젖다

First attested in the Worin cheon'gangjigok (月印千江之曲 / 월인천강지곡), 1449, as Middle Korean 젖다〮 (Yale: cèctá).

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

젖다 • (jeotda) (infinitive 젖어, sequential 젖으니)

1. (intransitive) to become wet, to become drenched, to become damp (of absorbing surfaces such as skin, fabric, etc; not of metal)

   Synonym: 묻다 (mutda)

   물풍선을 맞아서 옷이 젖었어.

   Mulpungseon-eul majaseo os-i jeojeosseo.

   I was hit by a water balloon, so my clothes are wet.

   운동선수가 땀에 젖었다.

   Undongseonsu-ga ttam-e jeojeotda.

   The athlete is soaked in sweat.

2. (figurative, intransitive) to become immersed (in an emotion or atmosphere)

   Synonym: 잠기다 (jamgida)

   애수에 젖다 ― aesu-e jeotda ― to be immersed in melancholy

   어릴 적 사진을 보고 향수에 젖다 ― eoril jeok sajin-eul bogo hyangsu-e jeotda ― to be immersed in reminiscence of one's hometown after seeing pictures from one's childhood

3. (figurative, intransitive) to be stuck (in an undesirable habit or custom)

   Synonym: 잠기다 (jamgida)

   구습에 젖다 ― guseub-e jeotda ― to be stuck in outdated habits

4. (poetic, figurative, intransitive) to take on hues of a color (especially of the sky or ocean)
   • 2011, “하얀 모래, 푸른 숲, 붉은 바다 ‘색깔 다른 산책’… 안면도 노을길 트레킹 [hayan morae, pureun sup, bulgeun bada ‘saekkkal dareun sanchaek’… anmyeondo no'eulgil teureking]”, in Kukmin Ilbo‎:

     노을에 젖은 바다는 여인의 입술보다 붉다.

     No'eur-e jeojeun bada-neun yeoin-ui ipsulboda bukda.

     The sea, colored by the setting sun, is redder than a woman's lips.

5. (dated, figurative, intransitive) to be familiar (to a sensory organ)

   귀에 젖은 노래 ― gwi-e jeojeun norae ― a song familiar to the ear