kkaeng
toughness or resilience

그는 깡으로 모든 어려움을 이겨냈다.

He overcame all difficulties with sheer toughness.


informal

Toughness, resilience, or mental strength, often used to describe someone who perseveres through hardships without formal training or resources.

깡이 있는 사람이라면 이 시험도 통과할 수 있을 거야.

If you have toughness, you can pass this exam too.

Often used in informal contexts to describe someone's ability to endure hardships or challenges.

informal

A slang term for a type of Korean candy made from sugar and maltose, often used as a topping for desserts like bingsu (shaved ice).

빙수에 깡을 뿌려주세요.

Please sprinkle some candy on the shaved ice.

This meaning is less common and more specific to food contexts.

Collocations

깡이 있다to have toughness깡으로 이기다to win with toughness

Related Phrases

깡패phrase
a tough or strong person

Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of '깡' depends heavily on the context. In most cases, it refers to toughness or resilience, but it can also mean a type of candy.

Gold Rule

Informal Usage

Use '깡' in informal contexts to describe someone's mental or physical strength, but avoid it in formal or professional settings.

Word Origin

Derived from the Korean word '깡' meaning toughness or resilience, possibly from the sound of something hard or unbreakable.

Usage Notes

The term is often used in informal contexts to describe someone's mental or physical strength, especially in overcoming adversity. It can also refer to a type of candy, but this usage is less common.

Word Breakdown

toughness or resilience
root
한영사전