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A1 adjective #3,000 am häufigsten 11 Min. Lesezeit

졸리다

jollida Top 3,000

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At the A1 level, '졸리다' is one of the essential 'feeling' words you learn early on. It is used to express a basic biological need. Learners at this stage should focus on the present tense polite form '졸려요' (jollyeoyo). You will typically use it in simple sentences like 'I am sleepy' or 'The baby is sleepy.' It's important to differentiate it from '배고파요' (I'm hungry) or '아파요' (It hurts/I'm sick). At this level, you don't need to worry about complex nuances; just knowing that '졸려요' means 'I want to sleep' is enough. You might also learn the negative '안 졸려요' (I'm not sleepy) to answer simple questions. The focus is on survival communication—telling someone your current state so they understand why you might be yawning or less active. You will often see this word paired with '커피' (coffee) as a solution. In A1 textbooks, it's usually introduced in chapters about daily routines or feelings, alongside other descriptive verbs like '좋다' (to be good) or '크다' (to be big). Remember to keep the pronunciation clear, especially the 'ㄹ' sounds.

At the A2 level, you begin to use '졸리다' in more complex sentence structures, such as using conjunctions like '-아서/어서' (because) and '-고' (and). For example, you might say '어제 늦게 자서 오늘 너무 졸려요' (Because I slept late yesterday, I am very sleepy today). You also start to use the past tense '졸렸어요' (was sleepy) to describe how you felt earlier. A2 learners should also be able to use the modifier form '졸린' to describe nouns, such as '졸린 사람' (a sleepy person). At this stage, you are expected to understand the difference between '졸리다' and '피곤하다' (tired), as using them correctly makes your Korean sound much more natural. You might also encounter the honorific form '졸리세요?' (Are you sleepy?) when asking someone older or in a higher position, although it's more common to use '피곤하세요?' in those contexts. You should also be familiar with the 'if' structure: '졸리면 잠깐 쉬세요' (If you are sleepy, please rest for a moment). This level is about connecting your feelings to reasons and results.

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By the B1 level, you should be comfortable using '졸리다' in various conversational contexts, including more idiomatic expressions. You will likely encounter '잠이 오다' as a common alternative and should be able to use it interchangeably with '졸리다' in speech. You'll start using structures like '-나 봐요' (it seems like) or '-것 같아요' (it looks like) to make guesses about others: '저 학생은 많이 졸린가 봐요' (That student looks very sleepy). You also explore the relationship between '졸리다' and its root verb '졸다' (to doze off). Understanding that '졸다' is the action that happens when you are '졸리다' is a key B1 milestone. You might also use the word in the context of '졸음운전' (drowsy driving) when discussing safety or travel. At this level, your vocabulary expands to include adverbs that specify the degree of sleepiness, like '무척' (extremely), '약간' (slightly), or '미치게' (crazily). You can also use the '-느라' structure to explain that an action caused your sleepiness: '공부하느라 졸려요' (I'm sleepy because of studying).

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At the B2 level, you can use '졸리다' to discuss more abstract or cultural topics. You might talk about the '식곤증' (post-meal drowsiness) phenomenon or the '춘곤증' (springtime drowsiness) that Koreans often mention. Your understanding of nuances becomes more refined; you can distinguish between '나른하다' (languid), '몽롱하다' (hazy), and '졸리다' (sleepy). You are also expected to use more advanced grammar like '-다니' (to think that...) or '-길래' (since/because). For example: '그렇게 졸리다니 어제 뭘 한 거야?' (You're that sleepy? What did you do yesterday?). You can also use the word in more formal writing or presentations, perhaps discussing the impact of sleep deprivation on productivity. At B2, you should be able to understand and use the hyperbolic '졸려 죽겠다' (I'm so sleepy I could die) in appropriate informal settings. You also become aware of the social etiquette surrounding being sleepy—when it's okay to admit it and when you should hide it. Your ability to describe the physical sensation in detail (e.g., '눈꺼풀이 천근만근이다' - eyelids are as heavy as a thousand pounds) also develops.

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At the C1 level, '졸리다' is used within a wide range of sophisticated linguistic structures. You can use it in literature-style descriptions or academic discussions about sleep cycles. You'll understand the historical development of the word from its Middle Korean roots and how its usage has shifted over centuries. You can analyze the psychological state of '졸리다' in various contexts, such as the 'flow state' vs. 'drowsiness.' You are proficient in using the word in complex rhetorical structures, such as '졸리다 못해 정신이 혼미하다' (I'm beyond sleepy; my mind is faint). You also understand the subtle social cues when someone uses the word—is it a genuine complaint, a polite excuse to leave, or a way to signal hard work? You can effortlessly switch between '졸리다,' '잠이 오다,' and higher-level Hanja-based terms like '수면 부족' (lack of sleep) or '혼미' (stupor/confusion). Your usage of the word is indistinguishable from a native speaker, including the use of very specific regional dialects or archaic forms if needed for creative writing.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of '졸리다' extends to the most subtle nuances of the Korean language. You can use the word in high-level literary criticism, discussing how an author uses the theme of sleepiness to represent a character's internal conflict or social apathy. You understand the most obscure idioms and proverbs related to sleep and sleepiness. You can manipulate the word for comedic, poetic, or persuasive effect in any register. You are aware of how the word '졸리다' interacts with other complex concepts in Korean philosophy or sociology, such as the 'overwork society' (과로사회). You can engage in deep linguistic debates about the morphosyntactic properties of '졸리다' and its relationship to the passive voice in Korean. At this level, the word is not just a vocabulary item but a tool for nuanced expression, allowing you to convey precise shades of meaning that go far beyond the simple English 'sleepy.' You are also able to teach these nuances to others, explaining the cultural and historical weight the word carries in the Korean consciousness.

