맵다
maepda · TOPIK 1
to be spicy, hot
🌶️ maep sounds like map: a spicy dish puts your tongue on the map
The stem 맵 (maep) sounds close to English map. Tie it to heat: one bite of something 맵다 and every spot on your tongue is marked on the map. In polite speech the ㅂ softens: 매워요 (maewoyo).