Explanation at your level:
At this level, you can use 숨기다 to talk about hiding things. If you have a toy, you can say 'I hide the toy.' It is a very useful word for games like hide-and-seek. Just remember that it is about putting things where people cannot see them.
You can now use 숨기다 to describe simple actions. For example, you might say, 'I hid my diary under the bed.' It is common to use this when you want to keep your things safe. Try to practice using it with objects you have in your room.
At the intermediate level, you can use 숨기다 for more abstract things. You can hide your feelings or hide the truth from someone. This adds more depth to your conversations and helps you express complex social situations effectively.
You can use 숨기다 to discuss secrets and privacy. It is useful when talking about characters in a book or people in a movie who are trying to hide something. You will notice that native speakers use this word to describe subtle behaviors.
At an advanced level, 숨기다 can be used in more formal or literary contexts. You might describe a politician hiding their true intentions or a writer hiding clues in a mystery novel. It becomes a tool for analyzing character motivations and complex plot points.
Mastering 숨기다 means understanding its subtle nuances in various social and professional contexts. You can use it to talk about the 'hiding' of facts in legal documents or the 'concealment' of historical truths. It is a powerful word that carries weight in both casual and academic discourse.
Palabra en 30 segundos
- Means to hide or conceal.
- Transitive verb (needs an object).
- Used for both physical objects and abstract concepts.
- Very common in daily life and literature.
숨기다 is a fundamental Korean verb that means to hide or conceal. Think of it as the opposite of showing or revealing something. Whether you are hiding a physical object in a box or keeping a secret in your heart, this is the word you use.
It is a very common word in daily life. You might use it when playing games, protecting your privacy, or simply keeping your belongings safe from prying eyes. It carries a sense of intentionality; you are actively choosing to keep something out of sight.
The word 숨기다 finds its roots in Middle Korean. It is derived from the verb 숨다 (to hide oneself). The suffix -기- acts as a causative marker, changing the meaning from 'to hide oneself' to 'to make something hide' or 'to conceal something'.
Historically, this word has been used in literature to describe both physical concealment and the hiding of emotions. It reflects a deep cultural value in Korean society regarding modesty and the protection of private affairs. Understanding this etymology helps you see how the language builds complex meanings from simple root actions.
You will use 숨기다 in many different contexts. It is perfectly fine to use in casual conversation with friends or in more formal settings at work or school. When you hide an object, you usually use the particle -을/를 to mark the object being hidden.
Common collocations include hiding one's face (얼굴을 숨기다) or hiding the truth (진실을 숨기다). It is a versatile verb that fits well in both physical and abstract scenarios. Just remember that it implies an active effort to keep things away from others.
While 숨기다 is a direct verb, it appears in many common expressions. For example, 감정을 숨기다 means to hide one's feelings. Another common one is 본색을 숨기다, which means to hide one's true colors.
These idioms show how the word is used to describe human behavior. By using these phrases, you sound much more like a native speaker who understands the nuances of human interaction and social masking.
Grammatically, 숨기다 is a regular verb. It conjugates easily with standard Korean endings like -어요 (숨겨요) or -ㅂ니다 (숨깁니다). The pronunciation is straightforward, with the 'g' sound being soft and clear.
When speaking, ensure you don't confuse it with 숨다 (to hide oneself). The difference is in the causative suffix. Practice saying the word slowly to get the hang of the flow between the syllables.
Fun Fact
The root '숨' is related to 'breath' in some ancient interpretations.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 's' sound, 'um' like 'sum', 'gi' like 'gee'.
Similar to UK, focus on clear vowel sounds.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'g' as 'k'
- Mixing up vowels
- Too fast
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Requires grammar knowledge
Common usage
Clear sound
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanzado
Grammar to Know
Causative Verbs
숨다 -> 숨기다
Object Marking
비밀을 숨기다
Past Tense
숨겼다
Examples by Level
나는 선물을 숨겨요.
I hide the gift.
Simple present tense.
열쇠를 숨기다.
To hide the key.
Infinitive form.
어디에 숨겨요?
Where are you hiding it?
Question form.
그것을 숨기지 마세요.
Do not hide that.
Negative command.
인형을 숨겼어요.
I hid the doll.
Past tense.
숨기기 쉬워요.
It is easy to hide.
Adjective construction.
책을 숨겼다.
I hid the book.
Plain form.
여기에 숨겨요.
Hide it here.
Imperative.
비밀을 숨기지 마세요.
그는 얼굴을 숨겼어요.
상자 안에 편지를 숨겨요.
아이들은 뒤에 숨기다.
돈을 어디에 숨겼나요?
그녀는 웃음을 숨겼다.
진실을 숨기는 것은 나빠요.
가방을 책상 아래에 숨겨요.
감정을 숨기는 것은 힘들어요.
그는 자신의 정체를 숨겼다.
증거를 숨기려고 노력했어요.
그녀는 눈물을 숨기기 위해 돌아섰다.
사실을 숨기는 이유가 무엇인가요?
그들은 정보를 숨기기로 결정했다.
열쇠를 숨겨둔 곳을 잊어버렸어요.
그는 실수를 숨기려고 했다.
그는 자신의 의도를 숨기려 애썼다.
정부는 그 사실을 숨기려 했다.
그녀는 불안감을 숨기려 미소 지었다.
진실을 숨기는 것은 결국 드러나기 마련이다.
그는 과거의 상처를 숨기고 살았다.
비밀을 숨기는 데는 재능이 있다.
모든 것을 숨기기에는 너무 늦었다.
그녀는 자신의 재능을 숨기지 않았다.
그는 자신의 야망을 숨긴 채 조용히 행동했다.
역사적 사실을 숨기려는 시도는 실패할 것이다.
