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A2 verb #2,500 más común 7 min de lectura

돌리다

dollida
At the A1 level, '돌리다' is primarily learned in the context of very simple physical actions and common household chores. The most frequent use you will encounter is '세탁기를 돌리다' (to run the washing machine). Since A1 learners focus on daily routines, knowing how to describe cleaning and using basic appliances is crucial. You might also see it used for simple directions, like '왼쪽으로 돌리세요' (turn to the left), though '가다' (to go) is often used more. At this stage, think of '돌리다' as 'to make something spin' or 'to start a machine that spins'. It is a transitive verb, so you always need to say *what* you are turning. For example, '문을 돌리다' (to turn the door [handle]). The conjugation is slightly tricky because '돌리-' becomes '돌려' when adding '-어/아요', so '돌려요' is the standard polite form. Focus on these concrete, physical examples before moving to abstract meanings.
At the A2 level, you expand '돌리다' into social and mechanical contexts. This is where you learn that '돌리다' means 'to distribute' or 'to pass around'. If you bring cookies to class, you '쿠키를 돌려요'. This is a very common cultural expression in Korea. You also use it for more machines, like the microwave ('전자레인지에 돌리다'). You'll start to see it in common phrases like '고개를 돌리다' (to turn one's head) or '몸을 돌리다' (to turn one's body). At A2, you should be able to distinguish between '돌다' (the fan is turning) and '돌리다' (I turned the fan on/rotated it). You will also encounter the past tense '돌렸어요' frequently in stories or when describing what you did during the day. It's a key verb for describing actions that involve multiple people or operating basic technology.
By B1, you begin to use '돌리다' in more figurative and idiomatic ways. You move beyond just washing machines and cookies to '말을 돌리다' (to change the subject/beat around the bush). This is a vital social skill in Korean to avoid awkward topics. You also learn '관심을 돌리다' (to divert attention). In a B1 context, '돌리다' starts to appear in business or formal settings, such as '명함을 돌리다' (to hand out business cards) or '전단지를 돌리다' (to distribute flyers). You'll also encounter the concept of 'returning' in a more abstract sense, like '발길을 돌리다' (to turn one's steps back/return). The grammar becomes more complex as you combine it with connectors like '-다가' (was doing... then turned) or '-어서' (turned... and then). You should be comfortable using it to describe shifting focus or changing plans.
At the B2 level, '돌리다' is used in professional, economic, and literary contexts. You will hear about '자금을 돌리다' (to circulate funds) or '머리를 돌리다' (to use one's brain/think hard to solve a problem). The nuances of 'attributing' something come into play here, such as '공을 다른 사람에게 돌리다' (to give credit to someone else). You will also encounter more sophisticated idioms like '등을 돌리다' (to turn one's back on someone/betray). At this stage, you should understand the subtle difference between '돌리다' and its synonyms like '회전시키다' or '전환하다'. You'll see '돌리다' in news reports about the economy or social trends, where it describes the flow of resources or public opinion. Your usage should reflect an understanding of how 'turning' can apply to systems, reputations, and complex strategies.
At the C1 level, you master the most subtle and literary uses of '돌리다'. This includes its use in high-level prose to describe the 'turning' of fate or the shifting of historical eras. You will understand how it functions in complex causative constructions and passive-like contexts. For example, '상황을 유리하게 돌리다' (to turn a situation to one's advantage). You'll also recognize it in specialized fields; for instance, in engineering or computing, it might refer to running complex simulations or algorithms. The verb is used to describe the redirection of psychological states, such as '마음을 돌리다' (to change one's heart/mind about a person or decision). At this level, your use of '돌리다' should be indistinguishable from a native speaker, utilizing it to add flavor and precision to your descriptions of change, distribution, and influence.
At the C2 level, '돌리다' is a tool for philosophical and highly nuanced expression. You can use it to discuss the 'circulation' of life, the 'redirection' of national policy, or the 'attribution' of existential cause. You understand the historical etymology of the word and how it relates to other '돌-' root words in Middle Korean. You can appreciate its use in classical literature and modern poetry, where 'turning' might symbolize the cyclical nature of time or the betrayal of an entire generation. Your mastery allows you to use '돌리다' in wordplay, puns, and highly specific professional jargon. Whether discussing the 'turning' of a legal case or the 'circulation' of rare manuscripts, you use the verb with total control over its register, tone, and metaphorical weight. It becomes not just a verb of action, but a verb of transformation and systemic flow.
Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