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졸리다 in 30 Sekunden

졸리다 (jollida) means 'to be sleepy' and is a basic A1-level Korean word.
It differs from 피곤하다 (tired) as it specifically refers to the urge to sleep.
Commonly conjugated as 졸려요 (polite) or 졸려 (informal) in daily speech.
Used in situations like late-night studying, after meals, or during boring lectures.

The Korean word 졸리다 (jollida) is a fundamental descriptive verb, often categorized as an adjective in English learning contexts, that translates to 'to be sleepy' or 'to feel drowsy.' It describes the physiological sensation of being on the verge of sleep, where your eyelids feel heavy and your focus begins to waver. Unlike general tiredness, which might involve physical exhaustion of the limbs or mental burnout, 졸리다 specifically targets the urge to close one's eyes and drift into unconsciousness. This distinction is crucial for English speakers who might use 'tired' (피곤하다) for both physical fatigue and sleepiness. In Korea's fast-paced society, where 'Palli-palli' (hurry-hurry) culture often leads to late nights and early mornings, this word is a constant companion in daily conversation, from classrooms to corporate offices.

Core Biological State: The term refers to the transition between wakefulness and sleep. It is the internal signal that the body requires rest immediately, often accompanied by yawning or nodding off.

오후 수업 시간에는 항상 너무 졸려요. (I am always so sleepy during the afternoon class.)

When people use this word, they are often expressing a lack of alertness. It is commonly heard in the early morning after a late night of studying or working, or during the 'post-lunch slump' known in Korean as '식곤증' (food coma/post-meal drowsiness). Because Korean culture places a high value on diligence, admitting you are 졸리다 can sometimes be an indirect way of saying you have been working hard, or it can be a simple complaint among friends. It is a very relatable state, making it a great 'ice-breaker' or 'relatability' word in social settings.

Contextual Nuance: In informal settings, you might hear '잠와' (jam-wa), which literally means 'sleep is coming.' While '졸리다' is the standard dictionary term, '잠이 오다' is a very common idiomatic alternative that carries the same weight but feels slightly more colloquial in certain dialects.

어제 잠을 못 자서 지금 미치게 졸려. (I couldn't sleep yesterday, so I'm crazily sleepy now.)

Furthermore, the word is used in a variety of grammatical structures. You can say '졸려 죽겠다' (jollyeo jukgetda), which hyperbolically translates to 'I'm so sleepy I could die.' This is a very common expression among students and office workers. It shows the intensity of the feeling. In more formal contexts, such as a meeting, one might say '졸음이 옵니다' (sleepiness is coming) to be more polite, though usually, one tries to hide being sleepy in formal situations in Korea to avoid appearing lazy or disrespectful.

Sensory Description: Native speakers often pair this word with sensory descriptions like '눈꺼풀이 무겁다' (eyelids are heavy). This helps emphasize the physical struggle of staying awake.

운전할 때 졸리면 정말 위험해요. (If you are sleepy while driving, it is very dangerous.)

Using 졸리다 correctly requires understanding its conjugation and its role as a descriptive verb. In Korean, descriptive verbs (often called adjectives) function like verbs in that they can be the predicate of a sentence without needing a 'to be' verb. For example, 'I am sleepy' is simply '졸려요' (jollyeoyo). You do not need to add another word for 'am.' The root is '졸리-'. When combined with the polite ending '-어요', the 'ㅣ' and 'ㅓ' combine to form 'ㅕ', resulting in '졸려요'. This is the most common form you will use in daily life.

Basic Conjugation: Present: 졸려요 (Polite), 졸려 (Informal), 졸립니다 (Formal). Past: 졸렸어요 (Polite), 졸렸어 (Informal). Future: 졸릴 거예요 (Polite).

커피를 마셨는데도 계속 졸려요. (Even though I drank coffee, I'm still sleepy.)

When you want to describe a noun, you use the form 졸린. For instance, 'a sleepy child' would be '졸린 아이'. This is done by adding the '-ㄴ' modifier to the stem '졸리-'. This is a very common pattern for adjectives in Korean. You can also use it to explain a cause-and-effect relationship using the '-아서/어서' (because) connector. '졸려서 공부를 못 해요' means 'Because I am sleepy, I cannot study.' Note that the '-아서' ending is used here because the stem ends in a vowel that isn't 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ' (it's 'ㅣ', which changes to 'ㅕ' when combined with '어서').

Combining with Adverbs: Common adverbs used with 졸리다 include '너무' (too/so), '약간' (a little), '진짜' (really), and '무척' (very/extremely).

