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A2 verb 9 Min. Lesezeit

냄새 맡다

naemsae matda

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Erklärung 냄새 맡다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '냄새 맡다' is introduced as a basic sensory action, similar to 'see' or 'eat.' Learners focus on the simplest form of the phrase: '냄새를 맡아요' (I smell). At this stage, the goal is to associate the action with common objects like flowers (꽃) or food (음식). You don't need to worry about complex grammar; just remember that '냄새' is the noun and '맡다' is the verb. Think of it as a two-part puzzle piece that you use whenever you want to say you are using your nose to sense something. You might also learn that '맡다' can be used in the 'try' form '맡아 보세요' (Please try smelling) which is very common when someone wants to share a scent with you. The focus is on immediate, physical experiences in the present tense.

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At the A2 level, you begin to use '냄새 맡다' in more varied contexts and with slightly more complex grammar. You'll start using the past tense ('냄새를 맡았어요') to describe things you experienced earlier in the day. You will also learn to distinguish between '냄새 맡다' (active sniffing) and '냄새가 나다' (something emitting a smell), which is a crucial hurdle for beginners. You might use it in sentences like '코가 막혀서 냄새를 못 맡아요' (I can't smell because my nose is blocked), introducing the negative '못' (cannot). This level also introduces the idea that '냄새' can be modified by adjectives like '좋은' (good) or '이상한' (strange), allowing you to express opinions about what you are smelling.

At the B1 level, you move beyond simple descriptions and start using '냄새 맡다' in complex sentences with connectors like '-서' (because), '-면' (if), and '-면서' (while). For example, '커피 냄새를 맡으면서 책을 읽어요' (I read a book while smelling the coffee). You also start to recognize the difference between '냄새' (general smell) and '향기' (fragrance/scent), choosing '향기를 맡다' when talking about something pleasant like perfume or nature. At this stage, you might also encounter the verb in slightly more abstract contexts, such as describing a scene in a story where a character 'smells' the approaching rain or a nostalgic scent from their childhood. Your vocabulary around the act of smelling expands to include adverbs that describe how you are smelling, such as '깊이' (deeply) or '우연히' (by chance).

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At the B2 level, you are expected to understand the nuances of '냄새 맡다' in social and metaphorical contexts. You'll encounter the phrase in news reports or more formal writing where it might be used to describe someone 'smelling a rat' or sensing something suspicious in a political or social situation ('사건의 냄새를 맡다'). You also become comfortable with the passive forms and the causative usage, though '맡다' itself is primarily active. You can discuss the sensory experience in more detail, using specific vocabulary for different types of odors (e.g., '비릿한' for fishy, '고소한' for nutty/toasty). At this level, you should be able to explain the cultural importance of certain smells in Korea, such as the smell of fermented foods, and how people react to them using this verb phrase.

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At the C1 level, your use of '냄새 맡다' becomes highly sophisticated. You can use it in literary analysis or high-level discussions about sensory perception. You are familiar with technical terms like '후각' (sense of smell) and how '냄새 맡다' relates to it. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word '맡다' and its relationship to other meanings like 'taking responsibility.' You can use the phrase in complex rhetorical structures and understand its role in creating atmosphere in Korean prose. You are also aware of regional dialects or archaic forms that might appear in older literature. Your ability to use synonyms like '식별하다' (identify) or '감지하다' (detect) alongside '냄새 맡다' allows for precise and varied expression.

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At the C2 level, '냄새 맡다' is just one tool in a vast repertoire of sensory language. You have a near-native grasp of all its idiomatic, metaphorical, and technical applications. You can appreciate the subtle wordplay in poetry that might play on the multiple meanings of '맡다' (smelling vs. taking a role). You can discuss the neurobiology of smelling or the sociology of scent in fluent Korean, using '냄새 맡다' as a starting point for deep philosophical or scientific inquiry. You are sensitive to the tiniest shifts in register and can use the phrase perfectly in everything from a gritty street-slang conversation to a formal academic lecture on olfactory aesthetics. At this level, the phrase is no longer a 'vocabulary word' but a natural part of your conceptual framework in the Korean language.

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냄새 맡다 in 30 Sekunden

Used for the active physical act of smelling.
Combines the noun '냄새' (smell) and the verb '맡다' (to sense).
Can be used literally (flowers) or metaphorically (smelling trouble).
Requires a living subject; objects 'emit' smells using '냄새 나다'.

The Korean expression 냄새 맡다 is a fundamental verb phrase used to describe the physical act of perceiving an odor through the nose. In its most literal sense, it translates to 'to smell' or 'to take in a scent.' While the word 냄새 (naemsae) refers to the smell itself, and 맡다 (matda) is the active verb for sensing or receiving, together they form the standard way to express the olfactory experience. In Korean culture, the act of smelling is not just a biological function but often a gateway to assessing the quality of food, the freshness of the environment, or even the atmosphere of a social situation.

