용기를 북돋우다 (yong-gi-reul book-do-doo-da) – encourage This phrase kind of have the same meaning as [Vocabulary] 격려 + 하다, which also means “to encourage”. It’s hard to say which one is simpler because both are not commonly used. 응원하다, which means “to…
발버둥을 치다 (bal-beo-doong-eul chi-da) – to struggle/squirm This phrase can be used to describe physical struggles and also mental struggles. Mental struggles as in struggling with work, life or relationships. Examples: 우리 아이는 워한 걸 주지 않으면 자꾸 발버둥을 치면서…
넉넉한 마음 (neok-neok-kan ma-eum) – broadminded/to have a big heart We know that 마음 means mind or heart. For 넉넉하다, it means to be ample So in a way, 넉넉한 마음 means to have a big heart or to be broadminded.…
무지렁이 (mu-ji-reong-i) – a moron/stupid person This word has a similar meaning as 바보 so don’t use this on someone whom you don’t know well – it’d be very rude. Examples: 남에게 무지렁이라는 말을 하지 말고 너무 무례해서. Don’t use the…
꾸벅꾸벅 졸다 (ggu-beok-ggu-beok jol-da) – doze off 꾸벅꾸벅 means “drowsily” and 졸다 means “to doze off”. But “dozing off drowsily” doesn’t make much sense in English so just understand the phrase as an exaggeration of “doze off”. Examples: 운전하면서 꾸벅꾸벅 졸지…
달래 주다 (dal-lae ju-da) – soothe/hush This phrase can be used for intangible things like fear, sadness or anger. Also, you can use this phrase for babies or people who are scared, sad or angry. Examples: 우리는 공포 영화를 보다가…
어느새 (eo-neu-sae) – before one knows it This word is useful to describe occurrences that happen without your knowledge or to describe something very sudden. You can also use this to express how something happened faster than expected, which is…
떼어내다 (dde-eo-nae-da) – tear off/rip off/separate This word is usually used to describe when something is physically “torn off/ripped off/separated from” something else. Examples: 어제 엄마는 우리 집 벽에 붙여 있는 포스터를 떼어냈어. Yesterday, Mom tore off the poster that…
들여다보다 (deu-ryeo-da-bo-da) – look into/peep into When used with a physical object like a door, keyhole, small opening of sorts, you can think of this word as “peep into” (literally). However, when used with an intangible object like someone’s mind,…
간직하다 (gan-ji-ka-da) – keep (and cherish)/treasure This word can be used for tangible things – physical objects – or intangible things – secrets, memories, etc. Examples: 우리 친구가 3년 전에 유학하러 미국으로 갔지만 그와 같이 찍었던 사진을 아직도 소중히 간직해.…
