Korean Dictionary
How to say "Portion" in Korean
“Portion” in Korean is 덜어내다 (pronounced "deol-eonae da").
덜어내다
deol-eonae da
Usage & Context
Dividing food into individual servings. Important for meal planning and portion control. Ensures fair distribution.
Example Sentence
음식을 덜어내요.
I portion the food.
How to use 덜어내다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Portion” is 덜어내다, romanized as deol-eonae da.
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 덜어내다.
Pronunciation Guide
덜 (deol) sounds like 'dul' in 'dull'. 어 (eo) is like the 'uh' in 'up'. 내 (nae) sounds like 'nay'. 다 (da) is pronounced 'dah'. Put it together: DUL-uh-NAY-dah.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
덜어내요
deol-eonaeyo
Common polite form used in everyday conversation.
Casual (반말)
덜어내
deol-eonae
Used with close friends, family, or people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Advising someone not to waste food at a meal.
밥을 먹을 만큼만 덜어내세요.
Please portion out only as much rice as you'll eat.
Describing an action during a meal.
찌개가 너무 많아서 그릇에 조금 덜어냈어요.
The stew was too much, so I portioned out a little into a bowl.
Talking about meal prep for kids.
아이들 간식은 미리 작은 용기에 덜어내서 준비해요.
I prepare snacks for children by portioning them into small containers beforehand.
Cultural Context
덜어내다 (deol-eonaeda) is frequently used in Korean dining culture. Many Korean dishes, such as stews (찌개, jjigae) and shared side dishes (반찬, banchan), are served in large communal bowls or platters. Diners then 'portion out' their desired amount into their individual bowls. This communal eating style fosters a sense of sharing and community, and it's considered polite to take only what you can eat.
Editorial note
We review entries like 덜어내다 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
밥을 덜어내다
to portion out rice
국을 덜어내다
to portion out soup
반찬을 덜어내다
to portion out side dishes
Related Expressions
나누다
nanuda
to divide, to share (broader concept)
담다
damda
to put into, to serve (often used after portioning)
덜다
deolda
to take out a portion (similar, often used for food)
소분하다
sobun hada
to divide into small portions (more formal, often for packaging/selling)
More Cooking Words
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