Explanation at your level:
You use 자세 to talk about your body. If you sit, you have a 자세. If you stand, you have a 자세. It is how you hold yourself. Good 자세 is good for your back. You can say '자세가 좋아요' to mean 'Your posture is good.'
자세 means posture. You might hear a teacher say, '자세를 똑바로 하세요,' which means 'Sit up straight!' It is also used to talk about how you feel about work. A good student has a good 자세 (attitude) toward learning.
Beyond physical posture, 자세 describes your mental approach. If you are preparing for a difficult exam, you need a serious 자세. It is a common word in the workplace, too. Managers often look for employees who show a proactive 자세 when solving problems.
The nuance of 자세 often shifts toward 'stance' or 'disposition.' In political or professional contexts, '공격적인 자세' (an aggressive stance) might describe a negotiation strategy. It implies a deliberate choice in how one presents oneself to the world, combining both physical readiness and mental resolve.
At an advanced level, 자세 encapsulates the synthesis of intent and execution. It is often used in literary or critical analysis to describe a character's 'bearing'—not just how they sit, but the weight of their convictions. It bridges the gap between the internal state of mind and the external manifestation of that state through body language and action.
Mastery of 자세 involves understanding its deep cultural roots in Confucian values, where physical propriety (예) is inextricably linked to moral posture. It is a term that carries weight in philosophy, martial arts, and professional ethics, representing the 'form' that contains the 'spirit.' To possess a proper 자세 is to be fully aligned in body, mind, and purpose.
الكلمة في 30 ثانية
- Refers to physical posture.
- Refers to mental attitude or stance.
- Commonly used with '바르다' (correct) or '진지하다' (serious).
- Neutral register, used in all contexts.
Hey there! Let's talk about 자세 (ja-se). In Korean, this word is super versatile. At its most basic, it refers to your physical posture—like sitting up straight in your chair or standing tall with your shoulders back.
But wait, there's more! It also describes your attitude or mindset. If someone says you have a good '자세' toward your studies, they mean you have a positive, focused, and diligent approach. It's about how you 'carry' yourself, both physically and mentally. Think of it as your internal and external stance on life!
The word 자세 is a Sino-Korean word, derived from the Hanja characters 姿 (appearance/figure) and 勢 (power/force/position). Historically, these characters were used to describe the dignity of one's physical bearing.
Over centuries, the meaning expanded from just the physical 'shape' of the body to the 'force' or 'energy' behind one's actions. It reflects the ancient philosophical idea that how you hold your body is a direct reflection of your inner character and strength.
You'll hear 자세 everywhere! Use it with verbs like 바르다 (to be correct/straight) when talking about posture. For example, '자세가 바르다' means you have good posture.
When talking about attitude, use it with words like 진지하다 (to be serious). '진지한 자세로 임하다' means to approach a task with a serious, dedicated attitude. It's used in both casual settings with friends and very formal business meetings.
1. 자세를 낮추다: Literally 'to lower one's posture,' but it means to be humble or modest. 2. 자세를 바로잡다: To correct one's posture, often used metaphorically to mean 'getting one's act together.' 3. 자세를 취하다: To take a stance or position, often before an action. 4. 자세가 안 나오다: A casual way to say something isn't working out or the 'vibe' is off. 5. 자세를 가다듬다: To compose oneself and prepare for a challenge.
자세 is a standard noun. It doesn't have plural forms like English; context tells you if it's singular or plural. Pronunciation is straightforward: 'ja' like the 'ja' in 'jar' (but shorter) and 'se' like the 'se' in 'set'.
It often acts as the subject or object in a sentence. It pairs perfectly with descriptive verbs (adjectives) to define the quality of the posture or attitude. There is no specific stress pattern in Korean, so keep it flat and clear!
Fun Fact
It combines the visual look of a person with the internal power they project.
Pronunciation Guide
Korean phonetics apply
Korean phonetics apply
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'ja' as 'ya'
- Stress on the wrong syllable
- Not holding the 's' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read
Easy to use in sentences
Common in daily speech
Clear pronunciation
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
متقدم
Grammar to Know
Subject Marker (이/가)
자세가 좋습니다.
