깍두기

Korean

Alternative forms

• 깍대기 (kkakdaegi) — Southeastern dialect

Etymology

Sound change of Sino-Korean word from 각독기(刻毒氣) (gakdokgi, “removing the harshness”), from 각(刻) (gak, “to harm, damage”) +‎ 독(毒) (dok, “substance harmful to health or life”) +‎ 기(氣) (-gi, “energy, feeling, element”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [k͈a̠k̚t͈uɡi]
• Phonetic hangul: [깍뚜기]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	kkakdugi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	kkagdugi
McCune–Reischauer?	kkaktugi
Yale Romanization?	kkaktwuki

Noun

깍두기 • (kkakdugi)

1. kimchi made of salted daikon cubes seasoned with chili powder and other ingredients

   Hypernym: 무김치 (mugimchi)

2. (figurative) person in a helpless position; person in a double bind

   오갈 데 없는 깍두기 신세

   ogal de eomneun kkakdugi sinse

   situation like a radish kimchi having no place to go

Descendants

• → English: kkakdugi
• → Japanese: カクトゥギ (kakutugi)