To Cut

✂️ Ways to Say “To Cut” in Korean

Korean has several different verbs for cutting, each with its own nuance. Here’s a breakdown with unique examples + one shared example where helpful.

🔪 썰다 — to slice, saw (back-and-forth motion)

• Focus: cutting into pieces with repeated motion (knife, saw, etc.)

• Very common in food context.

Examples:

• 양파를 썰다 → to slice an onion 🧅

• 나무를 썰다 → to saw wood 🌲

✅ Note: usually used for food, but can extend to “sawing.”

✂️ 자르다 — to cut off, separate

• Focus: result (something divided), not the method.

• Neutral, general-purpose “cut.”

Examples:

• 머리카락을 자르다 → to cut hair 💇

• 나무를 자르다 → to cut wood (into pieces, or removing parts).

✅ Common everyday usage.

🪓 베다 — to chop down, mow, slash

• Focus: forceful motion with a blade.

• Implies chopping or cutting something off.

• 베다 also works metaphorically, like 마음을 베다 (“to pierce/cut the heart”)

Examples:

• 풀을 베다 → to cut grass 🌿

• 나무를 베다 → to cut down a tree 🌳

✅ Always implies a stronger, “swinging” cut.

🍏 깎다 — to peel, trim, carve

• Focus: removing small parts (by shaving, peeling, trimming).

• Used for fruit, nails, prices, wood, etc.

Examples:

• 사과를 깎다 → to peel an apple 🍎

• 나무를 깎다 → to carve wood / peel bark

• 연필을 깎다 → to sharpen a pencil

✅ Also widely used for 깎다 = to discount/lower a price.

🪡  재단하다 — to cut material to size/shape

• Focus: cutting with purpose/design (fabric, leather, wood).

• Technical/industrial word, not casual.

Examples:

• 가죽을 재단하다 → to cut leather (for use)

• 나무를 재단하다 → to cut wood for furniture/project

✅ Not for everyday cutting—sounds professional.

🧄 다지다 — to mince, finely chop

• Focus: cutting into very small pieces (esp. food).

• Common in cooking.

• Additionally, outside cooking, 다지다 can mean “to harden/strengthen” (e.g., 마음을 다지다 = to strengthen one’s resolve).

Example:

• 마늘을 다지다 → to mince garlic 🧄

🚫 나무를 다지다 doesn’t work—nobody “minces” wood.

✅ Only used for food/ingredients.

⚡️ Quick Recap

• 썰다 = slice/chop (back-and-forth, esp. food).

• 자르다 = general “cut off/divide.”

• 베다 = chop down, slash (forceful).

• 깎다 = peel/trim/carve.

• 재단하다 = cut to size/shape (professional use).

• 다지다 = mince/dice finely.

이미 vs 벌써

Korean has two words for “already”: 이미 and 벌써. Luckily, the difference is easy to get 👍.

✅ Both Can Mean “Already”

• 이미 다 했어요 → I already did all of it.

• 벌써 다 했어요 → I already did all of it.

Both are correct in this context, though 이미 is more commonly used when simply stating a fact.

😲 Surprise with 벌써

벌써 has an extra nuance—it can show surprise at how quickly something was done:

• 벌써 다 했어요?!?! → You already did all of it?!

This expresses shock or disbelief that the action finished so fast.

🎧 Tone Matters

It’s usually easy to tell which meaning 벌써 has—just listen to the tone:

• Calm → simply means already.

• Surprised → means already?? so fast?!

⚡️ Quick Recap:

• 이미 = plain already, factual, no surprise.

• 벌써 = already, often with surprise or disbelief.

🔍 Small Nuance Notes

1. Frequency of use:

   • Both are common, but 벌써 is often used in spoken Korean, while 이미 can feel a bit more formal or “written.”

2. 벌써 for ongoing states:

   • 벌써 can also mean “already (so soon, earlier than expected)” in time expressions:

     • 벌써 10시예요 = “It’s already 10 o’clock.”

     • 벌써 일어났어요? = “You’re already awake?”

진짜 vs 정말

Both 정말 and 진짜 mean “really” and are mostly interchangeable 🔄.

🎩 Formal vs. Casual

• 정말 → slightly more formal and serious.

  • 정말요? = “Really? I believe you, but I’m genuinely surprised.”

• 진짜 → more casual, sometimes with a hint of doubt.

  • 진짜요? = “Really? I’m not fully convinced.”

🤔 Quick Feel

• 진짜? → “Really? I’m not convinced.”

• 정말? → “Really? I can’t believe that happened!”

😡 When Annoyed

When expressing anger or disbelief, 진짜 sounds more natural:

• “진짜 그렇게 말했어??” → “Did they really say that???”

Because you’re speaking informally, 진짜 carries that raw, emotional punch.

🎭 Sarcasm Power

Since 정말 feels more formal, it can actually deliver heavier sarcasm when used in the right tone.

⚡️ Bottom line:

They usually mean the same thing, but…

• Use 정말 when you want to sound a bit more serious (or sarcastic).

• Use 진짜 when you want to sound casual, emotional, or skeptical.