Object Marker (을/를)
자세를 고치다.
Adverbial Particle (로)
진지한 자세로.
Examples by Level
자세가 좋아요.
Posture is good.
Subject + adjective
자세를 보세요.
Look at the posture.
Object marker
바른 자세.
Correct posture.
Adjective modifier
자세가 나빠요.
Posture is bad.
Negative adjective
자세를 고쳐요.
Fix the posture.
Verb usage
자세가 편해요.
Posture is comfortable.
Adjective usage
자세가 이상해요.
Posture is strange.
Adjective usage
자세를 잡아요.
Take a position.
Verb phrase
자세를 낮추세요.
자세가 중요합니다.
공부하는 자세가 좋습니다.
자세를 바로잡으세요.
어떤 자세가 편해요?
자세가 흐트러졌어요.
자세를 바꿔보세요.
좋은 자세를 유지하세요.
진지한 자세로 임하세요.
그는 협상에서 강경한 자세를 취했다.
자세가 무너지면 다칠 수 있어요.
적극적인 자세가 필요합니다.
그의 태도와 자세가 마음에 듭니다.
자세를 가다듬고 다시 시작해요.
자세가 나쁘면 허리가 아파요.
그녀는 항상 당당한 자세를 유지한다.
사태를 해결하려는 자세가 부족하다.
그는 항상 겸손한 자세를 잃지 않는다.
정부의 강경한 자세가 논란이 되고 있다.
자세를 낮추고 상대의 의견을 들어봅시다.
성공을 위해서는 배우려는 자세가 필수적이다.
그는 위기 상황에서도 침착한 자세를 보였다.
자세가 곧 마음의 상태를 나타낸다.
전문가다운 자세로 업무에 임하십시오.
그의 연구에 임하는 자세는 타의 귀감이 된다.
상황을 직시하는 냉철한 자세가 요구된다.
자세를 바로잡는 것은 삶의 태도를 고치는 것과 같다.
그는 변화를 수용하는 유연한 자세를 보였다.
국제 사회의 비판적인 자세를 무시할 수 없다.
그의 예술적 자세는 매우 독창적이다.
자세를 낮추는 것이 반드시 굴복을 의미하지는 않는다.
그는 책임감 있는 자세로 문제를 해결했다.
그의 삶을 대하는 자세는 철학적 깊이가 있다.
권력에 맞서는 그의 단호한 자세는 많은 이들에게 영감을 주었다.
자세를 가다듬는 행위는 내면의 성찰을 동반한다.
그는 시대의 흐름을 읽는 통찰력 있는 자세를 견지했다.
격식 있는 자리에서는 그에 걸맞은 자세가 필요하다.
그의 자세에서 고고한 기품이 느껴진다.
자세를 낮추고 겸허하게 배움을 청하는 자세가 중요하다.
그는 죽음 앞에서도 의연한 자세를 유지했다.
تلازمات شائعة
Idioms & Expressions
"자세를 낮추다"
to be humble
상대방에게 자세를 낮추세요.
neutral"자세를 바로잡다"
to correct one's posture or behavior
이제 자세를 바로잡을 때입니다.
neutral"자세를 취하다"
to assume a position
그는 싸울 자세를 취했다.
neutral"자세가 안 나오다"
to not look right/to be awkward
이 옷은 자세가 안 나와.
casual"자세를 가다듬다"
to compose oneself
그는 숨을 고르고 자세를 가다듬었다.
formalEasily Confused
Both mean attitude.
태도 is purely mental; 자세 is physical + mental.
태도(attitude) vs 자세(posture/stance).
Similar sound.
자태 is about beauty/grace.
아름다운 자태(graceful figure).
Both mean stance.
입장 is a political/logical stance.
정부의 입장(government's position).
Both relate to body.
몸가짐 is about conduct/manners.
몸가짐을 바로 하라.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 자세 + 가 + Adjective
자세가 바릅니다.
Subject + 자세 + 를 + Verb
자세를 바로잡으세요.
Noun + 로 + 자세 + 를 + 임하다
진지한 자세로 임하다.
