Korean Dictionary
How to say "Tongs" in Korean
“Tongs” in Korean is 집게 (pronounced "jipge").
집게
jipge
Usage & Context
Gripping tool for handling hot food. Essential for grilling and deep-frying. Prevents burns and maintains food integrity.
Example Sentence
집게로 고기를 집어요.
I pick up meat with tongs.
How to use 집게 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Tongs” is 집게, romanized as jipge.
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 집게.
Pronunciation Guide
The word "집게" (jipge) is pronounced like "jeep" (as in the car) followed by "geh" (like 'get' without the 't'). Both syllables are short and crisp, with fairly even stress.
More Example Sentences
Preparing for a BBQ with friends.
고기 구울 때 집게랑 가위는 필수죠.
Tongs and scissors are essential when grilling meat.
Instructing someone at a buffet.
뜨거운 빵을 집게로 집어서 접시에 놓으세요.
Pick up the hot bread with tongs and place it on the plate.
Recommending a kitchen tool to a friend.
이 집게는 끝이 실리콘이라 그릇에 흠집이 안 나요.
The tips of these tongs are silicone, so they won't scratch dishes.
Cultural Context
Tongs ("집게") are incredibly important in Korean BBQ culture. When grilling meat at the table, it's common to use tongs to flip and cut the meat (often with kitchen scissors) directly on the grill. They are also widely used for serving various side dishes (반찬, banchan) at home or in restaurants, especially for items like kimchi or pickled radishes, promoting shared dining etiquette.
Editorial note
We review entries like 집게 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
집게로 집다
to pick up with tongs
고기 집게
meat tongs
집게 좀 주세요
Please give me the tongs.
Related Expressions
가위
gawi
scissors (often used with tongs for BBQ)
집다
jipda
to pick up, to grasp
고기 집게
gogi jipge
meat tongs
집게
jipge
clothes peg/clip (another meaning of the word)
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