어젯밤에 영화를 보느라 너무 졸렸어요. (I was so sleepy because I was watching a movie last night.)

Another important usage is in the conditional form '-면' (if). '졸리면 자요' (If you are sleepy, sleep). This is a simple and direct way to give advice. You can also use the '-고 싶다' (want to) structure, but you wouldn't say '졸리고 싶다' (I want to be sleepy). Instead, you would say '자고 싶다' (I want to sleep) because you are sleepy. Understanding this logical flow helps in sounding more natural. Also, pay attention to the honorifics. If you are talking about an elder being sleepy, you would use '졸리시다' (jollisida), though it is more common to use the word '피곤하시다' (to be tired) or '주무시고 싶어 하시다' (to want to sleep) as a more respectful way to acknowledge their state.

Negative Form: To say you are NOT sleepy, you use '안 졸려요' or '졸리지 않아요'. The first is more common in speech, while the second is slightly more formal or emphatic.

전혀 안 졸리니까 걱정 마세요. (I'm not sleepy at all, so don't worry.)

The word 졸리다 echoes through various facets of Korean life. One of the most common places is in the Korean educational system. Students in Korea often spend long hours in 'Hagwons' (private academies) until late at night. Consequently, in the mornings and mid-afternoons, you will constantly hear students whispering to each other, '아, 진짜 졸려' (Ah, I'm really sleepy). Teachers also use it when they notice a student's head nodding, saying '졸리면 뒤에 나가서 서 있어' (If you're sleepy, go stand in the back) — a common practice in Korean schools to help students wake up.

In the Workplace: Office workers use this word frequently during the '식곤증' (post-lunch drowsiness) period. You might hear colleagues asking, '졸리시죠? 커피 한 잔 할까요?' (You're sleepy, right? Shall we have a cup of coffee?).

점심을 많이 먹어서 그런지 너무 졸리네요. (Maybe it's because I ate a lot for lunch, but I'm so sleepy.)

In Korean media, such as K-Dramas and Variety Shows, 졸리다 is used to create relatability or comedy. In reality shows like '2 Days & 1 Night' or 'Running Man,' cast members often struggle with sleep deprivation during missions, leading to many funny moments where they admit how '졸려' they are. It’s also a staple in romantic dramas, where a character might fall asleep on the lead's shoulder, often preceded by a cute '졸려...' (I'm sleepy...). This usage highlights the word's ability to convey vulnerability and intimacy.

Public Service Announcements: You will see this word on highway signs across Korea. '졸음운전' (drowsy driving) is a major concern. Signs often read '졸리면 쉬어가세요' (If you are sleepy, take a rest/stop for a bit).

졸음쉼터에서 잠시 쉬었다 가자. (Let's rest for a while at the drowsy driving rest area.)

Social media also sees a high frequency of this word. On platforms like Instagram or KakaoTalk, users post photos of their coffee or their pets sleeping with captions like '오늘 너무 졸리다...' (So sleepy today...). It serves as a way to share one's daily state of being and seek empathy from others. Even in children's songs and books, the word is used to describe animals or characters getting ready for bed, making it one of the first descriptive verbs a Korean child—and a foreign learner—learns to use accurately in context.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is confusing 졸리다 with 피곤하다 (pigon-hada). In English, 'I'm tired' is often used interchangeably to mean 'I need to sleep' and 'I have no energy.' However, in Korean, 졸리다 is strictly for the feeling of wanting to sleep (drowsiness), while 피곤하다 refers to being physically or mentally exhausted. You can be '피곤하다' after a long workout without feeling '졸리다' (you might actually be too wired to sleep). Conversely, you can feel '졸리다' during a boring lecture even if you aren't '피곤하다' (you have energy, but you're bored and sleepy).

Mistaking '졸다' for '졸리다': '졸다' (jolda) is an action verb meaning 'to doze off' or 'to nod off.' Beginners often say '저는 졸아요' when they mean 'I am sleepy.' You should say '졸려요' for the feeling and '졸고 있어요' for the action of nodding off.

❌ 저는 지금 졸아요. (I am dozing right now - sounds like a habitual action.)
✅ 저는 지금 졸려요. (I am sleepy right now.)

Another mistake involves the passive/active confusion. Historically, 졸리다 was the passive form of '졸다,' but today it's just an adjective. Some learners try to apply passive grammar rules to it unnecessarily. Just treat it like '예쁘다' (to be pretty) or '춥다' (to be cold). Also, be careful with the word '잠오다.' While common, it's more informal/dialect-influenced (Gyeongsang province specifically, though widely understood). In formal writing or exams, stick to '졸리다.'

Confusion with '자고 싶다': While '졸리다' leads to '자고 싶다' (want to sleep), they aren't the same. '졸리다' is the physical sensation; '자고 싶다' is the desire. Using the latter is more about your wish, while the former is about your current biological state.

❌ 너무 피곤해서 눈이 감겨요. (While possible, '졸려서' is more natural if your eyes are closing.)