자세 + 가 + Adjective + 해서 + Verb
자세가 나빠서 허리가 아파요.
Subject + 는 + 자세 + 를 + 취하다
그는 강경한 자세를 취했다.
عائلة الكلمة
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
أخطاء شائعة
자세 is posture/attitude, not situation.
태도 is usually mental/behavioral.
자세 is not a job title.
Sometimes it sounds too physical.
Don't use '자세를 만들다'.
Tips
Body Check
Every time you correct your back, say '자세'.
Attitude Check
Use it when describing how someone approaches a problem.
Confucian Roots
It reflects the importance of self-discipline.
Adjective Pairing
Use with '좋다' or '나쁘다' for posture.
Clean Sounds
Keep the 'ja' crisp.
Don't confuse with situation
Use '상황' for situation.
Martial Arts
It is a key term in Taekwondo.
Visualizing
Draw a stick figure with good posture.
Business Context
Use it for 'proactive attitude'.
Vowel length
Keep 'ja' and 'se' equal length.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'J' shape for your spine (Ja) and a 'S' shape for your 'S'tance (se).
Visual Association
A person standing tall like a soldier.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Check your posture every time you hear the word '자세'.
أصل الكلمة
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: 姿 (appearance) + 勢 (power/force)
السياق الثقافي
None, very neutral.
Directly maps to 'posture' and 'attitude'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At the gym
- 자세를 낮추세요
- 자세가 좋아요
- 자세가 무너졌어요
In a meeting
- 진지한 자세로
- 적극적인 자세
- 겸손한 자세
At school
- 자세를 바로잡으세요
- 바른 자세
- 공부하는 자세
In therapy/health
- 자세 교정
- 자세가 나빠요
- 자세 유지
Conversation Starters
"요즘 자세가 어때요?"
"공부할 때 자세가 중요하다고 생각해요?"
"어떤 자세가 가장 편해요?"
"자세를 바꾸면 기분도 바뀔까요?"
"당신은 어떤 자세로 인생을 살고 있나요?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your posture when you study.
Why is having a 'good attitude' (자세) important?
Reflect on a time you had to change your stance (자세) on a topic.
How does your physical posture affect your mood?
الأسئلة الشائعة
8 أسئلةNo, it works for standing, walking, and mental stance.
No, use '직위' instead.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
자세가 나쁘다.
Yes, they are synonyms for 'attitude'.
No, Korean nouns don't have plural forms.
Yes, if describing how they sit or stand.
Extremely common.
اختبر نفسك
___가 좋아요.
Posture is good.
Which means posture?
자세 is posture.
자세 can mean attitude.
Yes, it covers both physical and mental states.
Word
المعنى
Matches adjective to noun.
Be humble and lower your stance.
النتيجة: /5
Summary
자세 is the physical and mental stance you take toward life and tasks.
- Refers to physical posture.
- Refers to mental attitude or stance.
- Commonly used with '바르다' (correct) or '진지하다' (serious).
- Neutral register, used in all contexts.
Body Check
Every time you correct your back, say '자세'.
Attitude Check
Use it when describing how someone approaches a problem.
Confucian Roots
It reflects the importance of self-discipline.
Adjective Pairing
Use with '좋다' or '나쁘다' for posture.
Related Content
هذه الكلمة بلغات أخرى
عبارات ذات صلة
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비정상적이다
B1Deviating from what is normal or usual; abnormal.
비정상이다
A2To be abnormal or irregular.
에 대해서
A2Indicating the topic or subject; about, concerning.
누적되다
B1To be accumulated or added up over a period of time. It is frequently used to describe the buildup of fatigue, debt, or environmental damage.
몸살
A2General body aches and fatigue, often accompanying a cold or flu.
몸살나다
A2To suffer from body aches and fatigue, often due to a cold.
쑤시다
B1To have a dull, throbbing pain; to ache.
에취
A2Achoo! (onomatopoeia for sneezing).
급성적이다
A2To be acute or sudden (e.g., an illness).
급성이다
A2Having a rapid onset and short course; to be acute (illness).
