A2 Expression Formal

몸이 안 좋아요.

Momi an joayo.

I don't feel well.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A polite, versatile way to say you're feeling sick or exhausted without oversharing specific symptoms.

  • Means: 'My body is not good' or 'I don't feel well.'
  • Used in: Work excuses, declining social invites, or telling family you're tired.
  • Don't confuse: '몸이 안 좋아요' (unwell) with '몸이 나빠요' (physically bad/evil body).
🤒 + 📉 = 몸이 안 좋아요

Explanation at your level:

In A1, you learn that '몸' means body and '안 좋아요' means 'is not good'. Together, they mean 'I am sick'. It is a simple way to tell your teacher or friend that you cannot come to class. You don't need to say why you are sick, just use this phrase.
At the A2 level, you use '몸이 안 좋아요' to handle basic health interactions. You can conjugate it into the past tense ('안 좋았어요') to explain an absence. You also learn that '이' is the subject marker. It is a polite way to decline invitations or explain why you look tired in daily conversations.
In B1, you understand the nuance of using this phrase versus specific symptoms. You know that '몸이 안 좋다' is a general expression of malaise. You can use it with connectors like '-아/어서' (because) or '-(으)니까' to give reasons. You also start to recognize that this phrase is a polite social tool for maintaining privacy while being honest about your physical state.
At B2, you master the register shifts. You know when to use the honorific '편찮으시다' for others and '몸이 안 좋다' for yourself. You understand that this phrase can cover everything from a hangover to chronic fatigue. You can use it in professional emails with appropriate formal endings like '-습니다' to maintain a respectful distance while reporting an illness.
C1 learners analyze the phrase's role in Korean 'nunchi' (social sensing). You understand that '몸이 안 좋다' is often a euphemism used to avoid uncomfortable situations or to signal a need for emotional space. You can distinguish between this and more idiomatic expressions like '몸이 천근만근이다' (body feels like 10,000 pounds) and use them appropriately in literature or high-level social discourse.
At the C2 level, you possess a near-native grasp of the psychosomatic implications of the phrase. You understand how '몸' (body) and '기분' (mood) intersect in Korean linguistic thought. You can navigate the most delicate social hierarchies, using the phrase to subtly negotiate power dynamics—such as when a subordinate uses it to decline an optional but pressured social event without causing a loss of face for the superior.

Significado

Expressing that one is feeling unwell or sick.

🌍

Contexto cultural

In Korean office culture, '몸이 안 좋다' is often used as a polite euphemism to avoid '회식' (after-work drinking sessions). It is one of the few excuses that is generally accepted without further questioning. The phrase reflects the concept of 'Gi' (energy). When your 'body is not good,' it often implies your 'Gi' is depleted or blocked. Younger Koreans often use the English word 'Condition' (컨디션) instead of 'Mom' (몸) to sound more modern or to refer specifically to their energy levels for the day. When someone says '몸이 안 좋아요,' it is polite to follow up with '푹 쉬세요' (Please rest well) or '약 먹었어요?' (Did you take medicine?).

💡

The 'Polite Shield'

Use this phrase when you want to leave a party early without explaining why. It's the most respected excuse in Korea.

⚠️

Don't use for others

Remember to use '편찮으시다' for elders. Saying '할머니 몸이 안 좋아요' is grammatically correct but socially rude.

Significado

Expressing that one is feeling unwell or sick.

💡

The 'Polite Shield'

Use this phrase when you want to leave a party early without explaining why. It's the most respected excuse in Korea.

⚠️

Don't use for others

Remember to use '편찮으시다' for elders. Saying '할머니 몸이 안 좋아요' is grammatically correct but socially rude.

🎯

Add '좀' for nuance

Adding '좀' (a little) as in '몸이 좀 안 좋아요' makes the phrase sound more natural and less dramatic.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the missing particle and negation.

오늘 몸__ __ 좋아요. (Today I don't feel well.)

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

'몸' ends in a consonant, so '이' is the correct subject marker. '안' is the standard negation for '좋다'.

Which sentence is the most natural way to tell your boss you are sick?

Choose the best option:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: b

Option B uses the formal '-습니다' ending, which is appropriate for a boss.

Complete the dialogue.

가: 얼굴이 왜 이렇게 안 좋아요? 나: ________________________.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

'몸이 안 좋아서 그래요' means 'It's because I don't feel well,' which directly answers the 'Why' question.

Match the phrase to the situation.

When you want to ask your grandmother if she is feeling okay:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: b

When referring to an elder's health, the honorific '편찮으시다' must be used.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

When to say '몸이 안 좋아요'

🤒

Physical

  • • Cold/Flu
  • • Headache
  • • Stomachache
🔋

Energy

  • • Overwork
  • • Lack of sleep
  • • Hangover

Preguntas frecuentes

5 preguntas

Yes, it is very common to use this for a hangover if you don't want to explicitly say you drank too much.

