Korean Dictionary
How to say "Playful" in Korean
“Playful” in Korean is 장난스럽다 (pronounced "Jangnanseureopda").
장난스럽다
Jangnanseureopda
Usage & Context
Describes a mischievous, lighthearted quality. Common in describing children and playful adults. In K-dramas, the male lead's playful teasing of the female lead is a classic romantic trope. 장난이야 (I'm joking) is a common phrase.
Example Sentence
남동생이 항상 장난스럽게 저를 놀려요.
My younger brother always teases me in a playful way.
How to use 장난스럽다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Playful” is 장난스럽다, romanized as Jangnanseureopda.
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 장난스럽다.
Pronunciation Guide
장 (Jang) sounds like 'jahng' in 'jang-gle'. 난 (nan) is like 'nahn' in 'Nancy'. 스 (seu) is like 'soo' but with a flatter 'u' sound, similar to 'suh'. 럽 (reop) is like 'lup' in 'lup-py'. 다 (da) is 'dah'. The stress is fairly even.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
장난스러워요
Jangnanseureowoyo
This is the common polite form used in most daily conversations.
Casual (반말)
장난스러워
Jangnanseureowo
Used when speaking to close friends, family, or people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Describing someone's characteristic playful expression.
그는 항상 장난스러운 미소를 짓고 있어요.
He always has a playful smile on his face.
Observing children's mischievous and fun behavior.
아이들의 장난스러운 행동에 모두 웃음을 터뜨렸다.
Everyone burst into laughter at the children's playful antics.
Describing a lighthearted physical interaction between friends.
그녀는 장난스럽게 내 팔을 툭 쳤다.
She playfully nudged my arm.
Cultural Context
장난스럽다 is often used to describe children's innocent mischief or the lighthearted teasing between close friends or romantic partners. In K-dramas, it's a classic trope for a male lead to show his affection through '장난스러운' (playful) teasing of the female lead. It implies a sense of humor and a lack of seriousness, often endearing. The phrase '장난이야!' (It's a joke!) is very common when someone is being playful.
Editorial note
We review entries like 장난스럽다 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
장난스러운 표정
playful expression
장난스러운 말
playful words/jokes
장난스럽게 웃다
to laugh playfully
Related Expressions
개구쟁이 같다
gaegujaengi gatda
like a mischievous child
익살스럽다
ikssalseureopda
humorous, droll
진지하다
jinjihada
to be serious (antonym)
농담
nongdam
joke (related noun)
More Emotions Words
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