Korean Dictionary
How to say "Squeeze" in Korean
“Squeeze” in Korean is 짜다 (pronounced "jjada").
짜다
jjada
Usage & Context
Applying pressure to extract liquid. Used for citrus fruits, tofu, and vegetables. Removes excess moisture and concentrates flavor.
Example Sentence
레몬을 짜요.
I squeeze lemon.
How to use 짜다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Squeeze” is 짜다, romanized as jjada.
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 짜다.
Pronunciation Guide
The word "짜다" (jjada) sounds like "jah-dah" but with a tense, slightly aspirated 'J' sound, similar to the 'ch' in 'church' but voiced. The 'a' is pronounced like the 'a' in 'father'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
짜요
jjayo
This is the common polite form used in daily conversation.
Casual (반말)
짜
jja
Used with close friends or family, or when speaking to someone younger.
More Example Sentences
Giving instructions on how to dry something.
수건을 꽉 짜서 물기를 제거하세요.
Squeeze the towel tightly to remove the water.
Explaining a cooking tip.
두부 물기를 짜야 양념이 잘 배요.
You need to squeeze the water out of the tofu for the seasoning to absorb well.
Complaining about a fruit not yielding much juice.
힘껏 짜도 오렌지 주스가 많이 안 나오네요.
Even if I squeeze hard, not much orange juice is coming out.
Cultural Context
"짜다" is a very common verb in Korean cooking, especially for dishes like namul (seasoned vegetables) or tofu, where removing excess water is crucial for texture and flavor absorption. It's also used for laundry, like "수건을 짜다" (to wring out a towel). Beyond the literal squeeze, it can also mean "to make" or "to formulate" a plan (계획을 짜다), showing its versatility in daily Korean life.
Editorial note
We review entries like 짜다 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
레몬을 짜다
to squeeze a lemon
수건을 짜다
to wring out a towel
계획을 짜다
to make a plan
Related Expressions
쥐어짜다
jwieojjada
to wring out, to squeeze hard (often with effort)
압착하다
apchakada
to press, to compress (more formal/technical)
즙을 내다
jeubeul naeda
to extract juice
풀다
pulda
to loosen, to untie (antonym in a sense of releasing tension)
More Cooking Words
Related Articles
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Squeeze and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