Lastly, pronunciation can be tricky. The double 'ㄹ' (rieul) in 졸리다 requires a clear 'l' sound that flows from the bottom of the first syllable to the top of the second. If you mispronounce it, it might sound like '조리다' (to boil down/simmer food), which is a completely different verb. Ensure your tongue hits the roof of your mouth for that double 'ㄹ' sound to avoid telling someone you are 'simmering' instead of 'sleepy'!

While 졸리다 is the go-to word for sleepiness, Korean offers a rich palette of alternatives depending on the intensity and the context. Understanding these can help you sound more like a native speaker and express your state more precisely. The most common synonym is 잠이 오다 (jam-i oda), which literally means 'sleep comes.' This is slightly more idiomatic and very frequent in spoken Korean. It feels a bit softer than the direct '졸리다.'

피곤하다 (Pigon-hada): Meaning 'to be tired' or 'to be exhausted.' Use this when you've worked hard or exercised. It’s the broader category of fatigue.
나른하다 (Nareun-hada): Meaning 'to be languid' or 'to feel listless/drowsy.' This is often used to describe that pleasant, lazy sleepiness you feel on a warm spring afternoon (춘곤증).

봄이라 그런지 몸이 나른해요. (Maybe because it's spring, my body feels languid/sleepy.)

For more extreme sleepiness, you might use 몽롱하다 (mong-rong-hada), which means 'to be hazy' or 'to be in a daze.' This is that state where you are so sleepy you can't think clearly. Another expressive phrase is 비몽사몽 (bimong-samong), a four-character idiom (Saja-seong-eo) meaning 'half-asleep, half-awake.' You would use this to describe the state right after waking up or when you're fighting to stay awake during a boring meeting.

눈꺼풀이 무겁다 (Nunkkeopul-i mugeopda): Literally 'eyelids are heavy.' This is a more descriptive way to say you are very sleepy and struggling to keep your eyes open.

너무 졸려서 비몽사몽이에요. (I'm so sleepy I'm half-asleep and half-awake.)

In a slang or very informal context, you might hear 기절하다 (gijeol-hada), which means 'to faint.' People use it to say they are going to 'crash' or sleep very deeply because they are so sleepy. For example, '집에 가자마자 기절할 것 같아' (I think I'll pass out/crash as soon as I get home). While not a direct synonym for '졸리다,' it describes the result of being extremely sleepy. Lastly, 졸음이 쏟아지다 (joreum-i ssodajida) means 'sleepiness is pouring down,' used when you suddenly feel an overwhelming wave of drowsiness that you cannot control.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

While it looks like a passive verb because of the '-리-' suffix, it is almost exclusively used as an adjective today. If you use the root '졸다', you are talking about the physical action of your head nodding, while '졸리다' is the feeling in your brain.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /t͡ɕol.li.da/

US /t͡ʃol.li.dɑ/

The primary stress is on the first syllable '졸' (jol).

Reimt sich auf

불리다 (bullida) 물리다 (mullida) 열리다 (yeollida) 밀리다 (millida) 달리다 (dallida) 살리다 (sallida) 올리다 (ollida) 들리다 (deullida)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the double 'ㄹ' as a single 'r' sound (sounding like '조리다' - to simmer).
Making the 'j' sound too soft like 'sh'.
Failing to connect the two 'ㄹ' sounds properly.
Pronouncing the 'o' like 'aw' in 'law' instead of a rounded 'o'.
Ending the word with a hard 't' sound instead of a soft 'da'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

The word is short and uses basic hangeul characters. Very easy to recognize.

Schreiben 2/5

The double rieul (ㄹㄹ) can be slightly tricky for beginners to remember the spelling of.

Sprechen 2/5

Requires clear pronunciation of the double 'l' sound to avoid confusion with other words.

Hören 1/5

Very common in daily life and media, making it easy to pick up through immersion.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

자다 (to sleep) 눈 (eye) 나 (I/me) 커피 (coffee) 피곤하다 (to be tired)

Als Nächstes lernen

졸다 (to doze) 하품하다 (to yawn) 꿈꾸다 (to dream) 일어나다 (to wake up) 쉬다 (to rest)

Fortgeschritten

식곤증 (post-meal drowsiness) 비몽사몽 (half-asleep) 몽롱하다 (hazy) 수면 부족 (lack of sleep) 불면증 (insomnia)

Wichtige Grammatik

Descriptive Verb Conjugation (-어요/아요)

졸리다 -> 졸려요 (ㅣ + 어 = 여)

Noun Modifier Form (-ㄴ/은)

졸리다 -> 졸린 (졸린 아이)

Cause and Effect (-아서/어서)

졸려서 잤어요. (I slept because I was sleepy.)

Conditional (-면)

졸리면 자세요. (If you are sleepy, sleep.)

Expressing Degrees (-게)

졸리게 말해요. (He speaks sleepily.)

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Beispiele nach Niveau

지금 너무 졸려요.

I am very sleepy now.

Uses the polite present tense ending -어요.

아기가 졸려요.

The baby is sleepy.

Simple subject-predicate structure.

안 졸려요.

I am not sleepy.

Uses the '안' prefix for negation.

졸려요? 네, 졸려요.

Are you sleepy? Yes, I am sleepy.

Question and answer format in polite style.

선생님, 저 졸려요.

