딱

Of native Korean origin. Probably originally an onomatopoeia; the disparate meanings are all connected to the sense of adhesion or collision.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

딱 • (ttak)

1. (onomatopoeia, of solid objects) while colliding together

   손뼉을 딱 쳤다.

   sonppyeog-eul ttak cheotda.

   He clapped his hands.

2. (of a sound, of an action) while stopping suddenly, decisively

   말이 딱 막혔다.

   mar-i ttak makhyeotda.

   She was suddenly out of words.

   술을 딱 끊었다.

   sur-eul ttak kkeuneotda.

   He decisively stopped drinking.

3. (of a gap, of a width) widely
4. (of two things, also metaphoric) tightly; in a perfectly fitting manner

   이 나사가 딱 맞다.

   i nasa-ga ttak matda.

   This screw fits perfectly.

   존이랑 앨리스는 서로 딱 어울린다.

   jon-irang aelliseu-neun seoro ttak eoullinda.

   John and Alice are a perfect match for each other.

5. while being immobile; (figurative) resolutely, confidently

   발이 땅에 딱 붙었다.

   bar-i ttang-e ttak buteotda.

   His feet are stuck tight to the ground.

   군인들이 딱 버티고 있다.

   gunin-deur-i ttak beotigo itda.

   The troops are resolutely blocking the way.

6. an intensifier

   이 빵이 딱 좋다.

   i ppang-i ttak jota.

   This bread is perfect.

• 딱총 (ttakchong, “popgun”)

• 딱하다 (ttakhada, “to be pitiful”)
• 콱 (kwak)
• 탁 (tak)