Explanation at your level:
You use 쑤시다 when your body hurts. If your arm hurts, you say '팔이 쑤셔요'. It is for pain that feels like a poke.
When you are sick or tired, your body might feel sore. We use 쑤시다 to describe that throbbing pain. For example, 'After exercise, my legs are aching'.
This verb is essential for describing physical discomfort. It is more specific than '아프다' (to hurt). It suggests a throbbing or stabbing quality, common in flu symptoms or injuries.
Beyond physical pain, 쑤시다 can describe a metaphorical 'stabbing' feeling in the heart or mind. It carries a nuance of persistent, nagging discomfort that is hard to ignore.
In advanced contexts, 쑤시다 can be used to describe the act of prying or poking into things, though the pain-related usage remains primary. It is a highly descriptive verb that allows for precise communication of somatic sensations.
Mastery of this word involves understanding its transition from a physical action (poking) to a sensory state. It is deeply embedded in Korean idiomatic expressions regarding health and emotional distress, often appearing in literature to evoke visceral reactions.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Used for throbbing pain.
- Common for body aches.
- Can be used metaphorically.
- Casual/Neutral register.
When you say 쑤시다, you are describing a specific type of pain. It isn't just a general 'hurt'; it implies a throbbing or stabbing sensation.
Think of it as the feeling you get when you have a bad bruise or a toothache that won't go away. It’s that annoying, rhythmic ache that makes you want to hold the spot.
The word 쑤시다 originates from the root '쑤다', which historically meant to poke or thrust something into an object. Over time, the meaning shifted from the physical act of poking to the sensation of being poked.
It is a purely native Korean verb. It reflects how ancient speakers associated sharp, internal pain with the feeling of a foreign object being pushed into the skin.
You use 쑤시다 mostly when talking about body parts. Common pairings include '머리가 쑤시다' (head is throbbing) or '온몸이 쑤시다' (the whole body aches).
It is used in casual, daily conversation. If you are at a doctor's office, you might use it to describe the quality of your pain to the physician.
1. 속이 쑤시다: To feel a deep, internal emotional ache or heartache.
2. 뼈마디가 쑤시다: To have bone-deep aches, often used when predicting rain.
3. 쑤시고 아프다: A common emphatic phrase for general body aches.
4. 가슴이 쑤시다: To feel a sharp, stabbing pain in the chest due to stress or sorrow.
5. 쑤셔 넣다: A secondary meaning where you forcefully shove something into a small space.
As a verb, it conjugates regularly. You will often see it as 쑤셔요 (polite) or 쑤신다 (plain form).
The pronunciation involves a tense 'ss' sound. Ensure you emphasize the 'ssu' to distinguish it from softer 'su' sounds. It rhymes loosely with 'pushed-a' in a very metaphorical sense.
Fun Fact
It evolved from the physical action of poking with a stick to the internal sensation of pain.
Pronunciation Guide
Tense s sound at start.
Tense s sound at start.
Common Errors
- Softening the 'ss' sound
- Mispronouncing the 'u' vowel
- Ignoring the syllable rhythm
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Subject Particle
머리가 쑤시다
Present Tense
쑤셔요
Past Tense
쑤셨다
Examples by Level
머리가 쑤셔요.
Head-subject throbbing.
Subject-particle usage.
다리가 쑤셔요.
Leg-subject throbbing.
Simple sentence.
배가 쑤셔요.
Stomach-subject throbbing.
Body part focus.
손이 쑤셔요.
Hand-subject throbbing.
Body part focus.
허리가 쑤셔요.
Waist-subject throbbing.
Common complaint.
어깨가 쑤셔요.
Shoulder-subject throbbing.
Body part focus.
눈이 쑤셔요.
Eye-subject throbbing.
Body part focus.
이빨이 쑤셔요.
Tooth-subject throbbing.
Specific pain.
온몸이 쑤셔요.
비가 오려나 뼈가 쑤셔요.
어제 운동해서 다리가 쑤셔요.
감기 때문에 머리가 쑤셔요.
오래 앉아 있었더니 허리가 쑤셔요.
치통 때문에 잇몸이 쑤셔요.
팔이 쑤셔서 들 수 없어요.
무릎이 쑤셔서 걷기 힘들어요.
밤새 쑤시는 통증 때문에 잠을 못 잤어요.
쑤시는 느낌이 계속되면 병원에 가야 해요.
그는 쑤시는 어깨를 부여잡고 신음했어요.
날씨가 흐리면 무릎이 쑤시는 사람이 많아요.
쑤시는 부위에 파스를 붙였어요.
갑자기 쑤시는 통증이 느껴졌어요.
심장이 쑤시는 것 같은 기분이에요.
쑤시는 듯한 통증이 멈추지 않아요.
그의 말은 내 가슴을 쑤시는 듯했다.
쑤시는 양심을 억누르며 그는 거짓말을 했다.
오랜 노동으로 쑤시는 몸을 이끌고 퇴근했다.
그는 쑤시는 속을 달래려 따뜻한 차를 마셨다.
쑤시는 고통을 참으며 경기를 마쳤다.
그의 시선이 마치 쑤시는 바늘처럼 느껴졌다.
쑤시는 마음을 안고 집으로 돌아갔다.
쑤시는 듯한 두통이 하루 종일 지속되었다.
그의 비난은 마치 쑤시는 송곳처럼 날카로웠다.
쑤시는 듯한 고독감이 그를 잠식했다.
그는 쑤시는 기억을 억지로 잊으려 노력했다.
쑤시는 통증은 단순한 근육통이 아니었다.
그의 질문은 내 아픈 곳을 쑤시는 것 같았다.
