B1 Collocation Neutral

몸이 약하다

momi yakhada

be physically weak

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this to describe someone who is naturally frail, gets sick easily, or lacks physical stamina.

  • Means: To have a weak constitution or be physically delicate.
  • Used in: Discussing health history, explaining why you can't do heavy labor.
  • Don't confuse: With '아프다' (to be currently sick/in pain).
🏃‍♂️❌ + 🤒 자주 = {몸|身}이 {약|弱}하다

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means 'the body is weak.' Use it to say you are not strong. 'Mom' means body. 'Yakhada' means weak. It is a simple way to say you get sick easily or cannot lift heavy things.
In Korean, '{몸|身}이 {약|弱}하다' is used to describe someone's general health. It is not for a one-time cold. Use it when you want to explain that you are naturally delicate. You can say '저는 {몸|身}이 {약|弱}해요' to explain why you are tired.
This collocation describes a person's physical constitution. It implies a long-term state of being frail or having low stamina. It's often used with the '~ㄴ 편이다' pattern to sound more polite and less direct. It's a key phrase for discussing health history or personal limitations in social settings.
Beyond simple frailty, this phrase encompasses the concept of 'stamina' and 'immunity.' It's frequently used in professional or consultative contexts to describe a patient's baseline health. Understanding the distinction between this and '아프다' (acute pain/illness) is crucial for natural-sounding Korean.
Linguistically, this phrase functions as a subject-predicate collocation where the adjective '{약|弱}하다' attributes a permanent or semi-permanent quality to the noun '{몸|身}.' It often appears in literature to evoke a sense of vulnerability or to set up a character's struggle against their physical limitations.
This expression serves as a linguistic gateway into the Korean socio-cultural perception of 'wellness' as an inherent constitutional balance. From a cognitive linguistics perspective, it frames health as a 'resource' (strength) that can be inherently scarce, necessitating external supplementation through 'boyang' or lifestyle adjustments.

Bedeutung

To have a delicate constitution or lack physical strength.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Koreans often use 'Sasang Chejil' to explain why someone's body is weak. It's common to receive advice on which foods (like eel or ginseng) will 'strengthen' your weak body. In the competitive Korean work culture, admitting '몸이 약하다' can sometimes be seen as a lack of 'stamina' (che-ryeok), which is highly valued. The phrase is the standard way to describe a patient needing 'Boyak' (restorative herbal medicine).

🎯

Use '편이다' to be polite

Saying '몸이 약해요' can sound a bit too blunt. Adding '편이에요' (I'm on the side of...) makes it sound more natural and humble.

⚠️

Don't use for objects

If a chair is weak, use '약하다' or '부실하다', but never '몸이 약하다'.

Bedeutung

To have a delicate constitution or lack physical strength.

🎯

Use '편이다' to be polite

Saying '몸이 약해요' can sound a bit too blunt. Adding '편이에요' (I'm on the side of...) makes it sound more natural and humble.

⚠️

Don't use for objects

If a chair is weak, use '약하다' or '부실하다', but never '몸이 약하다'.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the blank with the correct particle and adjective form.

저는 어릴 때부터 몸___ ______ (약하다).

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 이 약해요

The subject '몸' takes the particle '이', and the adjective '약하다' conjugates to '약해요'.

Which sentence is most appropriate when declining a heavy lifting task?

무거운 짐을 좀 옮겨 주실래요?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 죄송해요, 제가 몸이 약한 편이라서요.

Option B is the most natural and polite way to explain a lack of physical strength.

Match the phrase to the situation.

When would you say '몸이 약해진 것 같아요'?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: After catching three colds in two months

Frequent illness suggests a weakening constitution or immunity.

🎉 Ergebnis: /3

Visuelle Lernhilfen

몸이 약하다 vs. 몸이 아프다

몸이 약하다
Constitution Long-term
Stamina Low energy
몸이 아프다
Illness Temporary
Pain Specific area

Häufig gestellte Fragen

2 Fragen

No, use '감기에 걸렸어요' for a cold. '몸이 약하다' refers to your general constitution.

It can be sensitive. It's better to use it for yourself or someone you are close to. For others, use '기운이 없어 보이시네요' (You look like you lack energy).

