의태어 (uitaeeo) refers to Korean mimetic words, which describe movements, appearances, or states rather than sounds. Unlike 의성어 (uiseongeo, onomatopoeia), which imitates sounds, 의태어 mimics actions, feelings, or visual effects.
| Korean 의태어 | Meaning / Description |
|---|---|
| 갈팡질팡 (galpangjilpang) | Wandering around confused |
| 거뭇거뭇 (geomutgeomut) | Dark patches or spots |
| 겅중겅중 (geongjunggeongjung) | Jumping like a deer |
| 곤드레만드레 (gondeuremandeure) | Completely drunk or exhausted |
| 굼실굼실 (gumsilgumsil) | Moving slowly and heavily |
| 깡충깡충 (kkangchungkkangchung) | Hopping like a rabbit |
| 껍죽껍죽 (kkeopjukkkeopjuk) | Acting overly confident |
| 꼬깃꼬깃 (kkogitkkogit) | Wrinkled or crumpled |
| 꼬물꼬물 (kkomulkkomul) | Wriggling or squirming |
| 나풀나풀 (napulnapul) | Fluttering lightly |
| 너덜너덜 (neodeolneodeol) | Torn and ragged |
| 노닥노닥 (nodaknodak) | Chatting leisurely |
| 느릿느릿 (neuritneurit) | Moving slowly |
| 대롱대롱 (daerongdaerong) | Dangling |
| 덜렁덜렁 (deolleongdeolleong) | Careless and clumsy |
| 덥석 (deopseok) | Grabbing suddenly |
| 데구르르 (degeurureu) | Rolling around |
| 두리번두리번 (duribeonduribeon) | Looking around curiously |
| 뒤뚱뒤뚱 (dwittungdwittung) | Waddling like a duck |
| 뒹굴뒹굴 (dwingguldwinggul) | Rolling around lazily |
| 드문드문 (deumundeumun) | Scattered sparsely |
| 띄엄띄엄 (ttwieomttwieom) | Spaced apart |
| 모락모락 (morakmorak) | Smoke or steam rising |
| 무럭무럭 (mureokmureok) | Growing rapidly |
| 뭉게뭉게 (munggemungge) | Billowing clouds or smoke |
| 바둥바둥 (badungbadung) | Struggling or flailing |
| 반질반질 (banjilbanjil) | Smooth and shiny |
| 반짝반짝 (banjjakbanjjak) | Sparkling or twinkling |
| 방긋방긋 (banggeutbanggeut) | Smiling brightly |
| 번지르르 (beonjireureu) | Glossy and shiny |
| 벌컥벌컥 (beolkeokbeolkeok) | Drinking in big gulps |
| 보들보들 (bodeulbodeul) | Soft and smooth |
| 보슬보슬 (boseulboseul) | Light rain or soft texture |
| 살금살금 (salgeumsalgeum) | Sneaking quietly |
| 새록새록 (saeroksaerok) | Memories or ideas coming back |
| 싹둑 (ssakduk) | Cutting cleanly |
| 아득바득 (adeukbadeuk) | Persistently struggling |
| 아옹다옹 (aongdaong) | Bickering or arguing |
| 알뜰살뜰 (alteulsalteul) | Being thrifty and careful |
| 야금야금 (yageumyageum) | Eating little by little |
| 엎치락뒤치락 (eopchirakdwichirak) | Tossing and turning |
| 옴싹달싹 (omsakdalsak) | Moving slightly |
| 잘근잘근 (jalgeunjalgeun) | Chewing thoroughly |
| 주섬주섬 (juseomjuseom) | Gathering things one by one |
| 지끈지끈 (jikkeunjikkeun) | Throbbing headache |
| 칭얼칭얼 (chingeolchingeol) | Whining or complaining |
| 파닥파닥 (padakpadak) | Flapping wings or hands |
| 포동포동 (podongpodong) | Chubby and plump |
| 푹신푹신 (puksinpuksin) | Soft and cushiony |
| 후다닥 (hudadak) | Moving quickly |
| 다닥다닥 (dadakdadak) | Closely packed together |
| 아슬아슬 (aseulaseul) | Feeling nervous or risky |
| 머뭇머뭇 (meumutmeumut) | Hesitating |
| 불쑥불쑥 (bulssukbulssuk) | Popping up suddenly |
| 두근두근 (dugeundugeun) | Heart beating fast |
| 성큼성큼 (seongkeumseongkeum) | Striding confidently |
| 벌컥벌컥 (beolkeokbeolkeok) | Drinking in big gulps |
| 모락모락 (morakmorak) | Steam or smoke rising |
| 꾸벅꾸벅 (kkubeokkkubeok) | Nodding off to sleep |
| 갈팡질팡 (galpangjilpang) | Feeling lost or confused |
| 사뿐사뿐 (sappunsappun) | Walking lightly |
| 오순도순 (osundosun) | Chatting happily together |
| 기웃기웃 (giutgiut) | Peeking curiously |
| 희끗희끗 (huikkeuthuikkeut) | Speckled with white or gray |
| 옹기종기 (onggijonggi) | Gathered closely together |
| 살랑살랑 (sallangsallang) | Swaying gently |
| 올록볼록 (ollokbollok) | Bumpy or uneven |
| 또박또박 (ttobakttobak) | Speaking or writing clearly |
| 차곡차곡 (chagokchagok) | Stacking neatly |
| 알록달록 (allokdallok) | Colorful and patterned |
| 오락가락 (orakgarak) | Coming and going |
| 살금살금 (salgeumsalgeum) | Sneaking quietly |
| 방긋방긋 (banggeutbanggeut) | Smiling brightly |
| 글썽글썽 (geulseonggeulseong) | Eyes welling up with tears |
| 다닥다닥 (dadakdadak) | Closely packed together |
| 주렁주렁 (jureongjureong) | Hanging in clusters |
| 보글보글 (bogeulbogeul) | Simmering or bubbling |
| 꼬박꼬박 (kkobakkkobak) | Regularly or consistently |
| 흥청망청 (heungcheongmangcheong) | Spending recklessly |
| 아등바등 (adeungbadeung) | Struggling hard |
| 꼬치꼬치 (kkochikkochi) | Asking persistently |
| 다짜고짜 (dajjakojja) | Abruptly or suddenly |
| 시시콜콜 (sisikolkoll) | Asking about every little detail |
| 투덜투덜 (tudeoltudeol) | Grumbling or complaining |
| 티격태격 (tigeoktigeok) | Bickering back and forth |
| 안달복달 (andalbokdal) | Being restless |
| 싱숭생숭 (singsungsengsung) | Feeling unsettled |
| 건들건들 (geondeulgeondeul) | Moving lazily |
| 우물쭈물 (umuljjumul) | Hesitating indecisively |
| 설렁설렁 (seolleongseolleong) | Doing something lightly |
| 올망졸망 (olmangjolmang) | Gathered in a small cluster |
| 옥신각신 (oksingaksin) | Arguing back and forth |
| 엉금엉금 (eonggeumeonggeum) | Crawling slowly |
| 무럭무럭 (mureokmureok) | Growing rapidly |
| 주섬주섬 (juseomjuseom) | Picking things up one by one |