Key Facts
- Hangul: 젓가락; Revised Romanization: jeotgarak
- Pronunciation: [jeot-kka-rak]
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
Chopsticks in Korean: What Does 젓가락 Mean?
젓가락 is a neutral everyday word. It sits beside 숟가락 at the table, and the two together are 수저.
How Do You Pronounce 젓가락?
It is pronounced [jeot-kka-rak]. The final ㅅ of 젓 is said as a short, unreleased t, and the ㄱ after it becomes a tense kk.
Example Sentences with 젓가락
젓가락으로 먹어요.
jeotgarageuro meogeoyo.
I eat with chopsticks.
으로 marks the tool used. 젓가락으로 먹어요 therefore means to eat using chopsticks.
젓가락 좀 주세요.
jeotgarak jom juseyo.
Please give me chopsticks.
좀 softens the request, and 주세요 asks politely. It is the line to use in a restaurant.
저는 젓가락을 잘 써요.
jeoneun jeotgarageul jal sseoyo.
I am good at using chopsticks.
잘 써요 means use well. It is the usual verb for handling a tool.
Phrases Built on 젓가락
젓가락질 turns the utensil into the skill of handling it, a word parents use when teaching a child. 쇠젓가락 names the metal kind found on most Korean tables, and 숟가락과 젓가락 names the full set.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 젓가락으로 먹다 | to eat with chopsticks |
| 젓가락질 | chopstick handling |
| 쇠젓가락 | metal chopsticks |
| 숟가락과 젓가락 | spoon and chopsticks |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners pick the wrong final consonant under 저, because ㅅ and ㅈ sound the same there.
- Wrong: 젖가락
- Right: 젓가락
젓가락 already means the pair, even though English says "a pair of chopsticks".
젓가락 Compared with Similar Words
숟가락 is the spoon, used for rice and soup. 수저 names the spoon and chopsticks set as one unit.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 숟가락 | spoon | Used for rice and soup. |
| 수저 | spoon and chopsticks set | The two together. |
Where Does 젓가락 Come From?
젓가락 is native Korean with no hanja.
Cultural Note
Korean chopsticks are typically metal and flat, and the spoon is used for rice and soup.
Getting Utensils at a Restaurant
A customer has received food but has no chopsticks. The server points out a drawer at the table.
Customer
젓가락 좀 주세요.
Jeotgarak jom juseyo.
Could I have some chopsticks, please?
Server
젓가락은 서랍에 있어요.
Jeotgarageun seorabe isseoyo.
The chopsticks are in the drawer.
Customer
여기요?
Yeogiyo?
In here?
Server
네. 숟가락도 거기 있어요.
Ne. Sutgarakdo geogi isseoyo.
Yes. The spoons are there too.
The customer uses 좀 to soften the request. It does not ask for a small amount of chopsticks. In this sentence it makes the request less abrupt, much like “could I have” in English. The server's answer gives a location instead of promising to bring utensils.
서랍 means drawer. The question 여기요? checks the location while the customer points. Some restaurants keep utensils in table drawers or shared containers; this exchange helps you understand that answer when you hear it. It is a possible table arrangement, rather than a rule for every restaurant.
What Does 젓가락질 Describe?
젓가락질 means using or handling chopsticks. It names the action or skill, rather than another kind of utensil. 젓가락질을 잘하다 means to use chopsticks well. The existing sentence 저는 젓가락을 잘 써요 expresses a similar idea with the ordinary verb for using a tool.
나무젓가락 means wooden chopsticks. 쇠젓가락 means metal chopsticks. The first part tells you the material, while 젓가락 still names the utensil. Neither word tells you how skilled the person using it is; that is the role of 젓가락질.
젓가락 한 벌 means one set of chopsticks. 벌 groups the two sticks into a set. If you need utensils for another diner, this is more precise than counting individual sticks. You can also use the simple request 젓가락 좀 주세요 when the number is clear from the table.
젓가락을 집다 means to pick up chopsticks, and 젓가락을 놓다 means to put them down. These phrases describe moving the utensils, while 젓가락을 쓰다 describes using them. In a scene around a meal, the action verb tells you whether someone is beginning to eat, stopping or simply moving things on the table.
Where Will You Hear 젓가락?
Restaurants use the word when someone needs utensils, drops them or cannot find them. At home, it comes up while setting the table and teaching children to eat. In a shop, the surrounding material word helps distinguish metal utensils from wooden ones.
On takeaway packaging, 나무젓가락 can identify the wooden utensils supplied with the meal. Recognizing the whole compound helps you find the chopsticks without confusing them with a spoon or a packet of seasoning. English “chopsticks” is plural, but the Korean noun does not need 들 to make the everyday request natural.
수저 can name the spoon and chopsticks together, so context matters when someone asks you to set out 수저. If you need chopsticks specifically, 젓가락 is the clearest word. If you need a spoon, ask for 숟가락. Both utensils can be part of one person's table setting.
Utensil Words to Learn Together
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 숟가락 | spoon | Useful for rice and soup; a separate utensil from 젓가락. |
| 수저 | spoon and chopsticks | Names the eating utensils together. |
| 나무젓가락 | wooden chopsticks | The material appears at the beginning of the compound. |
| 포크 | fork | Useful when asking for a different utensil. |
| 서랍 | drawer | A possible place to look when utensils are not on the tabletop. |
The kitchen vocabulary lesson teaches utensils alongside other kitchen objects. Compare the spelling of 숟가락, spoon, with ㄷ, and 젓가락, with ㅅ: their similar sound can hide the spelling difference.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 좀 do in 젓가락 좀 주세요?
- Which word describes the skill: 젓가락 or 젓가락질?
- What is one set of chopsticks in Korean?
Show answers
- It softens the request; it does not specify a small quantity.
- 젓가락질.
- 젓가락 한 벌.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say chopsticks in Korean?
Say 젓가락 (jeotgarak).
How is it pronounced?
It is pronounced [jeot-kka-rak], with a tense kk.
What are metal chopsticks called?
They are 쇠젓가락.
What does 수저 mean?
It means the spoon and chopsticks set.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Kitchen words places 젓가락 among its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare with 숟가락 on its own page.