Key Facts
- Hangul: 된장찌개; Revised Romanization: doenjangjjigae
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: mixed (native 된 + Sino-Korean 장 醬 + native 찌개)
- Register: Neutral; a staple home-style dish.
Soybean Paste Stew in Korean: What Does 된장찌개 Mean?
된장찌개 is soybean paste stew, a neutral word for a staple home-style dish. The name stacks two words: 된장 (soybean paste) is the base, and 찌개 means stew, so the dish name tells you what it is made of. Tofu is a common addition, as in 두부 된장찌개.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Four syllables, doen-jang-jji-gae. The first vowel is ㅚ, said much like "we", and the ㅉ is a tense consonant with no puff of air.
Example Sentences with 된장찌개
된장찌개를 먹어요.
Doenjangjjigaereul meogeoyo.
I eat soybean paste stew.
The 를 attaches to the whole compound. 먹어요 is the polite present, so this is the plain "I am having it" line.
된장찌개가 맛있어요.
Doenjangjjigaega masisseoyo.
The soybean paste stew is delicious.
맛있어요 means "is delicious". The subject marker 가 follows the vowel-final 찌개.
엄마의 된장찌개가 제일 좋아요.
Eommaui doenjangjjigaega jeil joayo.
My mom's soybean paste stew is the best.
제일 좋아요 means "is the best". 엄마의 uses 의 for "mom's", the possessive.
Common Phrases and Collocations
The phrases cover cooking, a set meal and a variation: 된장찌개를 끓이다, 된장찌개 백반 and 두부 된장찌개.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 된장찌개를 끓이다 | to make soybean paste stew |
| 된장찌개 백반 | set meal with doenjang stew |
| 두부 된장찌개 | tofu doenjang stew |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: 된장 when you mean the red, spicy chili paste.
Correct: 고추장. 된장 is brown, salty and not spicy by itself, while 고추장 is the red chili paste. A 된장찌개 is savoury rather than hot unless chili is added.
된장찌개 Compared with Similar Words
The close rival is 김치찌개, kimchi stew, which is red and sour because of kimchi. 된장찌개 gets its flavor from fermented soybean paste. Both are 찌개, so the contrast is only the base.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 된장찌개 | soybean paste stew | This page's word |
| 김치찌개 | kimchi stew | Made with kimchi and is red and sour; 된장찌개 is made with fermented soybean paste. |
| 된장 | soybean paste | The base ingredient of the stew. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
된장찌개 is a mixed word. 된장 joins native 된, "thick", with 장 from Sino-Korean 醬, "fermented sauce or paste", and 찌개 is the native word for stew.
Ordering a Stew Set for Lunch
A customer is choosing lunch from a small restaurant menu. They check whether the stew comes with rice.
Customer
된장찌개 하나 주세요.
Doenjangjjigae hana juseyo.
One soybean paste stew, please.
Server
네, 더 필요한 거 있으세요?
Ne, deo piryohan geo isseuseyo?
Sure. Is there anything else you need?
Customer
밥도 같이 나와요?
Bapdo gachi nawayo?
Does rice come with it too?
Server
네, 밥하고 반찬도 나와요.
Ne, bapago banchando nawayo.
Yes, it comes with rice and side dishes too.
하나 is a simple way to order one serving when the dish is already named. 같이 나와요 literally asks whether something “comes out together”; in restaurant talk, it asks what is served with the order. The answer describes this restaurant’s meal, so check rather than assuming every menu includes the same extras.
What Can You Tell from the Dish Name?
된장찌개 identifies the seasoning base, not every ingredient in the pot. 두부 된장찌개 highlights tofu, but a bowl with tofu may contain other ingredients too. A longer menu name adds information; it does not necessarily list the full recipe. The brown colour alone does not tell you everything that went into the broth.
된장찌개 백반 names a meal centred on the stew, with rice and side dishes. In this phrase, 백반 refers to the meal arrangement. It does not name a different paste. If you recognize 된장찌개 on a menu but do not understand the rest, look for whether the listing describes one dish or a set.
The name ends in 찌개, so particles attach to the final 개. 된장찌개를 marks the stew as the thing eaten or ordered; 된장찌개가 marks it as the subject of a description. The longer name can look intimidating, but it behaves like any other vowel-ending noun.
Where Will You Hear It outside a Menu?
At home, 된장찌개를 끓이다 means making the stew by boiling or simmering it. The literal meaning of 끓이다 is “to boil something”, but English often uses “make” for the whole cooking task. A person talking about dinner may name this dish and use 끓이다 without listing the preparation steps.
In a family conversation or a drama meal scene, 된장찌개 can appear in talk about home cooking. The existing example about a mother’s stew expresses a personal preference. It does not mean the dish has to be made by a parent, or that the word itself has an affectionate or honorific register.
된장국 is another useful menu word: soybean paste soup. Both names contain 된장, but 국 means soup and 찌개 means stew. The distinction helps you read the menu even though recipes vary. Learn the final food-category word as well as the ingredient at the beginning.
Words to Recognize beside 된장찌개
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 두부 | tofu | May be highlighted in a stew’s name. |
| 밥 | cooked rice / meal | Ask whether rice accompanies the order. |
| 반찬 | side dishes | Separate dishes served alongside the meal. |
| 된장국 | soybean paste soup | Shares the paste base but ends in 국. |
The Korean stew lesson groups this dish with other stews. Compare the ingredient before 찌개 to work out what gives each one its name.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word names the paste itself: 된장 or 된장찌개?
- What are you asking with 밥도 같이 나와요?
- Does 두부 된장찌개 promise that tofu is the only ingredient?
Show answers
- 된장. 찌개 adds the meaning “stew”.
- Whether rice also comes with the order.
- No. The name highlights tofu without listing every ingredient.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "soybean paste stew" in Korean?
Soybean paste stew in Korean is 된장찌개 (doenjangjjigae). The name joins 된장, soybean paste, and 찌개, stew.
What is 된장?
된장 is fermented soybean paste: brown, salty and savoury, and not spicy by itself. It is the base ingredient of the stew.
How is it different from 김치찌개?
김치찌개 is red, sour and spicy because it is built on kimchi. 된장찌개 is brown and savoury, built on fermented soybean paste.
What is 된장찌개 백반?
It is a set meal built around doenjang stew, served with rice and several side dishes. It is a common, inexpensive lunch.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: the Korean stew words page groups 된장찌개 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 된장찌개 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Compare with the page for kimchi stew.
- The general stew word is on the page for stew.