1. What does it mean?
힙하다 adapts English hip into a Korean adjective. It can describe clothes, music, cafés, photographs, or a person's taste when they seem cool and interesting. Depending on context, it emphasizes trendiness, individuality, or an offbeat atmosphere.
Also written or said as hipada
2. The nuance
It is a subjective compliment, sometimes used ironically. A place being called 힙하다 does not establish its quality, popularity, or connection to hip-hop.
3. Examples
“간판은 작은데 내부 분위기가 엄청 힙해.”
The sign is tiny, but the atmosphere inside is really cool.
“유행을 그대로 따라 하기보다 자기 식으로 입어서 힙하다.”
Their style feels cool because they dress in their own way instead of copying trends exactly.
Sources
References support the meaning and usage. Example sentences are written for NoCapWiki.