쑤시는 듯한 긴장감이 방 안을 감돌았다.
그는 쑤시는 무릎을 굽히며 고통을 견뎠다.
쑤시는 감정의 파편들이 그를 괴롭혔다.
그의 문장은 독자의 마음을 쑤시는 듯한 통찰을 담고 있었다.
쑤시는 듯한 향수병이 그를 밤마다 찾아왔다.
그는 쑤시는 회한을 뒤로하고 새로운 길을 떠났다.
쑤시는 듯한 진실을 마주하는 것은 고통스러운 일이다.
그의 연주는 청중의 가슴을 쑤시는 듯한 전율을 주었다.
쑤시는 듯한 불안감이 그의 일상을 잠식했다.
그는 쑤시는 과거의 상처를 치유하기 위해 애썼다.
쑤시는 듯한 고요함이 그를 압도했다.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"속이 쑤시다"
To feel deep emotional pain.
그의 배신에 속이 쑤신다.
casual"뼈마디가 쑤시다"
To have deep bone aches.
날씨가 흐려 뼈마디가 쑤신다.
neutral"쑤셔 박다"
To cram or shove something.
책을 서랍에 쑤셔 박았다.
casual"쑤시고 아프다"
Generalized body ache.
몸이 쑤시고 아파서 쉬어야겠다.
neutral"가슴을 쑤시다"
To cause heartache.
그의 말은 내 가슴을 쑤셨다.
literary"쑤시는 듯하다"
To feel like it's being poked.
머리가 쑤시는 듯하다.
neutralEasily Confused
Both involve poking.
찌르다 is physical action, 쑤시다 is pain.
칼로 찌르다 vs 머리가 쑤시다.
Both mean pain.
아프다 is general, 쑤시다 is throbbing.
배가 아프다 vs 머리가 쑤시다.
Both describe pain.
저리다 is numbness/tingling.
다리가 저리다 vs 다리가 쑤시다.
Both are sensations.
따갑다 is stinging.
눈이 따갑다 vs 머리가 쑤시다.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Body Part + 쑤시다
머리가 쑤시다.
Time + Body Part + 쑤시다
오늘 허리가 쑤시다.
Reason + Body Part + 쑤시다
운동해서 다리가 쑤시다.
Idiomatic + 쑤시다
속이 쑤시다.
Metaphorical + 쑤시다
가슴을 쑤시다.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Verwandt
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
쑤시다 is for throbbing pain, not digestive cramping.
쑤시다 is the sensation of pain; 찌르다 is the physical act.
쑤시다 is for dull/throbbing pain.
쑤시다 is descriptive/casual.
Use 쑤시다 only when the pain is throbbing.
Tips
Memory Palace
Associate it with a needle.
Native usage
Use it for body aches.
Cultural insight
Used for weather-related aches.
Grammar rule
Body part + 가/이.
Say it right
Tense the 's'.
Don't confuse
Not for sharp cuts.
Did you know?
It comes from 'poke'.
Study smart
Learn with body parts.
Register
Use in casual talk.
Conjugation
Regular verb.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a needle poking (쑤시다) your muscle.
Visual Association
A person holding their head with a throbbing symbol.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to say what hurts today using 쑤시다.
Wortherkunft
Native Korean
Original meaning: To poke or thrust
Kultureller Kontext
None.
No direct 1:1 equivalent; 'throbbing' or 'aching' is used.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Doctor's office
- 머리가 쑤셔요
- 어디가 쑤셔요?
- 어제부터 쑤셨어요
After exercise
- 온몸이 쑤셔요
- 다리가 쑤셔서 못 걸어요
- 근육이 쑤셔요
Weather changes
- 비가 오려나 뼈가 쑤셔요
- 무릎이 쑤셔요
- 날씨 탓에 쑤셔요
Emotional talk
- 가슴이 쑤셔요
- 속이 쑤시는 기분이에요
- 마음이 쑤셔요
Conversation Starters
"오늘 몸이 어디 쑤시는 곳 없어요?"
"비가 오는데 쑤시는 데는 없나요?"
"어제 운동해서 다리가 쑤시지 않아요?"
"머리가 쑤시는데 약 좀 있을까요?"
"가슴이 쑤시는 듯한 느낌을 받은 적 있나요?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time when your body was aching.
How do you feel when the weather changes?
Write about a time you felt emotional pain.
Describe a physical injury you had.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenNo, use 베이다.
It is neutral/casual.
No, that is 찌르다.
Yes, it's very common.
Yes.
Yes, 쑤셨다.
Mostly, but also for shoving things.
Ssu-si-da.
Teste dich selbst
머리가 ___.
Used for pain.
Which describes 쑤시다?
It refers to throbbing pain.
쑤시다 is only for physical pain.
It can be used for emotional pain too.
Word
Bedeutung
Correct usage patterns.
Subject + time + verb.
비가 오면 ___가 쑤셔요.
Common idiom.
What is the synonym?
Both relate to pain.
쑤시다 is a formal word.
It is casual/neutral.
Word
Bedeutung
Idiomatic usage.
Subject + object + verb.
Ergebnis: /10
Summary
쑤시다 describes a throbbing, persistent pain that feels like a poke.
- Used for throbbing pain.
- Common for body aches.
- Can be used metaphorically.
- Casual/Neutral register.
Memory Palace
Associate it with a needle.
Native usage
Use it for body aches.
Cultural insight
Used for weather-related aches.
Grammar rule
Body part + 가/이.
Beispiel
비가 오려고 하면 무릎이 쑤시네요.
Related Content
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr health Wörter
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.
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).
급성
A2Referring to an illness or condition that is sudden and severe.
