혀를 내두르다
hyeoreul naeduruda
stick out tongue
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when someone's skill or behavior is so extreme it leaves you speechless and shaking your head in disbelief.
- Means: To be utterly astonished or impressed by someone's actions.
- Used in: Praising incredible talent or reacting to shocking rudeness.
- Don't confuse: Do not confuse with '혀를 차다' (to click one's tongue in pity).
Explanation at your level:
المعنى
To be astonished or greatly surprised by something.
خلفية ثقافية
In Korean media, especially variety shows like 'Running Man', you will often see captions saying '혀를 내두르게 하는 실력' when a guest performs a talent. It is a staple of Korean entertainment vocabulary. While it's an idiom, it's formal enough to be used in business reports to describe a competitor's aggressive growth or a breakthrough technology. Koreans highly value academic persistence. A student who studies until their nose bleeds (코피가 나다) is often described with this idiom by their peers. Using this phrase to describe someone's negative behavior is a way of 'polite' criticism. It sounds more objective than just saying 'He is a bad person.'
Use with ~ㄹ 정도로
To sound more natural, use it as a modifier: '혀를 내두를 정도로 대단해요.'
Avoid for self-praise
Never say 'I am so good that I shake my tongue.' It sounds very weird.
المعنى
To be astonished or greatly surprised by something.
Use with ~ㄹ 정도로
To sound more natural, use it as a modifier: '혀를 내두를 정도로 대단해요.'
Avoid for self-praise
Never say 'I am so good that I shake my tongue.' It sounds very weird.
Negative usage
Don't be afraid to use it for negative things. It's a great way to express 'I'm shocked by how bad/rude this is.'
Visualizing
If you forget the verb, remember '내두르다' is like 'waving a flag.' You are waving your tongue like a flag of amazement.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
그 선수의 엄청난 속도에 관중들이 모두 혀를 ________.
'내둘렀다' is the past tense of '내두르다', which fits the context of being amazed by speed.
Which situation is MOST appropriate for using '혀를 내두르다'?
다음 중 '혀를 내두르다'를 사용하기 가장 좋은 상황은?
The idiom is used for 'extreme' or 'surprising' feats that exceed expectations.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 김 대리님, 이번 프로젝트 혼자서 다 끝내셨다면서요? B: 네, 정말 그 열정과 능력에 ________________.
B is expressing admiration for Kim's ability and passion.
Match the idiom to the correct nuance.
Match '혀를 내두르다' and '혀를 차다' to their meanings.
This distinguishes between the two commonly confused 'tongue' idioms.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Tongue Idioms Comparison
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةYes, very frequently, especially when discussing celebrities, sports, or surprising news.
Not usually. For food, we use '둘이 먹다 하나 죽어도 모를 맛' or just '정말 맛있어요.' '혀를 내두르다' is for actions or skills.
Yes, if you are praising a colleague's work or a company's achievement, it is perfectly polite.
'깜짝 놀라다' is a sudden, short shock (like a loud noise). '혀를 내두르다' is a deeper amazement at a quality or behavior.
Not a direct one, but {驚愕|경악} (Gyeong-ak) or {感歎|감탄} (Gam-tan) are the formal nouns for the feelings it describes.
Yes, if the object is so impressive it implies the skill of the creator. '이 건물의 디자인에 혀를 내둘렀다.'
Yes, it is a standard Korean idiom used across the peninsula.
It becomes '혀를 내둘렀어요' (informal polite) or '혀를 내둘렀습니다' (formal polite).
No, it is 100% figurative. Please don't actually wave your tongue around!
It's equally common in both. You'll see it in novels and hear it on TV.
عبارات ذات صلة
입이 벌어지다
synonymTo have one's mouth hang open
기가 막히다
similarTo be dumbfounded
눈이 휘둥그레지다
similarTo be wide-eyed
감탄을 금치 못하다
specialized formCannot suppress one's admiration
혀를 차다
contrastTo click one's tongue
أين تستخدمها
Watching a Masterpiece
A: 이 그림 좀 보세요. 정말 세밀하죠?