Teacher, I am sleepy.

Addressing someone before stating a state.

강아지가 졸린 것 같아요.

I think the puppy is sleepy.

Uses -ㄴ 것 같다 to express a guess.

밤에 항상 졸려요.

I am always sleepy at night.

Uses the adverb '항상' (always).

졸려요. 자고 싶어요.

I'm sleepy. I want to sleep.

Connecting a state with a desire (-고 싶다).

어제 늦게 자서 오늘 졸려요.

I'm sleepy today because I went to bed late yesterday.

Uses -아서 to show cause and effect.

졸리면 세수를 하세요.

If you are sleepy, wash your face.

Uses the conditional -면.

졸린 눈으로 TV를 봤어요.

I watched TV with sleepy eyes.

Uses the modifier form '졸린' to describe '눈'.

너무 졸려서 공부를 할 수 없어요.

I am so sleepy that I cannot study.

Uses -아서 and the 'cannot' structure -ㄹ 수 없다.

커피를 마시면 안 졸릴 거예요.

If you drink coffee, you won't be sleepy.

Uses future tense -ㄹ 거예요.

아까는 졸렸는데 지금은 괜찮아요.

I was sleepy earlier, but I'm okay now.

Uses past tense -었/았는데 to contrast with the present.

졸린 아이가 울기 시작했어요.

The sleepy child started to cry.

Modifier '졸린' describing '아이'.

노래가 너무 조용해서 졸려요.

The song is so quiet that I'm sleepy.

State caused by an external factor.

운전 중에 졸리면 꼭 쉬어야 해요.

You must rest if you feel sleepy while driving.

Uses -아야 하다 (must) and -중에 (during).

점심을 먹고 나니 갑자기 졸음이 쏟아지네요.

After eating lunch, I suddenly feel an overwhelming sleepiness.

Uses the noun '졸음' and the phrase '쏟아지다'.

어제 영화 보느라 졸린 걸 참았어요.

I endured being sleepy to watch the movie yesterday.

Uses -느라 (because of doing) and '참다' (to endure).

졸릴 때마다 찬물로 세수를 해요.

Whenever I am sleepy, I wash my face with cold water.

Uses -ㄹ 때마다 (whenever).

회의가 너무 길어서 다들 졸려 하는 것 같아요.

The meeting is so long that everyone seems to be feeling sleepy.

Uses -어 하다 to describe a third person's feeling.

졸린 목소리로 전화를 받았어요.

I answered the phone with a sleepy voice.

Modifier '졸린' describing '목소리'.

커피를 세 잔이나 마셨는데도 계속 졸려요.

Even though I drank as many as three cups of coffee, I'm still sleepy.

Uses -는데도 (even though) and '이나' for emphasis.

졸린데 잠이 안 와서 괴로워요.

I'm sleepy but I can't fall asleep, so it's painful.

Contrast between '졸리다' and '잠이 안 오다'.

봄철에는 춘곤증 때문에 유난히 더 졸린 법이죠.

It's natural to feel especially sleepy in the spring because of springtime lethargy.

Uses -는 법이다 (it is natural/certain that).

졸음을 쫓으려고 껌을 씹거나 노래를 불러요.

I chew gum or sing songs to drive away the sleepiness.

Uses '졸음을 쫓다' (to drive away sleepiness).

졸린 기운을 없애기 위해 스트레칭을 했어요.

I did some stretching to get rid of the sleepy feeling.

Uses '기운' (energy/feeling) and '없애다' (to remove).

밤샘 공부를 하고 나니 눈꺼풀이 무거워지며 졸음이 밀려왔다.

After studying all night, my eyelids got heavy and sleepiness surged in.

Literary style using -며 and '밀려오다'.

졸린 상태에서 중요한 결정을 내리는 것은 위험합니다.

It is dangerous to make important decisions in a sleepy state.

Uses '상태' (state) and nominalizing with -는 것.

그녀는 졸린 듯이 눈을 가늘게 뜨고 나를 쳐다봤다.

She looked at me with eyes narrowed as if she were sleepy.

Uses -ㄴ 듯이 (as if).

졸려 죽겠는데 상사 앞이라 억지로 참아야 했어요.

I was so sleepy I could die, but I had to force myself to endure it in front of my boss.

Uses '졸려 죽겠다' and '억지로' (by force).

환절기라 그런지 자도 자도 계속 졸리네요.

Maybe because it's the change of seasons, I'm still sleepy no matter how much I sleep.

Uses '자도 자도' (no matter how much I sleep).

식곤증으로 인해 몰려오는 졸음을 이겨내기가 여간 쉽지 않다.

It is by no means easy to overcome the sleepiness that surges due to post-meal drowsiness.

Uses '여간 -지 않다' for strong emphasis.

졸린 눈을 비비며 원고를 수정하는 그의 모습이 안쓰러웠다.

It was pitiful to see him revising the manuscript while rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Uses '안쓰럽다' (pitiful) to describe the observer's feeling.

그의 목소리는 너무나 단조로워서 듣고 있으면 절로 졸음이 왔다.

His voice was so monotonous that sleepiness came naturally just by listening.

Uses '절로' (naturally/of its own accord).

