Dictionary — Entry No. 0746
멋지다
meotjida · adjective
멋지다
meotjida
[MEOT-jee-da]
adjectivebeginner
Meaning
Dictionary form meaning ‘to be cool,’ ‘stylish,’ ‘awesome,’ or ‘admirable.’ Goes beyond physical looks — 멋지다 describes someone’s overall vibe, style, attitude, or a powerful action. The conjugated forms are 멋져 (casual) and 멋져요 (polite).
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
멋지다 is the ultimate K-Pop compliment — for a stage outfit, a rap verse, a perfectly executed dance break. Stray Kids are frequently described as 멋진 for their edgy, self-produced sound and concept. In Mr. Sunshine (미스터 션샤인), Eugene Choi’s composed, unshakeable dignity is the historical-drama definition of 멋지다 — cool through character, not just appearance.
Example Sentences
그 무대 진짜 멋졌어. 소름 돋았다고.
Geu mudae jinjja meotjyeosseo. Soreum dotasseo.
That stage performance was genuinely cool. I literally got goosebumps. (소름 돋다 = to get chills — the highest praise you can give a performance)
포기하지 않는 모습이 정말 멋져요.
Pogi haji anneun moseubi jeongmal meotjyeoyo.
The way you never give up is truly admirable. (멋지다 for someone’s character — this is where it shines beyond physical compliments)
멋진 사람이 되고 싶어.
Meotjin saram-i doego sipeo.
I want to become a cool, admirable person. (멋진 = the adjective form modifying 사람 (person) — a common personal aspiration in Korean)
⚠️ Don’t use meotjida when…
멋지다 is gender-neutral and about coolness and style, while 잘생겼어 specifically means handsome (masculine). Don’t use 멋지다 when you purely mean physically good-looking — it implies stylish character. Note also that 멋있다 (meossitda) is a near-synonym used interchangeably in casual speech.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Mr. Sunshine (미스터 션샤인) — Eugene Choi walks through the chaos of a firefight without flinching; a bystander whispers 멋지다, capturing the word’s full weight.
- K-Pop: Stray Kids — MIROH
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.