Korean Mimetic Words: 40 Words with Romanization and Audio

Key facts

• Topic: Korean mimetic words, which describe manner, shape and feeling. They are called 의태어 (uitaeeo).
• Most are repeated pairs (반짝반짝) and are used before a verb as an adverb.

Korean Mimetic Words at a Glance

English has a few manner words, such as 'zigzag' or 'wobble', and uses many more plain adverbs. Korean has a large and lively set. A mimetic word picks one clear picture and puts it in a repeated syllable pair. 깡충깡충 is a rabbit hopping, 울퉁불퉁 is a lumpy road and 두근두근 is a heart racing. Korean speakers use them in conversation, picture books, comics and songs, so learners meet them early.

Mimetic words belong with the sound words, 의성어 (uiseongeo). The sound words copy what you hear, and the manner words copy how something looks, moves or feels. See Korean onomatopoeia for the sound words. This page sits inside that section, next to Animal sounds in Korean and Korean sound symbolism, which explains the vowel harmony, tense consonants and reduplication behind mimetic words.

Which Mimetic Words Should You Learn First?

Start with the words you can picture at once: 반짝반짝 for stars, 두근두근 for a nervous heart and 바삭바삭 for crunchy food. Then learn the texture words for food, because they are the ones you will use at a restaurant. Leave the rarer movement words, such as 비틀비틀 and 성큼성큼, until you meet them in a story.

• Say first. 반짝반짝, 두근두근, 바삭바삭, 말랑말랑, 깜깜해요.
• Use often. 울퉁불퉁, 간질간질, 지끈지끈, 쫄깃쫄깃, 깡충깡충.
• Recognise in stories. 엉금엉금, 살금살금, 오싹오싹, 올망졸망, 알록달록.

The scene below is a meadow and a kitchen table, with ten numbered items taken from five groups. Tap a number to hear the word.

Word · 10

1. 1

   깡충깡충

   Play

   kkangchungkkangchung

   hopping (small jumps)

2. 2

   엉금엉금

   Play

   eonggeumeonggeum

   crawling slowly

3. 3

   반짝반짝

   Play

   banjjakbanjjak

   twinkling; sparkling

4. 4

   번쩍

   Play

   beonjjeok

   a flash (once)

5. 5

   깜깜

   Play

   kkamkkam

   pitch dark

6. 6

   간질간질

   Play

   ganjilganjil

   itchy; tickling

7. 7

   울퉁불퉁

   Play

   ultungbultung

   bumpy; uneven

8. 8

   말랑말랑

   Play

   mallangmallang

   soft and squishy

9. 9

   바삭바삭

   Play

   basakbasak

   crispy

10. 10

    찰랑찰랑

    Play

    challangchallang

    swaying lightly; brimming

Movement Words

Movement words tell you how a body moves, not just that it moves. 걷다 (to walk) is one verb, but 터벅터벅, 성큼성큼 and 살금살금 give three different walks. The words attach to the verb they modify. The verb can be plain, so the mimetic word does the work of an English adverb or a whole phrase.

Example Sentences

All eight sentences follow one frame: subject + 이/가 + mimetic word + verb. The particle is 이 after a consonant and 가 after a vowel (토끼가, 거북이가, 아버지가). The mimetic word sits right before the verb. Play the sentence, say it aloud, then replace the mimetic word with another movement word.

Light and Shine

Light words sort lights by size and strength. 반짝반짝 is a small, clear sparkle. 번쩍번쩍 is bigger and brighter. 깜빡깜빡 is a light going on and off. The single forms 반짝 and 번쩍 describe a flash that happens once. 깜깜 describes the dark, and 깜깜하다 also means to know nothing, as in 소식에 깜깜하다 (to be in the dark about the news).

How Do You Say Feelings and Body States in Korean?

Korean uses mimetic words for the body more than English does. You do not say only that your head hurts. You say how: 머리가 지끈지끈 아파요 (a splitting headache), 다리가 욱신욱신 아파요 (a throbbing leg). These words are the first thing to learn for a visit to a pharmacy or a doctor. For the full list of health vocabulary, see health vocabulary.

The heartbeat pair needs a note. 두근두근 is a strong beat from excitement or fear. 콩닥콩닥 is lighter and quicker, often from a small thrill. Both can become verbs with -거리다: 두근거리다.

Shape and Texture

Texture words are a favourite of Korean food writers. 바삭바삭 for fried chicken, 쫄깃쫄깃 for rice cake and noodles, 말랑말랑 for jelly and 촉촉 for a moist cake appear on menus, in reviews and in everyday talk. Shape words, such as 둥글둥글 and 뾰족뾰족, describe objects. These words are often used with 하다 to make a descriptive word: 말랑말랑해요 (it is squishy), 바삭바삭해요 (it is crispy).

Pairs That Change the Feel

Korean can change the feel of a mimetic word by changing its vowels or consonants. A light vowel (ㅏ, ㅗ) makes the picture small, quick or bright, and a dark vowel (ㅓ, ㅜ) makes it big, slow or heavy. Compare 깡충깡충 and 껑충껑충: both are hopping, but the first is a rabbit and the second is a deer. 방글방글 is a baby's sweet smile, and 벙글벙글 is a man's wide grin.

