굽다 vs 데우다: Cooking Temperature Differences

굽다 (gup-da, gupda) · 데우다 (de-u-da, deuda)

굽다 means to cook food by direct heat exposure, while 데우다 means to reheat already cooked food.

Comparison of Korean verbs 굽다 and 데우다 for cooking and reheating food

Word-by-word breakdown

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

굽다(gup-da, gupda)

To cook food by exposing it directly to heat or fire

When to use

Cooking raw meat, Grilling fish, Baking bread

The nuance

Use 굽다 when cooking raw meat, fish, or bread directly over fire or heat. It changes the food’s color and aroma during cooking.

데우다(de-u-da, deuda)

To reheat food that has already been cooked

When to use

Using microwave, Reheating leftovers, Reboiling stew

The nuance

Use 데우다 when warming up cooked food again using a microwave, pot, etc. It does not change the food’s cooked state.

Real-world examples

  • 고기를 팬에 굽고 있어요.

    go-gi-reul paen-e gup-go iss-eo-yo., go gi reul paen e gup go iss eo yo.

    굽다 is correct because it describes cooking raw meat directly over heat.

  • 남은 고기를 팬에 굽고 있어요.

    nam-eun go-gi-reul paen-e gup-go iss-eo-yo., nam eun go gi reul paen e gup go iss eo yo.

    Using 굽다 for already cooked meat is wrong; 데우다 should be used for reheating.

  • 전자레인지로 밥을 데우고 있어요.

    jeon-ja-re-in-ji-ro bap-eul de-u-go iss-eo-yo., jeon ja re in ji ro bap eul de u go iss eo yo.

    데우다 is correct when reheating cooked rice in a microwave.

  • 생선을 전자레인지에 굽고 있어요.

    saeng-seon-eul jeon-ja-re-in-ji-e gup-go iss-eo-yo., saeng seon eul jeon ja re in ji e gup go iss eo yo.

    You cannot 'grill' fish in a microwave; 데우다 is correct for reheating.

  • 오븐에서 빵을 굽고 있어요.

    o-beun-e-seo ppang-eul gup-go iss-eo-yo., o beun e seo ppang eul gup go iss eo yo.

    굽다 is appropriate for baking raw bread in an oven.

  • 남은 빵을 오븐에서 데우고 있어요.

    nam-eun ppang-eul o-beun-e-seo de-u-go iss-eo-yo., nam eun ppang eul o beun e seo de u go iss eo yo.

    데우다 is correct for reheating already baked bread.

  • 찌개를 다시 데우고 있어요.

    jji-gae-reul da-si de-u-go iss-eo-yo., jji gae reul da si de u go iss eo yo.

    데우다 is correct when reheating stew.

  • 찌개를 굽고 있어요.

    jji-gae-reul gup-go iss-eo-yo., jji gae reul gup go iss eo yo.

    You cannot grill stew; 굽다 is incorrect here.

Quick quiz

  1. Which verb do you use when cooking raw meat?

    생고기를 익힐 때 어떤 동사를 쓰나요?(saeng-go-gi-reulik-hilttaeeo-tteondong-sa-reulsseu-na-yo?, saenggogireulikhilttaeeotteondongsareulsseunayo?)
  2. Which verb is appropriate for reheating leftovers in a microwave?

    전자레인지로 남은 음식을 다시 따뜻하게 할 때 적절한 동사는?(jeon-ja-re-in-ji-ronam-euneum-sik-eulda-sitta-tteus-ha-gehalttaejeok-jeol-handong-sa-neun?, jeonjareinjironameuneumsikeuldasittatteushagehalttaejeokjeolhandongsaneun?)
  3. Which verb do you use for baking raw bread in an oven?

    오븐에서 생빵을 익히는 동사는?(o-beun-e-seosaeng-ppang-eulik-hi-neundong-sa-neun?, obeuneseosaengppangeulikhineundongsaneun?)
  4. Which verb do you use when reheating stew?

    찌개를 다시 끓여서 따뜻하게 할 때 어떤 동사를 쓰나요?(jji-gae-reulda-sikkeul-yeo-seotta-tteus-ha-gehalttaeeo-tteondong-sa-reulsseu-na-yo?, jjigaereuldasikkeulyeoseottatteushagehalttaeeotteondongsareulsseunayo?)

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