Korean Dictionary
How to say "Rice cake" in Korean
“Rice cake” in Korean is 떡 (pronounced "Tteok").
떡
Tteok
Usage & Context
A broad category of Korean rice cakes made from glutinous rice flour. Used in many traditional and festive dishes. 떡국 (rice cake soup) is eaten on New Year's, and 떡 is given at celebrations like birthdays and house warmings. Many varieties have symbolic cultural meanings.
Example Sentence
설날에는 떡국을 먹으면 한 살 더 먹는다고 해요.
They say if you eat tteokguk on New Year's, you become one year older.
How to use 떡 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Rice cake” is 떡, romanized as Tteok.
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 떡.
Pronunciation Guide
The 'tt' in 'Tteok' (떡) is a tense, aspirated 't' sound, similar to the 't' in 'stop' but with more tension in the tongue. The 'eo' vowel is like the 'o' in 'love' or 'sun'. The final 'k' is a soft, unreleased sound.
More Example Sentences
Suggesting a casual meal with friends.
떡볶이 먹으러 갈래?
Wanna go eat tteokbokki?
Sharing celebratory food with neighbors or guests.
백일 잔치에 떡을 돌렸어요.
We distributed tteok for the 100-day celebration.
Describing the quality of a rice cake.
이 떡은 쫄깃쫄깃해서 식감이 좋아요.
This tteok is chewy and has a good texture.
Cultural Context
Tteok is a staple in Korean cuisine, deeply intertwined with celebrations and traditions. Eating tteokguk (떡국, rice cake soup) on Lunar New Year's Day is believed to add a year to one's age. Different varieties of tteok, like songpyeon (송편) for Chuseok or injeolmi (인절미) for various events, carry symbolic meanings of good fortune, health, and longevity.
Editorial note
We review entries like 떡 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
떡 줄 사람 생각은 안 하는데 김칫국부터 마신다.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch. (Literally: The person giving tteok isn't even thinking about it, but one is already drinking kimchi soup.)
떡 하나 주면 안 잡아먹지!
If you give me one tteok, I won't eat you! (From a traditional fairy tale)
떡이 너무 쫄깃해요.
The tteok is too chewy.
Related Expressions
떡볶이
Tteokbokki
Spicy rice cakes
떡국
Tteokguk
Rice cake soup
송편
Songpyeon
Half-moon shaped rice cakes (Chuseok specialty)
인절미
Injeolmi
Sweet rice cake coated with bean powder
More Food Words
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