Literal Breakdown: The noun 냄새 refers to any kind of odor, scent, or fragrance. Interestingly, in casual conversation, if you just say '냄새 나' (A smell is coming out), it often implies a bad smell. However, when paired with the verb 맡다, it remains neutral until context is added.
The Verb 맡다: The verb 맡다 is a polysemous word in Korean, meaning it has multiple meanings. Besides 'to smell,' it can mean 'to take charge of' or 'to keep/store.' Context is crucial to distinguish between smelling a flower and taking charge of a project.

강아지가 풀밭에서 냄새를 맡고 있어요. (The puppy is smelling the grass.)

You will use this phrase in various daily scenarios. For instance, when you walk into a kitchen and want to identify what is cooking, you would use 냄새 맡다. It is also used in more specific contexts, such as checking if milk has gone sour or appreciating the aroma of a new perfume. In Korean, the object marker -를 is often used (냄새를 맡다), but in fast-paced spoken Korean, it is frequently dropped (냄새 맡다).

이 꽃의 냄새를 맡아 보세요. 정말 좋아요. (Try smelling this flower. It's really good.)

Sensory Verbs: Compared to '보다' (to see) or '듣다' (to hear), '냄새 맡다' is a compound action. It requires the noun for 'smell' because '맡다' alone is too ambiguous in modern Korean conversation.

음식이 상했는지 냄새를 맡아 봤어요. (I tried smelling the food to see if it had gone bad.)

In summary, 냄새 맡다 is the essential tool for discussing olfactory perception. Whether you are enjoying the fragrance of spring blossoms or checking if your laundry is dry and fresh, this phrase is your go-to expression. It bridges the gap between a simple physical sensation and the active pursuit of information through one's nose.

Using 냄새 맡다 correctly requires understanding its grammatical structure as a transitive verb phrase. The core structure is [Noun] + [Object Marker] + 냄새를 맡다. However, in Korean, the 'smell' itself is often the object, and what is being smelled is indicated by the possessive or a descriptive noun. For example, 'the smell of coffee' is '커피 냄새'.

Basic Conjugation: The verb 맡다 follows regular conjugation patterns. In the present polite form, it becomes 맡아요. In the past tense, it is 맡았어요. When giving a command or suggestion, you use 맡아 보세요 (Please try smelling).
Using with Adverbs: You can modify how someone smells something using adverbs like 깊이 (deeply) or 자세히 (carefully/closely). For example, '냄새를 깊이 맡다' means to take a deep whiff.

커피 냄새를 맡으면 기분이 좋아져요. (When I smell the scent of coffee, I feel better.)

A common sentence pattern involves the 'try doing' grammar -아/어 보다. Since smelling is often an exploratory action, Koreans frequently say 냄새 맡아 보다. This softens the action and makes it sound more natural in daily life, such as when asking a friend to check if a perfume suits them.

아기가 엄마의 냄새를 맡고 안심했어요. (The baby smelled its mother and felt relieved.)

Negative Sentences: To say you cannot smell something, you can use the '못' structure: '냄새를 못 맡아요'. This could mean you have a cold or the scent is too faint.

코가 막혀서 냄새를 전혀 못 맡겠어요. (My nose is blocked, so I can't smell anything at all.)

When describing a specific type of smell, you can replace '냄새' with '향기' (hyang-gi) for pleasant fragrances. So, '향기를 맡다' is 'to smell a fragrance.' This is common in poetic or formal settings, such as describing wine or high-end cosmetics. However, for everyday things like food, garbage, or rain, '냄새 맡다' remains the standard.

You will encounter 냄새 맡다 in a wide variety of real-world settings, from domestic life to professional culinary environments. In a typical Korean home, the phrase is often heard in the kitchen. Mothers might ask their children to '냄새 맡아 봐' (try smelling this) to see if they like a certain dish, or family members might use it to identify what's for dinner before even entering the kitchen.

In the Kitchen: Cooks use their sense of smell to gauge the fermentation of Kimchi or the richness of a broth. '된장찌개 냄새를 맡으니 배가 고파요' (Smelling the soybean paste stew makes me hungry) is a very common sentiment.
In Nature and Parks: During spring, you'll hear people talking about smelling the flowers (꽃 냄새를 맡다) or the fresh air (맑은 공기 냄새를 맡다). It's a phrase associated with healing and relaxation.

시장에서 신선한 과일 냄새를 맡아 보세요. (Try smelling the fresh fruit at the market.)

In K-Dramas and variety shows, you might see a more metaphorical or humorous use. Detectives in crime dramas might say they are 'smelling' something suspicious about a suspect, using the phrase 냄새를 맡다 to indicate they are on the trail of a lead. In variety shows like 'Running Man,' cast members often exaggerate their sense of smell for comedic effect, sniffing around like bloodhounds.