This pattern is called vowel harmony in sound words. Plain, tense and aspirated consonants add a second layer. A tense or aspirated start makes the picture stronger than a plain one: 빙빙, 삥삥 and 핑핑 all describe spinning, from plain to strongest.

How Do You Use Mimetic Words in a Sentence?

Use a mimetic word the same way you use an adverb: put it before the verb. 별이 반짝반짝 빛나요 means the stars twinkle. To describe a noun, add 하다 and use a modifier form: 알록달록한 옷 (colorful clothes), 말랑말랑한 젤리 (squishy jelly). To make a verb that repeats an action, add -거리다 or -대다: 반짝거리다 (to twinkle), 두근거리다 (to pound), 깜빡거리다 (to blink). More adverb patterns are in Korean mimetic words as adverbs.

Use mimetic words freely in speech and stories. In formal reports and exams, speakers choose plainer words, such as 빛나다 (to shine) alone or 아프다 (to hurt) alone.

How Do You Pronounce These Words?

Mimetic words are a drill in tense consonants and repeated syllables. The Standard Pronunciation Rules (표준 발음법) of the National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원) are the reference, and the romanization follows the Revised Romanization of Korean.

• Tense consonants. Say ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅉ with a tight throat and no puff of air: 깜빡깜빡, 따끔따끔, 쫄깃쫄깃.
• Tensing after a final stop. A plain consonant after a final ㄱ becomes tense (Article 23): 바삭바삭 is said [바삭빠삭] and 욱신욱신 is said [욱씨눅씬]. Romanization does not show tensing caused by a neighbouring sound, so you see basakbasak.
• Final ㅅ. At the end of a syllable ㅅ sounds like ㄷ: 쫄깃쫄깃 is [쫄긷쫄긷].
• Moving forward. A final consonant moves to a silent ㅇ in the next syllable: 오싹오싹 is [오싸고싹], and in RR it is ossagossak.

Audio and Slow Playback

Each word and sentence has its own clip. The clips below replay five tricky words slowly. Play one, repeat it, then play it again and compare.

What Mistakes Do Learners Make with Mimetic Words?

Five mistakes come up often.

1. Using a mimetic word as a noun. 반짝반짝 is not 'a star'. Say 별이 반짝반짝 빛나요, not 반짝반짝이 있어요.
2. Forgetting 하다 or a modifier. Write 알록달록한 옷, not 알록달록 옷, when the word describes a noun.
3. Mixing up the light and dark partners. 깡충깡충 and 껑충껑충 are not interchangeable. The vowel tells the size.
4. Dropping the doubled half. 반짝 is one flash, and 반짝반짝 is a repeated sparkle. The meaning changes.
5. Overusing them in formal writing. Choose a plain verb in reports and exams.

The vowel pair is the hardest. If you are unsure, use the lighter form for small, quick, sweet things and the darker form for big, slow, heavy ones.

Practice: Flashcards and Worksheet

Run the deck in recognition mode until each word gives its picture, then switch to listening mode and take the quiz. The deck holds all 40 words with audio, and your progress stays in your browser. The vocabulary flashcard decks page lists the other decks.

A printable worksheet for these words (word list, matching, writing practice, fill-in-the-blank exercises and answer key) is available in A4 and US Letter from the download card on this page. For practice, draw a rabbit, a star, a rice cake and a road, then write the matching mimetic word beside each.

Where to Go Next

Practise the adverb patterns on Korean mimetic words as adverbs. For the sound words, return to Korean onomatopoeia, and for animal calls go to Animal sounds in Korean.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Korean Mimetic Words?

Mimetic words, called 의태어 (uitaeeo), describe how something looks, moves or feels, such as 반짝반짝 (twinkling) and 두근두근 (heart pounding). They differ from sound words, 의성어, which copy a sound, such as 멍멍 (woof). Both kinds are used as adverbs before a verb.

How Do You Say Twinkling and Heart Pounding in Korean?

Twinkling is 반짝반짝 (banjjakbanjjak): 별이 반짝반짝 빛나요 means 'The stars twinkle'. A pounding heart is 두근두근 (dugeundugeun): 가슴이 두근두근해요 means 'My heart is pounding'. Both words repeat a two-syllable unit.

What Is the Difference between 깡충깡충 and 껑충껑충?

Both mean hopping. 깡충깡충 uses the light vowel ㅏ and shows small, quick hops, like a rabbit. 껑충껑충 uses the dark vowel ㅓ and shows big, long leaps, like a deer. Korean changes the vowel to change the size and feel.

How Do I Use a Mimetic Word with a Noun?

Add 하다 in its modifier form. 알록달록한 옷 means 'colorful clothes' and 말랑말랑한 젤리 means 'squishy jelly'. Without 한 the word is only an adverb and goes before a verb.

Do I Need to Learn Mimetic Words to Speak Korean?

You can make yourself understood without them, but you will sound plainer. Native speakers use them constantly for food, pain, weather and feelings. Learn the 10 most common first, then add more as you meet them.

Is the Romanization on This Page Official?

It follows the Revised Romanization of Korean, which South Korea adopted on 7 July 2000 and whose rules the National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원) publishes. It is a learning aid and does not mark every sound change, so rely on the Hangul and the audio.

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