intermediate
답게 (dapge) means "like a true …".
Says something behaves as its own nature or role demands.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Attaches straight to the noun. The adjective form is 답다 dapda.
Build it
When to use it
Living up to a role
You are that thing, and you act like it.
Typical weather
A season acting like itself.
Before a noun
Use 다운 daun.
Out of character
답지 않게 dapji anke: "unlike you".
Watch out
No space: it attaches to the noun.
In context
9 examples- 1
그는 프로답게 경기했어요.
Geuneun peurodapge gyeonggihaesseoyo.
He played like a true professional.
- 2
너답게 솔직히 말해.
Neodapge soljiki malhae.
Speak honestly, like you always do.
- 3
오늘은 여름답게 정말 덥네요.
Oneureun yeoreumdapge jeongmal deomneyo.
Today is really hot, just like summer should be.
- 4
역시 챔피언답게 침착했어요.
Yeoksi chaempieondapge chimchakaesseoyo.
She stayed calm, just as you'd expect from a champion.
- 5
형답게 동생 좀 챙겨.
Hyeongdapge dongsaeng jom chaenggyeo.
Look after your little brother, like a big brother should.
- 6
겨울답게 눈이 많이 왔어요.
Gyeouldapge nuni mani wasseoyo.
It snowed a lot, just like winter should.
- 7
선생님다운 말씀이네요.
Seonsaengnimdaun malsseumineyo.
That's just what a teacher would say.
- 8
오늘은 너답지 않게 조용하네.
Oneureun neodapji anke joyonghane.
You're unusually quiet today.
- 9
전문가답게 문제를 금방 해결했어요.
Jeonmungadapge munjereul geumbang haegyeolhaesseoyo.
Like the expert he is, he fixed the problem in no time.
Practice
8 questions아이답게 웃어요.
Aidapge useoyo.
답게 vs 처럼
Both can be translated "like", but they say different things. 처럼 cheoreom is resemblance: you're like something you aren't. 답게 means you are that thing, and you're doing it well.
- 아이처럼 웃어요. aicheoreom useoyo "She laughs like a child." She's an adult.
- 아이답게 웃어요. aidapge useoyo "He laughs the way a kid should." He's a kid, and it suits him.
The 처럼 vs 답게 comparison has more pairs.
답다 vs 스럽다
Another ending, 스럽다 seureopda, also means "like", and it's easy to mix up. 스럽다 says something has the feel of a thing, often one it isn't. 답다 says it lives up to what it is.
- 아이가 참 어른스러워요. aiga cham eoreunseureowoyo "That kid is really mature." A child acting grown-up.
- 어른답게 행동하세요. eoreundapge haengdonghaseyo "Act like a grown-up." Said to an adult.
Compare with similar particles
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 답게 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