형사가 사건의 냄새를 맡고 수사를 시작했습니다. (The detective smelled something about the case and started the investigation.)

Beauty and Retail: At cosmetic stores like Olive Young, clerks will encourage you to smell testers. '이 향수 냄새 한번 맡아 보실래요?' (Would you like to try smelling this perfume?) is a standard sales pitch.

비가 오기 전의 흙 냄새를 맡는 것을 좋아해요. (I like smelling the scent of soil before it rains.)

Lastly, in medical or health contexts, doctors might ask if you can smell certain things to check for neurological issues or the common cold. '탄 냄새를 맡을 수 있나요?' (Can you smell something burning?) could be a vital question in an emergency or during a check-up. As you can see, 냄새 맡다 is woven into the fabric of daily Korean life, from the mundane to the critical.

Learning 냄새 맡다 involves navigating a few linguistic traps that often catch English speakers off guard. The most common error is confusing 'to smell' (active) with 'to smell' (passive/descriptive). In English, 'I smell the rose' and 'The rose smells good' use the same verb. In Korean, these are two completely different structures.

Mistake 1: Confusing '맡다' and '나다': Many learners say '꽃이 냄새 맡아요' trying to say 'The flower smells.' This actually means 'The flower is smelling (something)!' To say something emits a smell, you must use 냄새(가) 나다. Use 맡다 only when a living being is doing the sniffing.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the Noun '냄새': In English, we just say 'Smell this!' In Korean, you cannot just say '맡아 봐!' unless the context of 'smell' is incredibly obvious. Usually, you must include the noun: '냄새(를) 맡아 봐!' Without '냄새,' '맡아 봐' could mean 'Try taking charge of this' or 'Try keeping this.'

❌ 장미가 좋은 냄새 맡아요. (Wrong)
✅ 장미에서 좋은 냄새가 나요. (Right - The rose smells good.)

Another subtle mistake involves the use of the particle -에게서 or -에서. When you smell something *on* someone or *from* something, you should indicate the source correctly. For example, 'I smell perfume on you' is '너한테서 향수 냄새가 나' (Perfume smell comes from you), not 'I smell perfume on you' using '맡다' unless you are actively leaning in to sniff them.

❌ 저기서 탄 냄새 맡아요. (Awkward - implies you are actively sniffing the distance)
✅ 어디서 탄 냄새가 나요. (Natural - I smell something burning from somewhere.)

Overusing '냄새' for Good Smells: While '좋은 냄새' (good smell) is perfectly fine, using '향기' (hyang-gi) makes you sound more sophisticated when talking about flowers, perfumes, or pleasant aromas. Using '냄새' for a high-end perfume might sound a bit blunt or unrefined.

❌ 쓰레기 향기를 맡았어요. (Very strange - implies garbage has a 'fragrance')
✅ 쓰레기 냄새를 맡았어요. (Correct - I smelled the trash.)

Finally, be careful with the spelling of 맡다. It is often confused with 맞다 (to be correct / to be hit) or 받다 (to receive). Even though they might sound similar in fast speech, the 'ㅌ' batchim in 맡다 is essential for the meaning of 'smelling' or 'taking charge.'

While 냄새 맡다 is the most common way to say 'to smell,' Korean offers several alternatives depending on the nuance, the quality of the smell, and the level of formality. Understanding these can help you transition from a basic learner to a more fluent speaker.

향기를 느끼다 (To feel/sense a fragrance): Used for pleasant, often delicate scents. '느끼다' (to feel) adds an emotional or appreciative layer. It suggests you aren't just sniffing, but truly experiencing the aroma. Common in literature or luxury branding.
킁킁거리다 (To sniff repeatedly): This is an onomatopoeic verb describing the sound and action of sniffing like a dog or when you have a stuffy nose. It's more descriptive of the physical action than the perception of the smell itself.

강아지가 바닥을 킁킁거리며 돌아다녀요. (The puppy is wandering around sniffing the floor.)

When the smell is particularly bad, you might use verbs that describe the 'stink' rather than the act of smelling. For example, 악취가 풍기다 means 'to give off a stench.' If you are the one perceiving it, you'd still use '냄새를 맡다,' but you might add an adverb like '역한' (revolting) to specify the quality.

숲속에서 싱그러운 풀 향기를 맡으니 머리가 맑아져요. (Smelling the fresh scent of grass in the forest clears my head.)

냄새를 식별하다 (To identify a smell): A more formal/technical term used in scientific or professional contexts (like a sommelier or a chemist). It means 'to distinguish or identify an odor.'

이 와인의 다양한 향을 식별하는 것은 어렵습니다. (It is difficult to identify the various aromas of this wine.)

