짜다 vs 싱겁다: Difference in Saltiness

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  이 국은 너무 짜서 먹기 힘들어요.

  i guk-eun neo-mu jja-seo meok-gi him-deul-eo-yo., i guk eun neo mu jja seo meok gi him deul eo yo.

  The soup has a strong salty taste, so '짜다' is correct.

• ⭕

  이 국은 너무 싱거워서 맛이 없어요.

  i guk-eun neo-mu sing-geo-wo-seo mas-i eop-eo-yo., i guk eun neo mu sing geo wo seo mas i eop eo yo.

  The soup lacks salt and tastes weak, so '싱겁다' is appropriate.

• ❌

  이 김치는 싱거워서 맛있어요.

  i gim-chi-neun sing-geo-wo-seo mas-iss-eo-yo., i gim chi neun sing geo wo seo mas iss eo yo.

  Kimchi usually has some seasoning; saying '싱거워서 맛있다' is unnatural. '짜다' or '적당하다' fits better.

• ⭕

  이 반찬은 너무 짜서 물을 많이 마셨어요.

  i ban-chan-eun neo-mu jja-seo mul-eul man-i ma-syeoss-eo-yo., i ban chan eun neo mu jja seo mul eul man i ma syeoss eo yo.

  Natural expression for side dishes that are too salty.

• ⭕

  이 반찬은 싱거워서 간을 더 해야 해요.

  i ban-chan-eun sing-geo-wo-seo gan-eul deo hae-ya hae-yo., i ban chan eun sing geo wo seo gan eul deo hae ya hae yo.

  Appropriate for lightly seasoned side dishes.

• ❌

  이 과자는 싱거워서 맛이 강해요.

  i gwa-ja-neun sing-geo-wo-seo mas-i gang-hae-yo., i gwa ja neun sing geo wo seo mas i gang hae yo.

  '싱거워서 맛이 강하다' is contradictory. '짜다' is correct.

• ⭕

  이 소스는 너무 짜서 음식 맛을 해쳐요.

  i so-seu-neun neo-mu jja-seo eum-sik mas-eul hae-chyeo-yo., i so seu neun neo mu jja seo eum sik mas eul hae chyeo yo.

  Appropriate when sauce is too salty and ruins the dish.

• ⭕

  이 소스는 싱거워서 음식이 밍밍해요.

  i so-seu-neun sing-geo-wo-seo eum-sik-i ming-ming-hae-yo., i so seu neun sing geo wo seo eum sik i ming ming hae yo.

  Fits when sauce is under-seasoned and tastes bland.

1. Which sentence requires '짜다'?

   다음 중 '짜다'를 써야 하는 문장은?(da-eumjung'jja-da'reulsseo-yaha-neunmun-jang-eun?, daeumjung'jjada'reulsseoyahaneunmunjangeun?)
   • 이 수프는 너무 싱거워요.(isu-peu-neunneo-musing-geo-wo-yo., isupeuneunneomusinggeowoyo.)
   • 이 수프는 너무 짜서 먹기 힘들어요.(isu-peu-neunneo-mujja-seomeok-gihim-deul-eo-yo., isupeuneunneomujjaseomeokgihimdeuleoyo.)
   • 이 수프는 맛이 약해요.(isu-peu-neunmas-iyak-hae-yo., isupeuneunmasiyakhaeyo.)

2. When should you use '싱겁다'?

   '싱겁다'를 써야 하는 경우는?('sing-geop-da'reulsseo-yaha-neungyeong-u-neun?, 'singgeopda'reulsseoyahaneungyeonguneun?)
   • 음식에 소금이 너무 많을 때(eum-sik-eso-geum-ineo-muman-eulttae, eumsikesogeumineomumaneulttae)
   • 음식이 맛이 약할 때(eum-sik-imas-iyak-halttae, eumsikimasiyakhalttae)
   • 음식이 달콤할 때(eum-sik-idal-kom-halttae, eumsikidalkomhalttae)

3. Which sentence is incorrect?

   다음 중 틀린 문장은?(da-eumjungteul-rinmun-jang-eun?, daeumjungteulrinmunjangeun?)
   • 이 김치는 너무 짜서 맛있어요.(igim-chi-neunneo-mujja-seomas-iss-eo-yo., igimchineunneomujjaseomasisseoyo.)
   • 이 김치는 싱거워서 맛있어요.(igim-chi-neunsing-geo-wo-seomas-iss-eo-yo., igimchineunsinggeowoseomasisseoyo.)
   • 이 반찬은 싱거워서 간을 더 해야 해요.(iban-chan-eunsing-geo-wo-seogan-euldeohae-yahae-yo., ibanchaneunsinggeowoseoganeuldeohaeyahaeyo.)