졸린 기색이 역력한데도 그는 끝까지 회의에 집중하려 애썼다.

Even though his sleepiness was clearly evident, he tried hard to focus on the meeting until the end.

Uses '기색이 역력하다' (signs are evident).

수면 부족이 만성화되면 언제 어디서든 졸린 증상이 나타날 수 있다.

If sleep deprivation becomes chronic, sleepy symptoms can appear anytime, anywhere.

Uses academic terms like '만성화' and '증상'.

따스한 햇살 아래 나른하게 졸린 기분이 드는 평화로운 오후였다.

It was a peaceful afternoon where I felt languidly sleepy under the warm sunlight.

Descriptive and poetic use of '나른하게' and '졸린'.

비몽사몽 간에 들려오는 소리가 마치 꿈속의 이야기처럼 졸리게 느껴졌다.

The sounds heard while half-asleep felt sleepy, like a story in a dream.

Uses '비몽사몽 간에' (in the midst of being half-asleep).

졸린 눈꺼풀을 치켜뜨며 그는 다시 한번 서류를 검토하기 시작했다.

Raising his sleepy eyelids, he began to review the documents once more.

Uses '치켜뜨다' (to open eyes wide/raise eyelids).

졸음이라는 생리적 현상은 인간의 의지만으로는 통제하기 어려운 영역이다.

The physiological phenomenon of sleepiness is an area difficult to control with human will alone.

High-level academic structure and vocabulary.

작가는 주인공의 졸린 상태를 통해 현실로부터의 도피를 은유적으로 표현했다.

The author metaphorically expressed escape from reality through the protagonist's sleepy state.

Literary analysis register.

현대인들에게 졸림은 단순한 피로를 넘어 사회적 구조의 모순을 드러내는 지표가 되기도 한다.

For modern people, sleepiness goes beyond simple fatigue and becomes an indicator revealing contradictions in the social structure.

Sociological discourse register.

졸린 기운이 온몸을 휘감아 도는 가운데 그는 간신히 정신의 끈을 놓지 않았다.

While a sleepy energy wrapped around his entire body, he barely managed to hold onto his consciousness.

Highly descriptive and metaphorical language.

그의 문체는 너무나 몽환적이어서 독자로 하여금 기분 좋게 졸린 착각에 빠지게 한다.

His writing style is so dreamlike that it causes the reader to fall into a pleasantly sleepy illusion.

Uses '독자로 하여금' (causing the reader to...).

졸음을 유발하는 약물의 부작용에 대해 심도 있는 논의가 이루어졌다.

An in-depth discussion was held regarding the side effects of drugs that induce sleepiness.

Formal passive construction '이루어졌다'.

비몽사몽의 경계에서 졸린 의식은 현실과 환상을 넘나들며 새로운 영감을 자극한다.

On the boundary of being half-asleep, sleepy consciousness stimulates new inspiration by crossing between reality and fantasy.

Abstract philosophical expression.

졸린 눈을 하고서도 그는 한 치의 오차 없이 작업을 수행해 나갔다.

Despite having sleepy eyes, he carried out the work without a single error.

Uses '한 치의 오차 없이' (without a single error).

Häufige Kollokationen

너무 졸리다

졸린 눈

졸려 죽겠다

졸린 목소리

약간 졸리다

졸린 기운

미치게 졸리다

졸리면 자다

안 졸리다

계속 졸리다

Häufige Phrasen

졸려요?

— Are you sleepy? A common question to check on someone's condition.

벌써 졸려요? 아직 9시인데.

나 졸려.

— I'm sleepy. A simple informal statement used among friends.

야, 나 졸려. 이제 가자.

졸려서 그래요.

— It's because I'm sleepy. Used as an excuse for making a mistake or looking out of it.

실수한 건 졸려서 그래요. 죄송합니다.

졸려 죽겠어.

— I'm dying of sleepiness. A very common hyperbolic expression.

월요일 아침은 항상 졸려 죽겠어.

졸린가 봐요.

— It seems like [someone] is sleepy. Making an observation about someone else.

철수가 하품을 하는 걸 보니 졸린가 봐요.

졸려도 참아.

— Endure it even if you're sleepy. Common advice given to students or workers.

중요한 시험이니까 졸려도 참아.

졸릴 텐데.

— You must be sleepy. Expressing empathy for someone who has worked hard.

밤새 일했으니 많이 졸릴 텐데 쉬어.

하나도 안 졸려.

— I'm not sleepy at all. Used when someone is full of energy late at night.

커피 마셨더니 하나도 안 졸려.

졸리면 말해.

— Tell me if you're sleepy. Often said by drivers to passengers or vice versa.

운전하다가 졸리면 말해. 내가 교대해 줄게.

졸린 표정

— Sleepy expression. Describing how someone looks.

왜 그렇게 졸린 표정을 짓고 있어?

Wird oft verwechselt mit

졸리다 vs 피곤하다

Pigonhada means tired/exhausted, whereas jollida specifically means sleepy.

졸리다 vs 졸다

Jolda is the action of dozing off, while jollida is the feeling of being sleepy.