In casual slang, you might hear 냄새를 잘 맡다 to describe someone who is very perceptive or 'quick on the uptake,' similar to 'having a nose' for news or trouble. While not a different verb, the usage shifts from literal to figurative. In conclusion, while '냄새 맡다' is your reliable foundation, exploring these synonyms will help you describe the world of scents with much more precision and color.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The verb '맡다' is incredibly versatile. It is the same word used for 'taking charge of a job' (일을 맡다). This suggests an ancient conceptual link between 'receiving a scent' and 'receiving a responsibility'—both involve 'taking something in' or 'accepting' something into one's sphere.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /nɛm.sɛ mat.ta/

US /nɛm.seɪ mɑt.tɑ/

Primary stress is on the first syllable 'Naem', with a secondary emphasis on the verb 'Mat'.

Reimt sich auf

밤새 (bamsae - all night) 금새 (geumsae - quickly/in a moment) 텃세 (teotsae - territoriality) 만세 (manse - hurrah) 자세 (jasae - posture) 참새 (chamsae - sparrow) 냄새 (naemsae - smell) 틈새 (teumsae - gap)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing '맡다' as '마따' (mada) without the sharp 't' batchim stop.
Confusing the 'ae' (ㅐ) in 냄새 with 'e' (ㅔ), though the sounds are nearly identical in modern Seoul Korean.
Failing to double the 't' sound when '맡' meets '다', resulting in 'mat-da' rather than the tense 'mat-ta'.
Over-aspirating the 't' in 'matda'.
Pronouncing '냄새' as '남새' (nam-sae).

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

The words are common, but '맡다' has multiple meanings which can be tricky in text.

Schreiben 3/5

The spelling of '맡다' (batchim ㅌ) is a common error even for some natives.

Sprechen 2/5

Easy to say, but must remember to include the object marker or noun.

Hören 3/5

In fast speech, '맡다' can sound like '맞다' or '마따'.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

코 (Nose) 있다 (To exist) 좋다 (To be good) 꽃 (Flower) 음식 (Food)

Als Nächstes lernen

맛보다 (To taste) 만지다 (To touch) 느끼다 (To feel) 향기 (Fragrance) 악취 (Stench)

Fortgeschritten

후각 (Olfactory sense) 식별하다 (To identify) 풍기다 (To emit) 정서적 (Emotional)

Wichtige Grammatik

-아/어 보다 (Try doing)

이 꽃 냄새를 맡아 보세요.

-기 전에 (Before doing)

먹기 전에 냄새를 맡아요.

못 (Cannot)

냄새를 못 맡아요.

-니까 (Reason/Discovery)

냄새를 맡으니까 배가 고파요.

-는 것 (Gerund)

냄새를 맡는 것은 재미있어요.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

꽃 냄새를 맡아요.

I smell the flower.

Present tense, polite informal style.

이거 냄새 맡아 봐.

Try smelling this.

Imperative form with -아/어 봐 (try doing).

빵 냄새를 맡았어요.

I smelled the bread.

Past tense.

강아지가 냄새를 맡아요.

The dog is smelling.

Subject-verb agreement (implied).

엄마가 음식 냄새를 맡아요.

Mom smells the food.

Noun + Noun compound (음식 냄새).

냄새 맡는 거 좋아해요?

Do you like smelling (things)?

Gerund form (-는 것) used as an object.

좋은 냄새를 맡아요.

I smell a good smell.

Adjective modifying the noun.

우유 냄새를 맡아 보세요.

Please try smelling the milk.

Formal polite imperative.

코가 막혀서 냄새를 못 맡아요.

I can't smell because my nose is blocked.

Reason connector (-아서) and negative '못'.

이상한 냄새를 맡았는데 뭐예요?

I smelled something strange; what is it?

Background connector (-는데).

요리하기 전에 고기 냄새를 맡아 보세요.

Try smelling the meat before cooking it.

Time connector (-기 전에).

아기가 제 옷 냄새를 맡고 웃어요.

The baby smells my clothes and laughs.

Sequential connector (-고).

비가 오면 흙 냄새를 맡을 수 있어요.

If it rains, you can smell the soil.

Conditional (-면) and potential (-을 수 있다).

어디서 탄 냄새를 맡았어요.

I smelled something burning from somewhere.

Past tense with an indefinite location (어디서).

향수 냄새를 너무 많이 맡으면 머리가 아파요.

If I smell too much perfume, I get a headache.

Adverbial phrase '너무 많이' (too much).

친구가 준 선물의 냄새를 맡아 봤어요.

I tried smelling the gift my friend gave me.

Relative clause (준 선물).

바다 냄새를 맡으니까 여행 온 것 같아요.

Smelling the ocean makes me feel like I've come on a trip.

Reason/Discovery connector (-니까).