돌리다 en 30 segundos

  • Core meaning: To turn, rotate, or spin an object intentionally.
  • Mechanical: To operate or run machines like washing machines or microwaves.
  • Social: To distribute or pass items around to a group of people.
  • Abstract: To redirect attention, change the subject, or attribute credit/blame.

The Korean verb 돌리다 (dollida) is a multifaceted causative verb derived from the base verb 돌다 (to turn/rotate). At its most fundamental level, it describes the act of making something move in a circular motion or changing the direction of an object. However, its utility in the Korean language extends far beyond simple physical rotation. It encompasses the operation of machinery, the distribution of items among a group, and the redirection of abstract concepts like attention or conversation. Understanding '돌리다' is essential for A2 learners because it bridges the gap between basic physical actions and more complex social and mechanical interactions.

Physical Rotation
To physically spin a wheel, turn a doorknob, or rotate a dial.
Distribution
To pass something around, such as handing out flyers or sharing snacks in a circle.
Mechanical Operation
To run or operate a machine, most commonly used with washing machines (세탁기를 돌리다).

핸들을 왼쪽으로 돌리세요.

— Please turn the steering wheel to the left.

In a social context, '돌리다' is used when you are giving something to many people. For example, when a new neighbor moves in, they might '떡을 돌리다' (distribute rice cakes) to the residents. This reflects the communal nature of Korean culture where 'turning' an item through a group signifies sharing and connection. Furthermore, it can mean to 'divert' or 'shift'. If a conversation becomes uncomfortable, you might '말을 돌리다' (change the subject/turn the words). This versatility makes it one of the most hardworking verbs in a beginner-intermediate's vocabulary.

친구들에게 사탕을 돌렸어요.

— I passed out candies to my friends.

From a mechanical perspective, '돌리다' is the go-to verb for appliances that involve internal rotation. You don't just 'use' a washing machine or a microwave; you 'turn' them. This is a linguistic remnant of older machines that required manual cranking, but it remains the standard expression today. Even in the digital age, 'computer를 돌리다' can imply running a heavy program or process. The breadth of this verb means that as you progress from A2 to B1, you will see it appearing in idioms and metaphors involving luck, health, and social status.

Using 돌리다 correctly requires understanding its role as a transitive verb. This means it almost always takes an object marked by the particles 을/를. Because it is the causative form of 돌다 (to turn), the subject is the agent performing the action, and the object is the thing being turned or distributed.

Grammar Structure
[Subject] + [Object] + 을/를 + 돌리다
Conjugation (Polite)
Present: 돌려요 | Past: 돌렸어요 | Future: 돌릴 거예요

세탁기를 돌리고 있어요.

— I am running the washing machine.

When using it for distribution, the recipient is often marked with 에게 or 한테. For example, '학생들에게 시험지를 돌리다' (To distribute test papers to students). This usage is very common in office and school settings. Another critical usage is in directional changes. If you are walking and decide to go back, you use the phrase '발길을 돌리다' (to turn one's steps back). If you are looking at someone and look away, it is '고개를 돌리다' (to turn one's head).

In more advanced contexts, '돌리다' is used for 'converting' or 'attributing'. You might '생각을 돌리다' (change one's mind/way of thinking) or '공을 돌리다' (give credit to someone else). In these cases, the 'turning' is metaphorical—shifting the focus from one point to another. For A2 learners, focus on the physical and mechanical uses first, as these are the most frequent in daily life.

