Korean Dictionary
How to say "Pickle" in Korean
“Pickle” in Korean is 절이다 (pronounced "jeolida").
절이다
jeolida
Usage & Context
Preserving food in salt or vinegar solution. Traditional Korean method for vegetables. Creates tangy flavor and extends shelf life.
Example Sentence
오이를 절여요.
I pickle cucumbers.
How to use 절이다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Pickle” is 절이다, romanized as jeolida.
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 절이다.
Pronunciation Guide
"절이다" (jeolida) sounds like "juh-lee-dah." "Jeo" is like "juh" in "judge." "Li" is like "lee" in "sleepy." "Da" is like "dah" in "father."
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
절여요
jeoryeoyo
This is the common polite form used in daily conversation.
Casual (반말)
절여
jeoryeo
Used with close friends or family, or when speaking to someone younger.
More Example Sentences
Explaining the first step of making kimchi.
배추를 소금에 절여서 김치를 담가요.
We pickle napa cabbage in salt to make kimchi.
Sharing a homemade recipe.
오이를 식초에 절여서 피클을 만들었어요.
I pickled cucumbers in vinegar to make pickles.
Giving a cooking tip for radish dishes.
무를 절이면 아삭한 맛이 더 살아나요.
If you pickle radish, its crunchy texture becomes even more lively.
Cultural Context
"절이다" is a fundamental step in making kimchi, where napa cabbage or radish is salted to draw out moisture and soften the texture before seasoning. This process is crucial for the kimchi's characteristic crunch and ability to absorb flavors. Beyond kimchi, it's used for various banchan (side dishes) like "jangajji" (pickled vegetables), highlighting the Korean tradition of preserving seasonal produce and creating diverse flavors.
Editorial note
We review entries like 절이다 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
배추를 절이다
to pickle napa cabbage
소금에 절이다
to pickle in salt
오이를 절이다
to pickle cucumbers
Related Expressions
담그다
damgeuda
to make (kimchi, soy sauce, etc.), to soak, to pickle (broader term, often includes "절이다")
재우다
jaeuda
to marinate (often for meat, implies soaking in seasoning)
염장하다
yeomjanghada
to salt-preserve (more formal/technical)
씻다
ssitda
to wash (antonym, removing the pickling agent)
More Cooking Words
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