커피 향기를 깊이 맡으면서 아침을 시작해요.

I start my morning while deeply smelling the coffee aroma.

Simultaneous action (-면서) and use of '향기'.

범인은 경찰이 냄새를 맡기 전에 도망갔어요.

The criminal ran away before the police could get a scent.

Metaphorical use of '냄새 맡다'.

화장품 가게에서 여러 가지 냄새를 맡아 보느라 정신이 없었어요.

I was so busy trying out various smells at the cosmetic store that I lost track of time.

Reason connector (-느라) implying a negative or busy result.

강아지는 냄새를 맡아서 세상을 이해한다고 해요.

They say dogs understand the world by smelling.

Quoted speech (-고 하다) and method (-아서).

오래된 책의 냄새를 맡으면 기분이 차분해져요.

When I smell old books, I feel calm.

Adjective '차분해지다' (to become calm).

음식이 상했는지 냄새를 맡아 확인해야 해요.

You must check by smelling to see if the food has gone bad.

Indirect question (-는지) and obligation (-해야 하다).

숲에서 나무 냄새를 맡는 것은 건강에 좋아요.

Smelling the trees in the forest is good for your health.

Gerund subject (맡는 것).

그는 돈 냄새를 맡는 능력이 탁월해서 사업에 성공했어요.

He succeeded in business because he has an excellent ability to 'smell' money.

Metaphorical use for business intuition.

미식가들은 음식의 아주 미세한 냄새까지 맡을 수 있습니다.

Gourmets can smell even the most subtle odors in food.

Use of '미세한' (subtle/fine) and '까지' (even).

형사가 사건의 수상한 냄새를 맡고 수사 범위를 넓혔습니다.

The detective smelled something suspicious about the case and expanded the scope of the investigation.

Metaphorical use in a professional context.

와인 소믈리에는 향기를 맡는 것만으로도 포도의 품종을 압니다.

A wine sommelier knows the grape variety just by smelling the aroma.

Structure '-는 것만으로도' (just by doing).

그녀는 장미 향기를 맡으며 옛 추억에 잠겼습니다.

Smelling the scent of roses, she was lost in old memories.

Literary expression '추억에 잠기다'.

가스 냄새를 맡았을 때는 즉시 창문을 열고 환기해야 합니다.

When you smell gas, you must immediately open the windows and ventilate.

Time structure '-(을) 때' and urgent instructions.

사람마다 좋아하는 냄새를 맡았을 때의 반응이 다릅니다.

The reaction when smelling a preferred scent differs for every person.

Subject '반응' (reaction) with complex modifier.

새벽 공기의 차가운 냄새를 맡으며 조깅을 했습니다.

I went jogging while smelling the cold scent of the dawn air.

Personification of '냄새' as '차가운' (cold).

후각이 예민한 사람들은 대기 중의 미묘한 변화를 냄새로 맡아냅니다.

People with a sensitive sense of smell can detect subtle changes in the atmosphere through scent.

Compound verb '-어 내다' (to manage to do/detect).

작가는 고향의 냄새를 맡는 행위를 통해 상실감을 표현했습니다.

The author expressed a sense of loss through the act of smelling their hometown.

Abstract noun '행위' (act) and '상실감' (sense of loss).

인간은 때때로 위험을 직감적으로 냄새 맡아 피하기도 합니다.

Humans sometimes instinctively 'smell' danger and avoid it.

Adverb '직감적으로' (instinctively).

연구에 따르면 특정 냄새를 맡는 것이 기억력 회복에 도움을 준다고 합니다.

According to research, smelling certain odors is said to help with memory recovery.

Citation structure '-(ㄴ/는)다고 합니다'.

그녀는 남편의 옷에서 낯선 여자의 향수 냄새를 맡고 배신감을 느꼈다.

She felt a sense of betrayal after smelling a strange woman's perfume on her husband's clothes.

Complex emotional context and '배신감' (betrayal).

도시의 매연 냄새를 맡으며 살아가야 하는 현대인의 비애를 그렸다.

It depicted the sorrow of modern people who have to live while smelling urban exhaust fumes.

Social commentary context.

꽃향기를 맡는 순간, 그는 어린 시절의 정원으로 돌아간 듯한 착각에 빠졌다.

The moment he smelled the flowers, he fell into the illusion of having returned to his childhood garden.

Structure '-ㄴ 듯한 착각에 빠지다'.

정치인들은 여론의 향방을 냄새 맡는 데 아주 능숙합니다.

Politicians are very skilled at 'smelling' the direction of public opinion.

Metaphorical use in political science.

프루스트의 소설처럼, 특정한 냄새를 맡는 행위는 거대한 기억의 저장고를 여는 열쇠가 된다.

Like Proust's novels, the act of smelling a specific odor becomes a key that opens a vast reservoir of memory.

