Significado
To raise and drop shoulders to show indifference, doubt, or helplessness.
Contexto cultural
In traditional Korean culture, excessive body language was often discouraged. However, '어깨를 으쓱하다' has become a standard way to describe a modern, casual reaction, especially among the younger generation influenced by global media. In many Western cultures, the shrug is a neutral and very frequent gesture. In Korea, doing this to an elder can be seen as quite rude or dismissive, as it suggests you aren't taking their question seriously. In a Korean office, if a subordinate shrugs at a boss's question, it might be interpreted as 'I don't care about my job.' It's better to use verbal cues of uncertainty. Korean authors use this phrase to show a character's 'cool' or 'unbothered' personality, often contrasting it with more traditional, emotive reactions.
The Particle Power
Always double-check if you used '를' or '가'. It's the most common mistake even for intermediate learners!
Mind the Hierarchy
If you're in Korea, try to avoid the physical shrug with people older than you. Use your words instead!
Significado
To raise and drop shoulders to show indifference, doubt, or helplessness.
The Particle Power
Always double-check if you used '를' or '가'. It's the most common mistake even for intermediate learners!
Mind the Hierarchy
If you're in Korea, try to avoid the physical shrug with people older than you. Use your words instead!
Use with '듯'
Pair it with '~는 듯' (as if) to sound more natural: '모르는 듯 어깨를 으쓱했다'.
Don't Overuse
In writing, overusing this can make your characters seem too repetitive. Mix it up with '고개를 젓다' or '침묵하다'.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct particle to complete the sentence meaning 'I felt proud because I got a perfect score.'
시험에서 만점을 받으니 어깨___ 으쓱했다.
'어깨가 으쓱하다' is the idiom for feeling proud. '어깨를 으쓱하다' is the physical gesture of shrugging.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '어깨를 으쓱하다'.
그는 잘 모르겠다는 듯이 ______.
To show you don't know, you use the object marker '를' and the past tense '했다'.
In which situation would you most likely use '어깨를 으쓱하다'?
상황을 고르세요.
Shrugging is used when you don't have the answer to a question.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 어제 왜 파티에 안 왔어? B: (__________) 그냥 귀찮아서.
The speaker is showing indifference to the reason they missed the party.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
를 vs 가
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejercicios시험에서 만점을 받으니 어깨___ 으쓱했다.
'어깨가 으쓱하다' is the idiom for feeling proud. '어깨를 으쓱하다' is the physical gesture of shrugging.
그는 잘 모르겠다는 듯이 ______.
To show you don't know, you use the object marker '를' and the past tense '했다'.
상황을 고르세요.
Shrugging is used when you don't have the answer to a question.
A: 어제 왜 파티에 안 왔어? B: (__________) 그냥 귀찮아서.
The speaker is showing indifference to the reason they missed the party.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasIt can be. With friends, it's fine. With superiors, it's better to avoid the gesture and the phrase.
으쓱하다 is a single shrug. 으쓱거리다 implies shrugging multiple times or a more rhythmic movement.
No, for that you must use '어깨가 으쓱하다'.
No, it is a pure Korean mimetic word.
나는 어깨를 으쓱했다.
Probably not. It's too descriptive of a physical gesture for formal business writing.
It means moving shoulders up and down, usually from intense emotion like crying or laughing.
Yes! You'll often hear '으쓱' in lyrics about being confident or unbothered.
Usually, but it can also mean 'I don't care' or 'It's not my problem'.
Nodding (고개를 끄덕이다) to show agreement or knowledge.
They share a sense of quick movement, but '으쓱' is specific to the shoulders.
Only if you are personifying them in a story!
Frases relacionadas
어깨가 으쓱하다
similarTo feel proud or confident.
어깨를 들썩이다
similarTo move shoulders up and down (often from laughing or crying).
고개를 가로젓다
similarTo shake one's head side to side.
모르쇠를 잡다
specialized formTo feign ignorance.
시큰둥하다
similarTo be half-hearted or indifferent.