Usually '몸이'. '몸은' is only used for contrast (e.g., 'My body is sick, but my mind is sharp').

'아파요' means 'it hurts' or 'I'm sick'. '몸이 안 좋아요' is a more general, polite way to describe your condition.

It's better to use '마음이 안 좋아요' or '기분이 안 좋아요' for emotional issues, though physical symptoms of stress can be described with '몸이 안 좋아요'.

You can say '몸이 좋아졌어요' (My body has become good).

Frases relacionadas

🔗

아프다

similar

To be in pain or sick.

🔗

몸살이 나다

specialized form

To have body aches from fatigue.

🔗

기운이 없다

similar

To have no energy.

🔗

건강하다

contrast

To be healthy.

Dónde usarla

📞

Calling out of work

Employee: 부장님, 오늘 몸이 안 좋아서 출근을 못 할 것 같습니다.

Manager: 그래요? 무리하지 말고 푹 쉬세요.

formal
🍽️

Declining a dinner invite

Friend: 오늘 저녁에 삼겹살 먹으러 갈래?

You: 미안, 오늘 몸이 좀 안 좋아서 다음에 가자.

neutral
💊

At the pharmacy

Pharmacist: 어디가 불편하세요?

You: 어제부터 몸이 안 좋고 열이 나요.

neutral
🏫

To a teacher

Student: 선생님, 몸이 안 좋아서 보건실에 가고 싶어요.

Teacher: 그래, 조심해서 다녀오렴.

formal
💑

On a date

Date: 얼굴색이 안 좋아 보여요. 괜찮아요?

You: 사실 오늘 몸이 좀 안 좋네요. 일찍 들어갈까요?

informal
📱

In a KakaoTalk group chat

Friend A: 오늘 다들 모이는 거지?

You: 나 오늘 몸이 너무 안 좋아서 못 나갈 것 같아 ㅠㅠ 미안!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Mom' (몸) as your 'Mom' who takes care of your 'Body'. If your 'Mom' is 'An' (Not) 'Jota' (Good), you are sick!

Visual Association

Imagine a battery icon that is red and at 5%. The battery represents your 'Mom' (body). It is 'An Jota' (not good/low).

Rhyme

Mom-i an jo-a, stay on the sofa!

Story

You wake up and your body (Mom) feels like lead. You try to stand up, but you say 'An' (No!). You realize your state is not 'Jota' (Good). You crawl back to bed.

Word Web

몸 (Body)건강 (Health)병원 (Hospital)약 (Medicine)휴식 (Rest)아프다 (To be painful/sick)피곤하다 (To be tired)감기 (Cold/Flu)

Desafío

Try to use this phrase in a text message to a Korean friend or language partner today, even if you just feel a little tired.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Me siento mal.

Korean attributes the state to the body, Spanish to the self's feeling.

French moderate

Je ne me sens pas bien.

French is more focused on the internal sensation of 'feeling'.

German moderate

Ich fühle mich nicht wohl.

German implies a lack of comfort/well-being.

Japanese high

体調が良くないです。

Japanese more frequently specifies 'condition' (taichou) whereas Korean often just says 'body' (mom).

Arabic low

أشعر أنني لست بخير

Arabic is more descriptive of the person's overall state of being 'okay'.

Chinese high

我身体不舒服。

Chinese uses 'not comfortable' (不舒服) while Korean uses 'not good' (안 좋다).

Portuguese moderate

Não estou me sentindo bem.

Portuguese emphasizes the ongoing process of feeling unwell.

English partial

I'm under the weather.

English is highly idiomatic; Korean is a standard descriptive phrase.

Easily Confused

몸이 안 좋아요. vs 기분이 안 좋다

Learners mix up 'Mom' (body) and 'Gibun' (mood).

Remember: Mom = Physical, Gibun = Emotional.

몸이 안 좋아요. vs 몸이 나쁘다

Direct translation of 'bad body'.

In Korean, 'not good' (안 좋다) is the standard for health, not 'bad' (나쁘다).

Preguntas frecuentes (5)

Yes, it is very common to use this for a hangover if you don't want to explicitly say you drank too much.

Usually '몸이'. '몸은' is only used for contrast (e.g., 'My body is sick, but my mind is sharp').

'아파요' means 'it hurts' or 'I'm sick'. '몸이 안 좋아요' is a more general, polite way to describe your condition.

It's better to use '마음이 안 좋아요' or '기분이 안 좋아요' for emotional issues, though physical symptoms of stress can be described with '몸이 안 좋아요'.

You can say '몸이 좋아졌어요' (My body has become good).

¿Te ha servido?

Comentarios (0)

Inicia Sesión para Comentar
¡No hay comentarios todavía. Sé el primero en compartir tus ideas!