3 · 40 words
Actions of the body
Holding, carrying, pushing, pulling, throwing and the other things hands and heads do.
Korean verbs of handling are often more precise than English ones. Where English says “carry”, Korean chooses by the part of the body: 들다 in the hands, 메다 on the shoulder, 업다 on the back, 안다 in the arms. Some come in look-alike pairs that even Koreans mix up: 매다 (to tie) and 메다 (to carry on the shoulder), 가리키다 (to point) and 가르치다 (to teach).
The words
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Verb (34)
들다to lift, hold, carry (in the hands)Verb2
짐이 무거워 보여서 가방을 들어 드렸어요.The luggage looked heavy, so I carried her bag for her.
Irregular: 들어요, but 드는, 드세요.
밀다to pushVerb3
이 문은 밀어서 여세요.Push this door to open it.
On doors: 미세요, push, and 당기세요, pull.
당기다to pullVerb3
줄을 너무 세게 당기면 끊어질 수도 있어요.If you pull the rope too hard, it might snap.
차다to kickVerb3
아이가 공을 멀리 찼어요.The child kicked the ball a long way.
잡다to catch, grab, hold on toVerb2
버스가 흔들리니까 손잡이를 꼭 잡으세요.The bus is swaying, so hold on tight to the strap.
쥐다to grip, clutchVerb3
아기가 제 손가락을 꼭 쥐고 놓지 않았어요.The baby gripped my finger tightly and would not let go.
안다to hug, hold in one’s armsVerb2
오랜만에 만난 친구를 꼭 안아 줬어요.I gave my friend, whom I had not seen in ages, a big hug.
Not 앉다, to sit.
업다to carry on one’s backVerb3
아이가 다리가 아프다고 해서 업고 왔어요.My child said his legs hurt, so I carried him home on my back.
메다to carry on the shoulder or backVerb3
학생들이 무거운 가방을 메고 학교에 가요.The pupils go to school carrying heavy bags on their backs.
눕다to lie downVerb2
머리가 아파서 소파에 잠깐 누웠어요.I had a headache, so I lay down on the sofa for a moment.
Irregular: 누워요, 누웠어요.
엎드리다to lie face downVerb3
바닥에 엎드려서 책을 읽었어요.I lay on my front on the floor and read a book.
기대다to lean (against)Verb3
벽에 기대서 친구를 기다렸어요.I leaned against the wall and waited for my friend.
흔들다to shake, waveVerb3
기차가 떠날 때 친구에게 손을 흔들었어요.When the train left, I waved to my friend.
만지다to touchVerb3
박물관 작품은 손으로 만지지 마세요.Do not touch the exhibits in the museum.
쓰다듬다to strokeVerb3
할머니가 손자의 머리를 쓰다듬으셨어요.Grandmother stroked her grandson’s head.
줍다to pick up (from the ground)Verb3
길에 떨어진 지갑을 주워서 경찰서에 갖다줬어요.I picked up a wallet in the street and took it to the police station.
Irregular: 주워요, 주웠어요.
때리다to hit, strikeVerb3
친구를 때리면 안 돼요.You must not hit your friends.
두드리다to knock, tapVerb3
누가 문을 똑똑 두드렸어요.Someone knocked on the door.
끌다to drag, pull alongVerb3
여행 가방을 끌고 역까지 걸어갔어요.I pulled my suitcase all the way to the station.
펴다to open out, spread; to straightenVerb3
책을 펴고 십 쪽을 보세요.Open your books and look at page ten.
뻗다to stretch out (a limb)Verb3
아침에 일어나서 팔을 쭉 뻗었어요.When I got up in the morning I stretched my arms out.
구부리다to bendVerb3
할아버지는 허리를 구부리고 천천히 걸으셨어요.Grandfather walked slowly, bent over.
숙이다to bow, lower (the head)Verb3
천장이 낮으니까 고개를 숙이세요.The ceiling is low, so mind your head.
가리키다to point atVerb3
아이가 손가락으로 하늘의 비행기를 가리켰어요.The child pointed at the aeroplane in the sky.
Not 가르치다, to teach.
붙이다to stick, attachVerb3
편지 봉투에 우표를 붙이고 우체통에 넣었어요.I stuck a stamp on the envelope and put it in the postbox.
떼다to take off, remove (something attached)Verb3
벽에 붙어 있던 포스터를 뗐어요.I took down the poster that was stuck on the wall.
꼬집다to pinchVerb3
꿈인지 아닌지 볼을 꼬집어 봤어요.I pinched my cheek to see whether it was a dream.
비비다to rubVerb3
졸려서 눈을 자꾸 비볐어요.I was sleepy and kept rubbing my eyes.
씹다to chewVerb3
음식은 천천히 꼭꼭 씹어 드세요.Chew your food slowly and well.
삼키다to swallowVerb3
알약이 커서 삼키기 힘들어요.The pill is big and hard to swallow.
털다to shake off, brush off, dustVerb3
집에 들어오기 전에 옷에 묻은 눈을 털었어요.Before coming in, I brushed the snow off my clothes.
깨물다to bite (on)Verb3
아기가 장난감을 자꾸 입에 넣고 깨물어요.The baby keeps putting the toy in its mouth and biting it.
굴리다to roll (something)Verb3
아이들이 눈을 굴려서 커다란 눈덩이를 만들었어요.The children rolled the snow into a huge snowball.
꼬다to cross (one’s legs); to twistVerb3
다리를 꼬고 앉으면 허리에 안 좋아요.Sitting with your legs crossed is bad for your back.
This list belongs to The body and health — seven lists and 281 words that can also be practised as a whole.
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Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.