Korean Dictionary
How to say "Short" in Korean
“Short” in Korean is 짧은 (pronounced "Jjalbeun").
짧은
Jjalbeun
Usage & Context
Jjalbeun is the Korean word for short. Short shapes are used in Korean design to create compactness and efficiency. They represent brevity and conciseness.
Example Sentence
짧은 머리가 시원해요.
Short hair is refreshing.
How to use 짧은 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Short” is 짧은, romanized as Jjalbeun.
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 짧은.
Pronunciation Guide
'Jjal' sounds like 'jahl' with a quick, sharp 'j' and a slightly elongated 'a' like in 'father'. The double 'l' makes the sound a bit stronger. 'Beun' is like 'boon' but with a shorter 'oo' sound, similar to 'buhn'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
짧다
jjalda
This is the base dictionary form of the adjective, from which all conjugations are derived. It can be used formally with endings like -습니다/-ㅂ니다 or -어요/-아요.
Casual (반말)
짧다
jjalda
This is the plain form of the adjective, often used in casual speech or writing when stating a fact, or in informal settings.
More Example Sentences
Discussing fashion trends.
짧은 치마가 유행이에요.
Short skirts are in fashion.
Talking about learning efficiency or a brief period.
짧은 시간 안에 많은 것을 배웠어요.
I learned a lot in a short amount of time.
A humorous or self-deprecating comment about physical attributes.
짧은 다리로는 저기까지 못 가요.
With short legs, I can't reach there.
Cultural Context
'짧은' is used for physical shortness (e.g., hair, clothes, objects) and also for brevity in time. In Korean fashion, '짧은' often refers to trendy items like '짧은 치마' (jjalbeun chima, short skirt) or '짧은 바지' (jjalbeun baji, short pants). Metaphorically, it can imply a lack of patience or a quick temper, as in '짧은 성격' (jjalbeun seonggyeok, short temper), highlighting its versatility in describing both physical and abstract concepts.
Editorial note
We review entries like 짧은 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
짧은 머리
short hair
짧은 휴가
short vacation
짧은 대답
short answer
Related Expressions
단시간
dansigan
short time (noun)
간단한
gandanhan
simple, brief
긴
gin
long (antonym)
짧다
jjalda
to be short (base form)
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