Difference between to eat and to chew in Korean

먹다·씹다

to eat

먹다to eat

먹다 means to eat. Use it when you talk about eating food, snacks, or a meal. You can use it in many daily situations, like eating breakfast at home or lunch at school. In real sentences, it often appears as 먹어요 in polite speech.

to chew

씹다to chew

씹다 means to chew food with your teeth before you swallow it. You can use it for food, gum, or something an animal bites many times. It is often used in simple sentences like “chew slowly” or “chew gum.”

The difference

to eat (먹다) and to chew (씹다) are nearby Korean vocabulary items learners often meet together. Use “to eat” when 먹다 means to eat. Use it when you talk about eating food, snacks, or a meal. You can use it in many daily situations, like eating breakfas… Use “to chew” when 씹다 means to chew food with your teeth before you swallow it. You can use it for food, gum, or something an animal bites many times. It is…