졸리다 vs 조리다

Jorida means to boil down food; sounds similar but spelled differently.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"졸려 죽겠다"

— To be extremely sleepy (literally: sleepy to death).

어제 3시간밖에 못 자서 졸려 죽겠어요.

Informal/Slang

"눈꺼풀이 천근만근이다"

— Eyelids are as heavy as 10,000 pounds (extremely sleepy).

공부를 하려는데 눈꺼풀이 천근만근이에요.

Descriptive/Literary

"졸음이 쏟아지다"

— Sleepiness is pouring down (sudden intense drowsiness).

점심 먹고 나니 졸음이 쏟아지네요.

Neutral

"정신을 못 차리다"

— To not be able to pull oneself together (due to sleepiness).

졸려서 정신을 못 차리겠어요.

Informal

"잠귀신이 붙다"

— To be possessed by a sleep ghost (to be constantly sleepy).

너는 잠귀신이 붙었니? 왜 계속 졸아?

Informal/Humorous

"눈이 감기다"

— Eyes are closing (unable to stay awake).

졸려서 자꾸 눈이 감겨요.

Neutral

"비몽사몽 간에"

— In a state of being half-asleep.

비몽사몽 간에 전화를 받았어요.

Neutral

"잠에 취하다"

— To be drunk on sleep (to be very drowsy).

잠에 취해서 무슨 말을 했는지 모르겠어요.

Descriptive

"졸음을 쫓다"

— To chase away sleepiness.

졸음을 쫓으려고 찬물로 세수했어요.

Neutral

"단잠에 빠지다"

— To fall into a sweet sleep (used after being very sleepy).

너무 졸렸던 그는 바로 단잠에 빠졌다.

Literary

Leicht verwechselbar

졸리다 vs 피곤하다

English 'tired' covers both meanings.

Pigonhada is general fatigue; Jollida is the specific urge to sleep.

운동해서 피곤해요. (I'm tired from exercise - not necessarily sleepy.)

졸리다 vs 졸다

They share the same root.

Jollida is the state (adjective); Jolda is the action (verb).

수업 시간에 졸았어요. (I dozed off in class.)

졸리다 vs 잠오다

Used interchangeably in speech.

Jollida is standard; Jam-oda is more colloquial/dialectal.

아, 잠와. (Ah, I'm sleepy.)

졸리다 vs 나른하다

Both involve a low-energy state.

Nareunhada is languid/listless; Jollida is the direct need for sleep.

봄바람에 몸이 나른해요. (My body feels languid in the spring breeze.)

졸리다 vs 지치다

Both imply a lack of energy.

Jichida is to be worn out/exhausted (more intense than 피곤하다).

일에 지쳤어요. (I'm worn out by work.)

Satzmuster

저는 [Adverb] 졸려요.

저는 너무 졸려요.

[Reason]-아서 졸려요.

늦게 자서 졸려요.

졸릴 때마다 [Action].

졸릴 때마다 커피를 마셔요.

졸려 죽겠는데 [Contrast].

졸려 죽겠는데 공부해야 해요.

졸린 기색이 [Adjective].

졸린 기색이 역력해요.

졸음이 [Verb] 가운데 [Action].

졸음이 밀려오는 가운데 계속 일했어요.

안 졸려요?

아직 안 졸려요?

졸리면 [Action]-세요.

졸리면 들어가서 자세요.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

졸음 (joreum) - sleepiness/drowsiness

Verben

졸다 (jolda) - to doze off/nod off

졸리다 (jollida) - to be sleepy (passive stem origin)

Adjektive

졸린 (jollin) - sleepy (modifier form)

Verwandt

잠 (jam) - sleep

자다 (jada) - to sleep

피곤하다 (pigonhada) - to be tired

나른하다 (nareunhada) - to be languid

식곤증 (sikgonjeung) - post-meal drowsiness

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high in daily spoken Korean.

Häufige Fehler

Using '졸리다' for physical exhaustion. → 피곤하다
If you are tired from running, you aren't '졸리다' unless you also want to sleep.
Saying '졸고 있어요' to mean 'I feel sleepy'. → 졸려요
'졸고 있어요' means you are currently in the act of nodding off.
Spelling it as '졸리다' but pronouncing it '조리다'. → 졸리다 (with double L sound)
Mispronouncing the 'ㄹ' makes it a different word (to simmer).
Using '졸리다' in the present tense for someone else without '-어 하다'. → 동생이 졸려 해요.
In Korean, you often add '-어 하다' to descriptive verbs when talking about third-person feelings.
Confusing '졸음' (noun) with '졸림' (nominalized adjective). → 졸음
While '졸림' is used on some buttons/apps, '졸음' is the standard noun for drowsiness.

Tipps

Don't confuse with 피곤하다

Always check if you specifically want to sleep. If yes, use 졸리다. If you just have no energy, use 피곤하다.

The Double L

Ensure you pronounce the 'ㄹㄹ' clearly. It's the most distinct part of the word.

Modifier Form

Use '졸린' to describe nouns. '졸린 고양이' (sleepy cat) is a great way to practice.

Drowsy Driving

Learn the word '졸음운전' to understand highway signs in Korea.

