쩔다

Variant of 절다 (jeolda) with sound-symbolic initial tensing, perhaps also influenced by 짜다 (jjada, “to be salty”). The colloquial sense is now common in South Korea and is said to have spread from Incheon, perhaps via northern refugees there from the Korean War.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

쩔다 • (jjeolda) (infinitive 쩔어, sequential 쩌니)

1. (especially North Korea) to become very salted or salty; stressed form of 절다 (jeolda)
2. (especially North Korea) to become very drenched (by sweat); stressed form of 절다 (jeolda)
3. (colloquial or slang) to be amazing (either in a positive or negative way), to be extremely good or extremely bad

   Synonyms: 대박이다 (daebag-ida), 오지다 (ojida)

   야, 이거 쩐다.

   Ya, igeo jjeonda.

   Hey, this is amazing / this really sucks.