Korean Dictionary
How to say "Chopsticks" in Korean
“Chopsticks” in Korean is 젓가락 (pronounced "jeotgarag").
젓가락
jeotgarag
Usage & Context
Traditional eating utensil in Korean culture. Also used for cooking and stirring. Requires practice to master.
Example Sentence
젓가락으로 음식을 집어요.
I pick up food with chopsticks.
How to use 젓가락 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Chopsticks” is 젓가락, romanized as jeotgarag.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 젓가락.
Pronunciation Guide
'Jeot-ga-rag' sounds like 'jut-gah-rahg.' 'Jut' is like 'jut out,' 'gah' like 'gah-gah,' and 'rahg' like 'rag.' The 't' in 'jeot' is a stop sound, almost silent before 'ga,' making it a quick transition.
More Example Sentences
Explaining Korean dining customs to a foreigner.
한국 젓가락은 보통 금속으로 되어 있어요.
Korean chopsticks are usually made of metal.
A beginner struggling with chopsticks.
젓가락질이 서툴러서 밥 먹기 힘들어요.
My chopstick skills are clumsy, so it's hard to eat.
Complaining about a specific food challenge.
젓가락으로 면을 집는 게 어려워요.
It's hard to pick up noodles with chopsticks.
Cultural Context
Korean chopsticks ('젓가락') are typically made of metal (stainless steel), unlike the wooden or bamboo ones common in other East Asian countries. They are also often flatter and longer, which can be challenging for beginners. Koreans use chopsticks for most side dishes (반찬, banchan) and noodles, while a spoon (숟가락, sutgarak) is used for rice and soup. It's considered impolite to stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, as it resembles incense offered at a memorial service.
Editorial note
We review entries like 젓가락 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
젓가락으로 먹다
To eat with chopsticks
젓가락질 잘하다
To be good at using chopsticks
젓가락 놓다
To put down chopsticks (often meaning to finish eating)
Related Expressions
숟가락
sutgarak
Spoon
포크
pokeu
Fork
식기
sikgi
Tableware/Utensils
젓가락질
jeotgarakjil
Chopstick usage/skill
More Cooking Words
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