Hyperbole

Use '졸려 죽겠다' with friends to sound more like a native speaker.

Root Word

Remember the root '졸다' (to doze) to see the connection between the feeling and the action.

Context Clues

If you hear '커피' and '졸려' in the same sentence, they are definitely talking about being sleepy.

Spelling Check

Be careful with '졸려' vs '졸여'. The first is sleepy, the second is simmering food.

Jolt

Think of needing a jolt of energy when you are 졸리다.

Polite Ending

Stick to '졸려요' in most situations; it's the safest and most common form.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Jol-li' sounding like 'Jolly' but you're NOT jolly because you're too sleepy! Or, imagine a 'Jolt' of caffeine is what you need when you are 'Jollida'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a person sitting at a desk with their eyes half-closed and their head slowly dropping. Write the word '졸리다' on their heavy eyelids.

Word Web

잠 (Sleep) 눈꺼풀 (Eyelids) 하품 (Yawn) 커피 (Coffee) 침대 (Bed) 피곤 (Fatigue) 밤샘 (All-nighter) 꿈 (Dream)

Herausforderung

Try to use '졸려요' at least three times today: once when you wake up, once after lunch, and once before bed. Notice the different intensities of the feeling.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Middle Korean verb '졸다' (to doze). The form '졸리다' originally functioned as a passive or causative form, but has evolved into a standalone descriptive verb.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To be made to doze or to be in a state of dozing.

Koreanic

Kultureller Kontext

While it's okay to admit being sleepy to friends, saying '졸려요' in a formal meeting with a superior can be seen as slightly unprofessional or indicating a lack of focus.

English speakers often say 'I'm tired' for everything. In Korean, you must learn to switch to '졸리다' when you specifically mean you want to sleep, or you might confuse your listener about whether you are physically exhausted or just sleepy.

The phrase '졸려...' is often used in aegyo (cute) contexts in K-dramas. K-pop songs often mention being '졸려' after a long night of practice. Webtoons frequently feature characters with '졸린 눈' (sleepy eyes) to indicate a laid-back or overworked personality.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Morning Routine

아침에 너무 졸려요.
일어났는데 아직 졸려요.
더 자고 싶을 만큼 졸려요.
졸린 눈으로 세수해요.

At School/University

수업이 지루해서 졸려요.
시험 기간이라 항상 졸려요.
졸음을 참으려고 커피 마셔요.
졸려서 필기를 못 했어요.

Driving

졸리면 운전하지 마세요.
졸음이 오면 쉼터에 가요.
졸음운전은 위험해요.
창문을 열면 좀 덜 졸려요.

After Lunch

밥 먹으니까 졸려요.
식곤증 때문에 너무 졸리네요.
졸린데 산책 좀 할까요?
졸음을 깨우는 커피 한 잔.

Late Night

이제 슬슬 졸리네요.
졸려서 먼저 잘게요.
안 졸려요? 밤샜는데.
졸린데 영화가 재미있어요.

Gesprächseinstiege

"어제 잠을 잘 못 잤나요? 되게 졸려 보여요."

"점심 먹고 나니까 너무 졸리지 않아요?"

"졸릴 때 보통 어떻게 잠을 깨우세요?"

"커피를 마셔도 계속 졸린데 어떡하죠?"

"오늘 수업 시간에 너무 졸려서 혼났어요."

Tagebuch-Impulse

오늘 가장 졸렸던 순간은 언제였나요? 왜 그렇게 졸렸는지 써 보세요.

졸음을 이겨내기 위한 당신만의 특별한 방법이 있나요? 자세히 설명해 보세요.

너무 졸려서 실수했던 경험이 있다면 그 상황을 한국어로 묘사해 보세요.

충분히 잠을 자는 것이 왜 중요한지 '졸리다'라는 단어를 사용해서 써 보세요.

만약 평생 졸리지 않은 능력이 생긴다면 무엇을 하고 싶나요?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

In Korean, it is classified as a descriptive verb, which functions like an adjective in English. You conjugate it just like other descriptive verbs (e.g., 예쁘다, 춥다).

Yes, you can say '그는 졸려 보여요' (He looks sleepy) or '아이가 졸린가 봐요' (The child seems sleepy). To say 'He is sleepy' directly, you often use '졸려 해요'.

'졸리다' is the standard adjective. '잠이 오다' (sleep comes) is an idiomatic phrase. They mean the same thing, but '잠이 오다' is very common in casual speech.

You can say '안 졸려요' or '졸리지 않아요'. '안 졸려요' is much more common in daily conversation.

It's a common hyperbole. '죽겠다' (would die) is added to many feelings to show intensity (e.g., 배고파 죽겠다 - starving to death).

The formal dictionary form is '졸립니다'. However, in very formal settings, people might use '피곤합니다' to avoid sounding like they are nodding off.

The past tense is '졸렸어요'. It comes from '졸리' + '었' + '어요'.

It is the specific term for the sleepiness you feel after eating a meal. You would say '식곤증 때문에 졸려요'.

Not directly, but you can say '영화가 지루해서 졸려요' (The movie is boring, so I'm sleepy).

The noun is '졸음'. You use it in terms like '졸음운전' (drowsy driving).

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