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

{체|體}{력|力}이 {약|弱}하다

similar

To have low physical stamina.

🔗

{허|虛}{약|弱}하다

specialized form

To be frail or feeble.

🔗

{몸|身}이 {튼|健}{튼|壯}하다

contrast

To have a strong, sturdy body.

Wo du es verwendest

⛰️

Declining a hike

Friend: 내일 북한산 갈래? 진짜 경치 좋아!

Me: 미안, 내가 {몸|身}이 좀 {약|弱}해서 등산은 무리야.

informal
🏥

At the doctor's office

Doctor: 평소에 건강은 어떠신가요?

Patient: 원래 {몸|身}이 {약|弱}한 편이라 감기를 달고 살아요.

formal
💼

Job Interview (Physical Labor)

Interviewer: 이 일은 체력이 많이 필요한데 괜찮겠어요?

Applicant: {몸|身}이 {약|弱}해 보이지만, 꾸준히 운동해서 체력을 길렀습니다.

formal
🏫

Parent-Teacher Meeting

Parent: 우리 아이가 {몸|身}이 {약|弱}해서 체육 시간에 잘 좀 봐주세요.

Teacher: 네, 무리하지 않도록 신경 쓰겠습니다.

formal
🌿

Buying Traditional Medicine

Pharmacist: 어떤 약을 찾으세요?

Customer: 요즘 {몸|身}이 너무 {약|弱}해진 것 같아서 보약 한 재 지으려고요.

neutral
💑

Dating/Relationship

Partner: 오늘 왜 이렇게 힘이 없어 보여?

Me: 나 원래 {몸|身}이 {약|弱}하잖아. 오늘 비가 와서 그런가 봐.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'MOM' who is worried because her child's body ('MOM-i') is 'YAK' (sounds like 'yuck', which is how you feel when you are weak).

Visual Association

Imagine a tiny, pale sprout ({몸|身}) trying to grow in a strong wind, but its stem is too thin ({약|弱}). It needs a stake to hold it up.

Rhyme

몸이 약해, 마음은 착해 (Body is weak, heart is kind).

Story

Once there was a warrior with a giant sword, but he couldn't lift it because his 'Mom-i Yakhada'. He decided to study strategy instead and became the greatest general in history.

Word Web

{몸|身} (Body){약|弱}하다 (Weak){강|强}하다 (Strong){건|健}{강|康} (Health){체|體}{력|力} (Stamina){허|虛}{약|弱} (Frailty){병|病} (Illness){면|免}{역|疫} (Immunity)

Herausforderung

Try to explain to a friend (in Korean) why you can't go on a 5-hour mountain hike using this phrase.

In Other Languages

Japanese high

体が弱い (Karada ga yowai)

Almost no difference; even the Hanja/Kanji are the same.

Chinese high

身体弱 (Shēntǐ ruò)

Chinese often adds '虚' (xū - empty/deficient) to describe this state.

English moderate

To have a weak constitution

English speakers might just say 'I get sick easily' or 'I'm not very strong' in casual speech.

Spanish moderate

Ser de constitución débil

Spanish often uses 'enfermizo' (sickly) which is more adjective-focused.

French moderate

Être de constitution fragile

French uses 'fragile' more often than 'weak' for people.

German moderate

Eine schwache Konstitution haben

German might use 'kränklich' (sickly) for the same meaning.

Arabic partial

بنية ضعيفة (Bunya da'ifa)

Focuses more on the 'build' (bunya) than the 'body' as a whole.

Portuguese moderate

Ter uma constituição fraca

Often replaced by 'ser fraquinho' (to be a little weak) in casual speech.

Easily Confused

몸이 약하다 vs. {마|心}{음|音}이 {약|弱}하다

Both use '약하다' (weak).

Remember 'Mom' is physical, 'Ma-eum' is emotional/mental.

FAQ (2)

No, use '감기에 걸렸어요' for a cold. '몸이 약하다' refers to your general constitution.

It can be sensitive. It's better to use it for yourself or someone you are close to. For others, use '기운이 없어 보이시네요' (You look like you lack energy).

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