Philosophical comparison and metaphor.

언어의 냄새를 맡는다는 것은 텍스트 이면에 숨겨진 저자의 의도를 파악하는 일이다.

To 'smell' the language is to grasp the author's intention hidden behind the text.

Metalinguistic metaphor.

그는 권력의 냄새를 맡는 데 동물적 감각을 지닌 인물로 묘사된다.

He is depicted as a character with an animalistic sense for 'smelling' power.

Advanced character description.

인간의 후각은 감정과 밀접하게 연결되어 있어, 냄새를 맡는 것만으로도 즉각적인 정서적 반응을 유도한다.

The human sense of smell is closely linked to emotions, so just smelling something induces an immediate emotional response.

Scientific/Academic register.

문학적 수사로서 '냄새 맡다'는 진실을 탐구하는 인간의 원초적 본능을 상징하기도 한다.

As a literary trope, 'smelling' also symbolizes the primal human instinct to seek the truth.

Abstract literary criticism.

그는 사회의 부패한 냄새를 맡고 이를 고발하는 저널리스트의 사명을 다했다.

He fulfilled his mission as a journalist by 'smelling' the corrupt odors of society and reporting them.

High-level moral/ethical context.

예술가는 일상의 사소한 것들에서 아름다움의 냄새를 맡아 예술로 승화시킨다.

An artist 'smells' the scent of beauty in the trivialities of daily life and sublimates it into art.

Aesthetic philosophy.

역사의 냄새를 맡는다는 것은 과거의 흔적 속에서 현재의 의미를 되새기는 과정이다.

To 'smell' history is a process of reflecting on the meaning of the present within the traces of the past.

Historical/Philosophical synthesis.

Häufige Kollokationen

꽃 냄새를 맡다

음식 냄새를 맡다

탄 냄새를 맡다

향수 냄새를 맡다

깊이 냄새 맡다

우연히 냄새 맡다

가스 냄새를 맡다

땀 냄새를 맡다

술 냄새를 맡다

돈 냄새를 맡다

Häufige Phrasen

냄새 맡아 봐

— Try smelling this. Used when sharing a scent.

이 향수 진짜 좋아. 냄새 맡아 봐.

냄새를 잘 맡다

— To have a good sense of smell or to be perceptive.

우리 강아지는 냄새를 정말 잘 맡아요.

냄새를 전혀 못 맡다

— To be completely unable to smell.

감기 때문에 냄새를 전혀 못 맡겠어요.

냄새를 맡고 찾아오다

— To find one's way somewhere by following a scent.

맛있는 냄새를 맡고 손님들이 찾아왔어요.

냄새를 맡아 확인하다

— To check something by smelling it.

우유가 상했는지 냄새를 맡아 확인해.

수상한 냄새를 맡다

— To sense something suspicious.

경찰은 이번 사건에서 수상한 냄새를 맡았다.

코를 킁킁거리며 냄새 맡다

— To sniff around repeatedly.

고양이가 간식 냄새를 맡으려고 코를 킁킁거려요.

깊게 숨을 들이마시며 냄새 맡다

— To smell something while taking a deep breath.

바다에 도착하자마자 깊게 숨을 들이마시며 냄새를 맡았다.

한번 냄새 맡아 볼래?

— Do you want to try smelling this once?

이 꽃 향기 진짜 특이해. 한번 냄새 맡아 볼래?

냄새를 맡는 능력

— The ability to smell (olfactory sense).

나이가 들면 냄새를 맡는 능력이 떨어질 수 있다.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

냄새 맡다 vs 맞다

To be correct or to be hit. Sounds similar but has 'ㅈ' batchim.

냄새 맡다 vs 받다

To receive. Sounds vaguely similar in fast speech.

냄새 맡다 vs 맡기다

To entrust something to someone. Derived from the 'take charge' meaning of 맡다.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"돈 냄새를 맡다"

— To sense a profitable opportunity.

그는 돈 냄새를 맡는 능력이 탁월하다.

Colloquial

"사건의 냄새를 맡다"

— To sense that a crime or significant event has occurred.

기자는 특종의 냄새를 맡고 현장으로 달려갔다.

Journalistic

"구린 냄새가 나다"

— Something is fishy or suspicious (related to the perception of smell).

이 거래는 뭔가 구린 냄새가 난다.

Slang/Informal

"사람 냄새가 나다"

— To be warm, human, and down-to-earth (figurative smell).

그는 성공했지만 여전히 사람 냄새가 나는 사람이다.

Positive/Warm

"코가 보배다"

— To have an exceptionally good sense of smell (literally: the nose is a treasure).

넌 정말 코가 보배구나, 이걸 다 맞히고.

Idiomatic

"냄새를 풍기다"

— To give off a certain vibe or hint (often negative).

