Korean Dictionary
How to say "Savory" in Korean
“Savory” in Korean is 짭짤한 (pronounced "jjapjjaghan").
짭짤한
jjapjjaghan
Usage & Context
Salty, umami-rich flavor. Fundamental taste in Korean cuisine. Balances sweet and spicy flavors.
Example Sentence
음식이 짭짤해요.
The food is savory.
How to use 짭짤한 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Savory” is 짭짤한, romanized as jjapjjaghan.
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 짭짤한.
Pronunciation Guide
짭 (jjap) sounds like 'jjahp' with a tense 'jj' like in 'jump' but stronger, and 'a' like 'ah'. 짤 (jjal) is similar, 'jjah-l'. 한 (han) sounds like 'hahn'. Put it together: 'jjahp-jjahl-hahn'.
More Example Sentences
Eating a meal at home or a restaurant.
이 김치찌개는 짭짤해서 밥이랑 같이 먹기 좋아요.
This kimchi stew is savory, so it's good to eat with rice.
Feeling the air at the beach.
바닷바람이 짭짤하게 느껴져요.
The sea breeze feels savory/salty.
Choosing snacks for a casual drink.
짭짤한 과자가 맥주랑 잘 어울려요.
Savory snacks go well with beer.
Cultural Context
짭짤한 describes a pleasant, slightly salty taste, often with an umami depth, making it satisfying. It's a key flavor profile in many Korean dishes, balancing out spicy or sweet elements. Unlike just 'salty' (짠), 짭짤한 implies a more nuanced, appetizing saltiness. Many banchan (side dishes) like seasoned anchovies (멸치볶음) or various namul (vegetable dishes) are often described as having a 짭짤한 quality.
Editorial note
We review entries like 짭짤한 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
짭짤한 맛
Savory taste
짭짤하게 간이 된
Seasoned savorily/salty
짭짤한 반찬
Savory side dishes
Related Expressions
짠
jjan
Salty (can imply too salty)
싱거운
singgeoun
Bland, tasteless
달콤한
dalkomhan
Sweet
매콤한
maekomhan
Spicy
More Cooking Words
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