Korean Dictionary
How to say "Doneness" in Korean
“Doneness” in Korean is 익은 정도 (pronounced "igeun jeongdo").
익은 정도
igeun jeongdo
Usage & Context
Level of cooking completion. Critical for food safety and quality. Varies by ingredient type.
Example Sentence
고기의 익은 정도를 확인해요.
I check the doneness of meat.
How to use 익은 정도 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Doneness” is 익은 정도, romanized as igeun jeongdo.
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 익은 정도.
Pronunciation Guide
'익은' (igeun) sounds like 'ee-geun', with 'ee' as in 'see' and 'geun' like 'gun' but with a softer 'g'. '정도' (jeongdo) is pronounced 'jeong-doh', with 'jeong' like 'jong' in 'jongle' and 'doh' like 'dough'. The stress is relatively even across the phrase.
More Example Sentences
A server asking a customer at a restaurant.
스테이크 익은 정도는 어떻게 해드릴까요?
How would you like your steak cooked? / What doneness for your steak?
Cooking at home, testing vegetables.
감자의 익은 정도를 젓가락으로 확인했어요.
I checked the doneness of the potato with chopsticks.
Giving cooking advice for delicate ingredients.
생선은 익은 정도가 중요해서 너무 오래 익히면 안 돼요.
Doneness is important for fish, so you shouldn't cook it too long.
Cultural Context
While '익은 정도' is a general term, specific doneness levels for meat (especially beef) are often expressed using English loanwords in Korea, such as '레어' (rare), '미디엄 레어' (medium rare), '미디엄' (medium), '웰던' (well-done). However, for other foods like vegetables, rice, or noodles, '익은 정도' is commonly used to describe whether they are sufficiently cooked, often to a desired texture.
Editorial note
We review entries like 익은 정도 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
익은 정도를 확인하다
check the doneness
익은 정도가 딱 좋다
the doneness is just right
익은 정도에 따라
depending on the doneness
Related Expressions
굽기 정도
gupgi jeongdo
doneness (for grilled/baked items)
삶기 정도
samgi jeongdo
doneness (for boiled items)
덜 익은
deol igeun
undercooked/rare
완전히 익은
wanjeonhi igeun
fully cooked/well-done
More Cooking Words
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