그의 행동은 배신의 냄새를 풍겼다.

Metaphorical

"피 냄새를 맡다"

— To sense weakness or an opportunity to attack (like a predator).

경쟁사들은 우리 회사의 위기에서 피 냄새를 맡았다.

Aggressive

"성공의 냄새를 맡다"

— To sense that success is imminent.

결승선을 앞두고 그는 성공의 냄새를 맡았다.

Inspirational

"흙 냄새를 맡으며 살다"

— To live a rural, grounded life close to nature.

은퇴 후에는 시골에서 흙 냄새를 맡으며 살고 싶어요.

Literary

"악취를 풍기다"

— To be corrupt or morally rotten.

부패한 권력은 결국 악취를 풍기기 마련이다.

Critical

Leicht verwechselbar

냄새 맡다 vs 냄새 나다

Both translate to 'smell' in English.

'맡다' is the action of the person smelling. '나다' is the action of the object emitting the smell.

꽃에서 냄새가 나요. (The flower smells.) vs 꽃 냄새를 맡아요. (I smell the flower.)

냄새 맡다 vs 향기

Both refer to odors.

'냄새' is neutral/general. '향기' is strictly positive (fragrance).

쓰레기 냄새 (Garbage smell) vs 장미 향기 (Rose fragrance).

냄새 맡다 vs 악취

Both refer to odors.

'악취' is strictly negative (stench).

지독한 악취가 풍긴다.

냄새 맡다 vs 킁킁거리다

Both involve the nose.

'맡다' is the perception. '킁킁거리다' is the physical sound/action of sniffing.

강아지가 킁킁거리며 냄새를 맡아요.

냄새 맡다 vs 느끼다

Both are sensory verbs.

'느끼다' is broad (feel). '냄새 맡다' is specific to the nose.

바람을 느끼다 vs 바람 냄새를 맡다.

Satzmuster

[Noun] 냄새를 맡아요.

빵 냄새를 맡아요.

[Noun] 냄새를 맡아 보세요.

꽃 냄새를 맡아 보세요.

[Noun] 냄새를 맡으면서 [Action].

음악을 들으면서 꽃 냄새를 맡아요.

[Noun] 냄새를 맡자마자 [Action].

탄 냄새를 맡자마자 밖으로 나갔어요.

[Noun] 냄새를 맡는 행위는 [Description].

향기를 맡는 행위는 마음을 편하게 합니다.

[Abstract Noun]의 냄새를 맡다.

그는 권력의 냄새를 맡는 데 능숙하다.

Mixed

코를 대고 냄새를 맡다.

장미에 코를 대고 냄새를 맡았어요.

Mixed

어디서 [Noun] 냄새를 맡았어요.

어디서 커피 냄새를 맡았어요.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

냄새 Smell, odor

향기 Fragrance, scent (positive)

악취 Stench, bad smell

후각 Sense of smell

Verben

맡다 To smell; to take charge of

나다 To come out (used in '냄새 나다')

풍기다 To give off a smell

킁킁거리다 To sniff

Adjektive

향긋하다 Fragrant, sweet-smelling

구리다 Stinky, foul-smelling

비릿하다 Fishy-smelling

고소하다 Nutty/Toasty-smelling

Verwandt

코 (Nose)

숨 (Breath)

공기 (Air)

꽃 (Flower)

음식 (Food)

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Very common in daily life and literature.

Häufige Fehler

꽃이 냄새 맡아요. → 꽃에서 냄새가 나요.
Flowers don't have noses; they emit smells. Use '나다' for objects.
냄새 맞아요. → 냄새 맡아요.
Wrong spelling. '맞다' means to be correct.
향기를 맡아요 (for garbage). → 냄새를 맡아요.
'향기' is only for good smells. Garbage is '냄새'.
냄새를 봐요. → 냄새를 맡아요.
Literal translation of 'Look at the smell' doesn't work in standard Korean.
맡아 봐 (without context). → 냄새 맡아 봐.
'맡아 봐' alone can mean 'try taking charge of this'.

Tipps

Batchim check

Always use 'ㅌ' for smelling. '맞다' (correct) and '맡다' (smell) are different!

Upgrade to '향기'

When talking about flowers or perfume, use '향기를 맡다' to sound more natural.

Try '맡아 봐'

Use '맡아 봐' (Try smelling) when you want to show someone something that smells good.

Food smells

In Korea, smelling food is a compliment to the cook. Don't be shy to sniff and say '냄새 좋다!'

Nose block

If you have a cold, say '코가 막혀서 냄새를 못 맡아요'.

Verb endings

Listen for '맡았어' (past) vs '맡을 거야' (future) to know when the smelling happened.

Object markers

Include '-를' in '냄새를 맡다' for formal exams or essays.

