Korean Dictionary
How to say "Rare" in Korean
“Rare” in Korean is 덜 익은 (pronounced "deol igeun").
덜 익은
deol igeun
Usage & Context
Lightly cooked meat with pink center. Popular for premium cuts. Requires careful temperature control.
Example Sentence
스테이크를 덜 익게 구워요.
I cook steak rare.
How to use 덜 익은 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Rare” is 덜 익은, romanized as deol igeun.
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 덜 익은.
Pronunciation Guide
'덜' (deol) sounds like 'doll' but with a slightly softer 'd' and the 'o' like in 'door'. '익은' (igeun) is pronounced 'ee-geun', with 'ee' as in 'see' and 'geun' like 'gun' but with a softer 'g'. Combine them as 'deol ee-geun', with fairly even stress.
More Example Sentences
Expressing a personal preference for steak.
저는 스테이크를 덜 익게 먹는 걸 좋아해요.
I like to eat my steak rare/undercooked.
Observing food during cooking.
이 고기는 아직 덜 익어서 좀 더 구워야겠어요.
This meat is still undercooked, so I need to grill it a bit more.
Sharing a cooking tip or warning.
생선은 덜 익으면 비린내가 날 수 있어요.
If fish is undercooked, it might smell fishy.
Cultural Context
While '덜 익은' literally means 'undercooked,' when referring to steak, it's the direct translation for 'rare.' However, many Koreans commonly use the English loanword '레어' (re-eo) for steak doneness. '덜 익은' can also imply something is not cooked enough and potentially unsafe or unappetizing, such as '덜 익은 밥' (undercooked rice) or '덜 익은 채소' (undercooked vegetables).
Editorial note
We review entries like 덜 익은 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
덜 익게 굽다
grill/cook rare
덜 익은 고기
rare/undercooked meat
아직 덜 익었어요
it's still undercooked
Related Expressions
레어
re-eo
rare (loanword)
미디엄 레어
midieom re-eo
medium rare (loanword)
완전히 익은
wanjeonhi igeun
fully cooked/well-done
설익은
seorigeun
half-cooked/partially cooked (often implies undesirable)
More Cooking Words
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