Korean Dictionary
How to say "Chubby" in Korean
“Chubby” in Korean is 통통한 (pronounced "tongtonghan").
통통한
tongtonghan
Usage & Context
Describing a round and plump body shape. Used in everyday contexts. Important for describing body types.
Example Sentence
통통한 몸이 귀여워요.
A chubby body is cute.
How to use 통통한 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Chubby” is 통통한, romanized as tongtonghan.
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 통통한.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '통' (tong) like 'tong' in 'tongue'. The word repeats '통통' (tongtong) for emphasis. '한' (han) sounds like 'han' in 'han-d'. Together, it's 'tong-tong-han'.
More Example Sentences
Describing a baby's cute features.
아기 볼이 통통해서 너무 귀여워요.
The baby's cheeks are chubby, so cute.
Expressing a personal preference for pet appearance.
저는 통통한 고양이가 더 좋아요.
I prefer chubby cats.
Self-description with a reassuring note about health.
조금 통통한 편인데 건강에는 문제 없어요.
I'm a bit on the chubby side, but there's no health problem.
Cultural Context
'통통한' often carries a connotation of cuteness or healthiness, especially for babies and young children in Korea. For adults, it's generally a softer, more endearing term than '뚱뚱한' (ttungttunghan - fat), implying a pleasant plumpness rather than being overweight. It's common to hear people describe a cute pet or a healthy-looking child as '통통하다'.
Editorial note
We review entries like 통통한 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
통통한 볼
chubby cheeks
통통해 보이다
to look chubby
통통한 아기
chubby baby
Related Expressions
포동포동한
podongpodonghan
plump, chubby (often for babies, very cute)
귀여운
gwiyeoun
cute (often associated with 통통한)
뚱뚱한
ttungttunghan
fat, obese (stronger, often negative)
날씬한
nalssinhan
slim (antonym)
More Body Parts Words
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