kkaeng
nounIntermediate toughness or resilience
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