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먹다 vs 먹어치우다: Basic vs Strong Eating Expressions

먹다 (meok-da, meokda) · 먹어치우다 (meok-eo-chi-u-da, meokeochiuda)

먹다 means simply 'to eat,' while 먹어치우다 is a stronger expression meaning to eat quickly and a lot.

Comparison of Korean verbs 먹다 and 먹어치우다 for eating intensity

Word-by-word breakdown

One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.

먹다(meok-da, meokda)

To eat food in a general sense

When to use

Everyday meals, Simple snacks, Polite expression

The nuance

Used in everyday neutral situations to indicate the act of eating without any special emphasis or exaggeration.

먹어치우다(meok-eo-chi-u-da, meokeochiuda)

To eat very quickly and a lot; an exaggerated expression

When to use

Exaggerated eating description, Emphasis on quick consumption, Strong colloquial expression

The nuance

Used to emphasize eating quickly and a lot, mainly in spoken language with an exaggerated tone.

Real-world examples

  • 나는 아침에 밥을 먹었다.

    na-neun a-chim-e bap-eul meok-eoss-da., na neun a chim e bap eul meok eoss da.

    Natural expression in an everyday meal context.

  • 그는 점심을 먹어치웠다.

    geu-neun jeom-sim-eul meok-eo-chi-woss-da., geu neun jeom sim eul meok eo chi woss da.

    Appropriate as an exaggerated expression for eating quickly and a lot.

  • 나는 과일을 먹어치웠다.

    na-neun gwa-il-eul meok-eo-chi-woss-da., na neun gwa il eul meok eo chi woss da.

    Can naturally be used when eating fruit quickly and a lot.

  • 저는 밥을 먹어치웠어요.

    jeo-neun bap-eul meok-eo-chi-woss-eo-yo., jeo neun bap eul meok eo chi woss eo yo.

    Gives a strong impression of having eaten quickly and a lot in spoken language.

  • 나는 밥을 먹어치웠다 맛있다.

    na-neun bap-eul meok-eo-chi-woss-da mas-iss-da., na neun bap eul meok eo chi woss da mas iss da.

    Grammatically awkward and the two sentences are not naturally connected.

  • 그는 점심을 먹었다 빠르게.

    geu-neun jeom-sim-eul meok-eoss-da ppa-reu-ge., geu neun jeom sim eul meok eoss da ppa reu ge.

    '빠르게' placement is awkward and unnatural here.

  • 나는 간식을 먹어치웠다.

    na-neun gan-sik-eul meok-eo-chi-woss-da., na neun gan sik eul meok eo chi woss da.

    Suitable exaggerated expression for eating snacks quickly and a lot.

  • 나는 밥을 먹어치우다.

    na-neun bap-eul meok-eo-chi-u-da., na neun bap eul meok eo chi u da.

    Incomplete sentence without proper ending, unnatural.

Quick quiz

  1. Which word emphasizes eating quickly and a lot?

    빠르고 많이 먹는 것을 강조할 때 어떤 단어를 사용하나요?(ppa-reu-goman-imeok-neungeos-eulgang-jo-halttaeeo-tteondan-eo-reulsa-yong-ha-na-yo?, ppareugomanimeokneungeoseulgangjohalttaeeotteondaneoreulsayonghanayo?)

  2. What is the most natural expression for everyday meals?

    일상적인 식사 상황에서 가장 자연스러운 표현은?(il-sang-jeok-insik-sasang-hwang-e-seoga-jangja-yeon-seu-reo-unpyo-hyeon-eun?, ilsangjeokinsiksasanghwangeseogajangjayeonseureounpyohyeoneun?)

  3. Fill in the blank: '나는 밥을 ___' meaning ate quickly and a lot?

    '나는 밥을 ___' 빠르고 많이 먹었다는 의미로 알맞은 단어는?('na-neunbap-eul___'ppa-reu-goman-imeok-eoss-da-neunui-mi-roal-maj-eundan-eo-neun?, 'naneunbapeul___'ppareugomanimeokeossdaneunuimiroalmajeundaneoneun?)

What does it mean?

More comparisons to explore

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