam-jeon-ha-da) — Usually used for children, pets, or clothing styles. A '얌전한' dog doesn't bark at guests. A '얌전한' dress is modest and classic, not flashy or revealing. It implies a sense of quiet docility.