그녀는 당혹감을 숨기기 위해 화제를 돌렸다.
그는 자신의 본색을 숨기고 접근했다.
진실을 숨기는 대가는 매우 컸다.
그는 감정을 숨기는 데 능숙한 사람이었다.
그녀는 자신의 생각을 숨기지 않고 말했다.
정치적 의도를 숨기려는 기색이 역력했다.
그는 자신의 내면을 숨긴 채 고독을 즐겼다.
진실을 숨기려는 기만적인 태도는 용납될 수 없다.
그녀는 자신의 고통을 숨기며 묵묵히 견뎌냈다.
그는 자신의 지적인 우월함을 숨기려 하지 않았다.
모든 것을 숨기려는 태도는 오히려 의심을 산다.
그녀는 자신의 본질을 숨긴 채 가면을 쓰고 살았다.
진실을 숨기기 위한 교묘한 술책이 드러났다.
그는 자신의 야심을 숨기는 데 탁월한 재능이 있었다.
Colocaciones comunes
Idioms & Expressions
"꼬리가 길면 밟힌다"
If you keep hiding something, you will eventually be caught.
꼬리가 길면 밟히니 진실을 말해라.
idiomatic"손바닥으로 하늘을 가리다"
Trying to hide the truth is impossible.
손바닥으로 하늘을 가리려 하지 마.
idiomatic"가면을 쓰다"
To hide one's true personality.
그는 가면을 쓰고 살고 있다.
casual"속내를 감추다"
To hide one's true intentions.
그는 속내를 감추고 있다.
neutral"발뺌하다"
To hide one's involvement in a mistake.
그는 발뺌하고 있다.
casualEasily Confused
Similar root
Intransitive vs Transitive
나는 숨는다 (I hide) vs 나는 물건을 숨긴다 (I hide the object).
Similar meaning
Nuance of covering
비밀을 감추다.
Physical covering
Blocking view
얼굴을 가리다.
Formal synonym
Legal/Scandal context
범죄를 은폐하다.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Object + 을/를 + 숨기다
나는 비밀을 숨겼다.
Subject + Object + 을/를 + 어디에 + 숨기다
나는 돈을 상자에 숨겼다.
Subject + 감정을 + 숨기다
그는 슬픔을 숨겼다.
Subject + 사실을 + 숨기다
그들은 진실을 숨기려 했다.
Subject + 의도를 + 숨기다
그는 자신의 야망을 숨겼다.
Familia de palabras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
8/10
Formality Scale
Errores comunes
숨다 is intransitive (to hide oneself), 숨기다 is transitive (to hide something).
Contraction of 숨기어 is 숨겨.
Sometimes learners forget to use synonyms.
Ensure the stem change is correct.
Transitive verbs need an object.
Tips
Contextual Learning
Use it in sentences about your daily life.
Native Usage
Use it when talking about secrets.
Modesty
Understand that hiding feelings is sometimes polite.
Transitivity
Always look for an object.
Clear Vowels
Keep the 'u' clear.
Don't confuse with 숨다
Check the subject.
Hide and Seek
The game is called 숨바꼭질.
Flashcards
Use flashcards for collocations.
Suffixes
Note the causative -기-.
Rhythm
Practice the 3-syllable rhythm.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Sum (the math) + Gi (give) + Da (do) -> I hide the math paper because I didn't do it.
Visual Association
A squirrel hiding a nut.
Word Web
Desafío
Hide an object and describe it in Korean.
Origen de la palabra
Korean
Original meaning: To make something hide
Contexto cultural
None, but be careful when accusing someone of hiding something.
The concept of hiding is universal, but in Korean culture, 'hiding' one's true feelings is often viewed as a form of social etiquette.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At home
- 열쇠를 숨기다
- 돈을 숨기다
- 선물을 숨기다
In a mystery story
- 증거를 숨기다
- 범인을 숨기다
- 진실을 숨기다
Social interaction
- 감정을 숨기다
- 의도를 숨기다
- 본색을 숨기다
School
- 답안지를 숨기다
- 숙제를 숨기다
- 책을 숨기다
Conversation Starters
"어릴 때 숨바꼭질을 좋아했나요?"
"비밀을 잘 숨기는 편인가요?"
"가장 숨기고 싶은 것이 무엇인가요?"
"진실을 숨기는 것이 나쁜가요?"
"선물을 어디에 숨겨본 적 있나요?"
Journal Prompts
오늘 내가 숨기고 싶었던 감정은 무엇인가요?
가장 소중한 물건을 어디에 숨기겠나요?
진실을 숨기는 사람을 어떻게 생각하나요?
숨바꼭질 게임에 대한 추억을 써보세요.
Preguntas frecuentes
8 preguntasNo, it is also used for feelings and facts.
Yes, you can hide someone.
숨다 is to hide yourself, 숨기다 is to hide something else.
It is neutral and used in all settings.
It follows regular verb conjugation.
Yes, like 감추다.
Yes, it is very common in writing.
No, it is a basic vocabulary word.
Ponte a prueba
나는 선물을 ___.
숨겨요 means hide.
Which means to hide?
숨기다 is the correct verb.
숨기다 is an intransitive verb.
It is transitive.
Word
Significado
You hide secrets.
Subject-Object-Verb.
Puntuación: /5
Summary
숨기다 is the essential verb for keeping things out of sight, whether it's a physical object or a deep secret.
- Means to hide or conceal.
- Transitive verb (needs an object).
- Used for both physical objects and abstract concepts.
- Very common in daily life and literature.
Contextual Learning
Use it in sentences about your daily life.
Native Usage
Use it when talking about secrets.
Modesty
Understand that hiding feelings is sometimes polite.
Transitivity
Always look for an object.
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