Detective work

In stories, '냄새 맡다' often means the character is sensing a secret.

Tense sound

The '다' in '맡다' sounds like 'ta' (tense) because of the 'ㅌ' before it.

Gas leaks

Learn '가스 냄새 맡다' for emergency situations.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of the 'N' in 'Naemsae' as your 'Nose'. You use your 'Nose' to 'Naemsae' (smell). For 'Matda', imagine you are 'meeting' (mat) a smell for the first time.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a giant nose (냄새) catching a baseball (the scent) with a mitt (맡다). The mitt 'catches' or 'receives' the smell.

Word Web

코 (Nose) 꽃 (Flower) 향수 (Perfume) 음식 (Food) 숨 (Breath) 공기 (Air) 상하다 (To spoil) 느끼다 (To feel)

Herausforderung

Try to identify five different smells in your room right now and say '... 냄새를 맡아요' for each one in Korean.

Wortherkunft

The word '냄새' (naemsae) is a native Korean word. Historically, it appeared as '냄새' or '내' in Middle Korean. The verb '맡다' (matda) is also a native Korean root with ancient origins, originally meaning to receive or to take in with the senses or as a responsibility.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To receive a scent through the nasal passages.

Native Korean (Altaic hypothesis / Koreanic isolate).

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using '냄새 맡다' around people. Actively sniffing another person can be seen as extremely rude or invasive unless in a very intimate relationship.

In English, we often use 'smell' as both an active and passive verb. English speakers must be careful not to translate 'This smells good' as '이것이 냄새 맡아요.'

The movie 'Parasite' (기생충) uses the concept of 'smell' as a central theme for class distinction. The K-Drama 'The Girl Who Sees Smells' (냄새를 보는 소녀) features a protagonist who can literally see scents. The song 'Flower Scent' (꽃향기) by various artists often uses '맡다' in romantic lyrics.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Cooking

간이 맞는지 냄새 맡아 봐.
탄 냄새 안 나요?
맛있는 냄새를 맡으니 배고파요.
음식 냄새를 맡아 보세요.

Gardening

꽃 냄새가 정말 좋아요.
풀 냄새를 맡으면 기분이 좋아져요.
장미 냄새를 맡아 보세요.
비 온 뒤 흙 냄새를 맡아요.

Health/Illness

감기 때문에 냄새를 못 맡아요.
코가 막혀서 냄새가 안 나요.
이 약 냄새를 맡아 보세요.
냄새를 맡는 게 힘들어요.

Shopping (Perfume)

향수 냄새를 맡아 볼 수 있나요?
이 향기 정말 좋네요.
다른 냄새도 맡아 보고 싶어요.
냄새가 너무 강해요.

Mystery/Crime

수상한 냄새를 맡았어요.
범인의 냄새를 쫓고 있어요.
뭔가 숨기는 냄새가 나요.
사건의 냄새를 맡았습니다.

Gesprächseinstiege

"이 꽃 냄새 맡아 보셨어요? 정말 향긋해요."

"커피 냄새 맡는 거 좋아하세요? 전 매일 아침에 맡아요."

"어디서 맛있는 냄새 맡지 않았어요? 근처에 맛집이 있나 봐요."

"비 오기 전의 흙 냄새를 맡아 본 적 있나요?"

"향수 고를 때 어떤 냄새를 먼저 맡아 보세요?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

오늘 길을 걷다가 우연히 맡은 가장 좋은 냄새에 대해 써 보세요.

어린 시절을 생각나게 하는 특정한 냄새가 있나요? 그 냄새를 맡았을 때 어떤 기분이 드나요?

요리를 하다가 탄 냄새를 맡았던 경험이 있나요? 어떻게 했나요?

냄새를 전혀 맡을 수 없다면 세상이 어떻게 다를지 상상해 보세요.

자신이 가장 좋아하는 향기를 맡았을 때의 느낌을 자세히 묘사해 보세요.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, it is neutral. You can smell a flower or smell garbage. Just add an adjective if you want to be specific, like '나쁜 냄새를 맡다'.

In formal writing, yes. In speaking, it is almost always dropped: '냄새 맡아 봐'.

'냄새' is the general word for smell. '향' (or '향기') is usually used for pleasant scents, incense, or the 'notes' in wine/coffee.

Yes, very common. '강아지가 냄새를 맡아요' is a perfect sentence.

You can say '후각이 없어요' or more commonly '냄새를 전혀 못 맡아요'.

No, for tasting use '맛보다'.

Yes, just like 'smelling trouble' in English, you can say '수상한 냄새를 맡다'.

Use '냄새 한번 맡아 보실래요?'

No, it also means 'to take charge of' (e.g., 책임을 맡다). The context usually makes it clear.

No, it is a noun '냄새' and a verb '맡다', though they are often used together as a set phrase.

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