B: 와, 정말 혀를 내두를 정도네요. 사람이 그린 게 맞나요?
Reacting to a Workaholic
A: 민수 씨는 이번 주에도 매일 야근했대요.
B: 정말 그 열정에 혀를 내둘렀어요. 건강이 걱정될 정도예요.
Hearing about a Scam
A: 그 사기꾼이 노인들의 돈을 다 가로챘대요.
B: 어떻게 그럴 수가 있죠? 그 악랄함에 혀를 내두르게 되네요.
Watching Sports
A: 손흥민 선수가 방금 골 넣는 거 봤어?
B: 응, 진짜 실력에 혀를 내둘렀어. 역시 월드클래스야!
Job Interview Feedback
면접관: 지원자분의 포트폴리오를 보고 저희 팀 모두가 혀를 내둘렀습니다.
지원자: 과찬이십니다. 좋게 봐주셔서 감사합니다.
Extreme Weather
A: 오늘 기온이 40도까지 올라간대요.
B: 올해 여름 더위에는 정말 혀를 내두르겠어요.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine your tongue is so excited by how 'cool' or 'crazy' something is that it starts dancing (shaking) in your mouth!
Visual Association
Picture a judge at a talent show. Instead of just clapping, their tongue is literally vibrating or waving because the performance was so incredible.
Rhyme
혀를 내둘러, 정말 놀라워! (Hyeoreul naedulleo, jeongmal nollawo! - Shake the tongue, it's really amazing!)
Story
A master chef sliced a single grain of rice into 100 pieces. The onlookers were so shocked they couldn't speak; they just stood there with their mouths open, their tongues waving in disbelief. This is '혀를 내두르다'.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Think of the most impressive thing you saw on the internet today. Write a sentence in Korean using '혀를 내두르다' to describe your reaction.
In Other Languages
舌を巻く (Shita o maku)
Japanese uses 'roll' while Korean uses 'wave/brandish'.
令人咋舌 (Lìng rén zé shé)
Chinese focuses on the sound (clicking), Korean on the movement (waving).
To be left speechless / To take one's breath away
English idioms don't typically involve moving the tongue.
Quedarse boquiabierto
Focuses on the mouth/jaw rather than the tongue.
En rester bouche bée
Emphasizes the 'gaping' aspect of the mouth.
Bauklötze staunen
Focuses on the eyes and a child-like state of wonder.
يُصاب بالذهول (Yusab bi-dhuhul)
More abstract and less focused on a specific body part movement.
Deixar de queixo caído
Focuses on the chin/jaw dropping rather than the tongue.
Easily Confused
Both involve the tongue and a reaction to something.
Think: '내두르다' (wave) = Wow! '차다' (click) = Oh no/Tisk-tisk.
Uses the same verb '내두르다' but with 'head'.
'고개를 내두르다' usually means to strongly deny or shake one's head in refusal.
الأسئلة الشائعة (10)
Yes, very frequently, especially when discussing celebrities, sports, or surprising news.
Not usually. For food, we use '둘이 먹다 하나 죽어도 모를 맛' or just '정말 맛있어요.' '혀를 내두르다' is for actions or skills.
Yes, if you are praising a colleague's work or a company's achievement, it is perfectly polite.
'깜짝 놀라다' is a sudden, short shock (like a loud noise). '혀를 내두르다' is a deeper amazement at a quality or behavior.
Not a direct one, but {驚愕|경악} (Gyeong-ak) or {感歎|감탄} (Gam-tan) are the formal nouns for the feelings it describes.
Yes, if the object is so impressive it implies the skill of the creator. '이 건물의 디자인에 혀를 내둘렀다.'
Yes, it is a standard Korean idiom used across the peninsula.
It becomes '혀를 내둘렀어요' (informal polite) or '혀를 내둘렀습니다' (formal polite).
No, it is 100% figurative. Please don't actually wave your tongue around!
It's equally common in both. You'll see it in novels and hear it on TV.
