끓이다 (kkeul-i-da, kkeulida) · 삶다 (sam-da, samda)
끓이다 focuses on boiling water itself, while 삶다 refers to cooking ingredients immersed in water.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
To make water or liquid boil, focusing on the boiling process itself
When to use
Boiling water, Boiling broth, Making tea boil
The nuance
끓이다 means to bring a liquid to a boil, mainly used for boiling water or broth, focusing on the liquid boiling rather than cooking ingredients inside it.
A cooking method where ingredients are boiled in water to cook through immersion
When to use
Boiling eggs, Boiling vegetables, Cooking ingredients in water
The nuance
삶다 means cooking ingredients by boiling them immersed in water, used when the ingredient is submerged and cooked, such as boiling eggs or vegetables.
물을 끓여서 차를 만들었어요.
mul-eul kkeul-yeo-seo cha-reul man-deul-eoss-eo-yo., mul eul kkeul yeo seo cha reul man deul eoss eo yo.
끓이다 is appropriate for boiling water or liquid.
계란을 끓여서 먹었어요.
gye-ran-eul kkeul-yeo-seo meok-eoss-eo-yo., gye ran eul kkeul yeo seo meok eoss eo yo.
Eggs should be 삶다 (boiled), 끓이다 refers to boiling the water itself, so it's incorrect.
국물을 끓이고 있어요.
guk-mul-eul kkeul-i-go iss-eo-yo., guk mul eul kkeul i go iss eo yo.
Broth is boiled, so 끓이다 is correct.
채소를 끓여서 먹었어요.
chae-so-reul kkeul-yeo-seo meok-eoss-eo-yo., chae so reul kkeul yeo seo meok eoss eo yo.
Vegetables are naturally 삶다; 끓이다 means boiling liquid, so it's wrong here.
계란을 삶아서 샐러드에 넣었어요.
gye-ran-eul sam-a-seo sael-reo-deu-e neoh-eoss-eo-yo., gye ran eul sam a seo sael reo deu e neoh eoss eo yo.
Boiling eggs is properly expressed by 삶다.
물을 삶아서 차를 만들었어요.
mul-eul sam-a-seo cha-reul man-deul-eoss-eo-yo., mul eul sam a seo cha reul man deul eoss eo yo.
Water is boiled (끓이다), not 삶다, so this is incorrect.
국을 끓이고 나서 불을 껐어요.
guk-eul kkeul-i-go na-seo bul-eul kkeoss-eo-yo., guk eul kkeul i go na seo bul eul kkeoss eo yo.
끓이다 fits the action of boiling soup.
감자를 삶아서 으깨려고 해요.
gam-ja-reul sam-a-seo eu-kkae-ryeo-go hae-yo., gam ja reul sam a seo eu kkae ryeo go hae yo.
Potatoes are cooked by 삶다, so this is correct.
Which sentence should use '삶다'?
Which sentence correctly uses '끓이다'?
