의성어 (uiseongeo ) are words that imitate natural sounds (Onomatopoeia ).의태어 uitaeeo ) which refers to Korean mimetic words , 의태어
Human Sounds 깔깔 (kkalkkal ) Loud laughter 냠냠 (nyamnyam ) Eating sound (yum-yum) 쩝쩝 (jjeopjjeop ) Chewing sound 두근두근 (dugeundugeun ) Heart beating fast 쉿 (swit ) “Shh!” (Hushing sound) 쏙닥쏙닥 (ssokdakssokdak ) Whispering 아야 (aya ) “Ouch!” (Pain sound) 앗 (at ) “Oops!” (Surprise sound) 엉엉 (eongeong ) Crying loudly 짝짝짝 (jjakjjakjjak ) Clapping sound
Animal Sounds 개굴개굴 (gaegulgaegul ) Frog croaking 구구 (gugu ) Pigeon cooing 까악까악 (kkaakkkaak ) Crow cawing 꼬끼오 (kkokkio ) Rooster crowing 꿀꿀 (kkulkkul ) Pig oinking 멍멍 (meongmeong ) Dog barking 부엉부엉 (bueongbueong ) Owl hooting 붕붕 (bungbung ) Bee buzzing 삐약삐약 (ppiyakppiyak ) Chick chirping 야옹 (yaong ) Cat meowing
Impact Sounds 꽝 (kkwang ) Loud crash or bang 쾅 (kwang ) Thump of something dropping 쨍그랑 (jjaenggeurang ) Glass breaking 뚝딱뚝딱 (ttukttakttukttak ) Hammering sound 꽈당 (kkwadang ) Falling or bumping into something 콰당 (kwadang ) Something breaking or shattering
Water Sounds 퐁당 (pongdang ) Something heavy falling into water 철썩 (cheolseok ) Waves crashing 주룩주룩 (jurukjuruk ) Heavy rain pouring 똑똑 (ttokttok ) Water dripping
Machine & Object Sounds 따르릉 (ttareureung ) Telephone ringing 빵빵 (ppangppang ) Car horn honking 딩동 (dingdong ) Doorbell ringing 칙칙폭폭 (chikchikpokpok ) Train sound
Footstep Sounds 터벅터벅 (teobeokteobeok ) Slow, tired walking 사뿐사뿐 (sappunsappun ) Light, graceful walking 후다닥 (hudadak ) Running quickly
Weather Sounds 윙윙 (wingwing ) Wind blowing 번쩍번쩍 (beonjeokbeonjeok ) Lightning flashing
Miscellaneous Sounds 콜록콜록 (kollokkollok ) Coughing sound 찰칵 (chalchak ) Camera shutter sound 쪽 (jjok ) Kiss sound 후루룩 (hururuk ) Slurping noodles 땡땡 (ttaengttaeng ) Bell ringing
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