You will encounter 돌리다 in various everyday scenarios in Korea. One of the most common places is at home. If you live with roommates or a family, you'll frequently hear '누가 세탁기 돌렸어?' (Who started the laundry?). In a kitchen setting, it's used for microwaves: '전자레인지에 1분만 돌려줘' (Put it in the microwave for one minute). The 'turning' here refers to the rotating plate inside the microwave.

찬밥을 전자레인지에 돌려 드세요.

— Heat up the cold rice in the microwave before eating.

In a professional or social environment, you'll hear it during meetings or parties. If someone brings snacks for everyone, they are '돌리는' those snacks. In a business context, '명함을 돌리다' means to hand out business cards to everyone in the room. If you are lost and asking for directions, a driver might say '차를 돌려야 해요' (We need to turn the car around/U-turn).

At the Gym
'몸을 왼쪽으로 돌리세요' (Turn your body to the left).
In a Drama
'그는 그녀에게 등을 돌렸다' (He turned his back on her - meaning betrayal or coldness).

On the street, you might see people '전단지를 돌리다' (distributing flyers). In Korean news, you might hear about '자금을 돌리다' which refers to circulating funds or moving money through different accounts. Even in gaming, '가챠를 돌리다' (to spin the gacha/random loot box) is a very common slang term. The verb is truly ubiquitous, appearing in almost every facet of Korean life from the mundane to the complex.

One of the most frequent errors for learners is confusing 돌다 (intransitive) and 돌리다 (transitive). Remember: 돌다 is something that turns by itself (e.g., 'The earth turns'), while 돌리다 is when *you* turn something (e.g., 'I turn the key').

Incorrect
내가 머리를 돌았어요. (I turned my head - implies your head spun on its own or you went crazy).
Correct
내가 머리를 돌렸어요. (I turned my head - intentional action).

Another common mistake is using '돌리다' when you mean 'to return an item'. While '돌리다' is the root, the correct verb for returning a borrowed book or money is 돌려주다. Using just '돌리다' in this context sounds incomplete or like you are spinning the object rather than returning it.

Learners also struggle with the distribution meaning. They might try to use '주다' (to give) repeatedly for each person. While '주다' is grammatically correct, '돌리다' is much more natural when the action involves a group. For example, '피자를 돌리다' implies you bought pizza for the whole office, whereas '피자를 주다' sounds like you just gave a slice to one specific person.

Understanding the synonyms and related words for 돌리다 helps in grasping its nuances. While '돌리다' is the most general term for turning, other verbs offer more specific meanings.

회전시키다 (Hwoe-jeon-si-ki-da)
To rotate or spin. This is a more formal, Sino-Korean version of '돌리다', often used in technical or scientific contexts.
바꾸다 (Ba-kku-da)
To change. Used as a synonym when '돌리다' means to change the direction or the subject of a conversation (말을 바꾸다 vs 말을 돌리다).
나누어 주다 (Na-nu-eo ju-da)
To divide and give. This is a synonym for the 'distribution' sense of '돌리다'.

주제를 다른 곳으로 돌립시다.

— Let's shift the topic to something else.

There is also 틀다 (teul-da), which specifically means to turn a knob, a faucet, or to turn on electronic devices like a TV or radio. While you can '돌리다' a knob, '틀다' is more specific to the action of twisting to activate something. Similarly, 꺾다 (kkeok-da) means to turn or bend sharply, like turning a corner (길을 꺾다) or breaking a branch. Choosing between these depends on the physical nature of the 'turn'.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

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Informal

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Nivel de dificultad

Gramática que debes saber

Ejemplos por nivel

1

세탁기를 돌려요.

I run the washing machine.

Present tense of 돌리다.

2

문을 오른쪽으로 돌리세요.

Turn the door (knob) to the right.

-(으)세요 for polite commands.

3

선풍기를 돌릴까요?

Shall I turn on the fan?

-(으)ㄹ까요 for suggestions.

4

연필을 돌리지 마세요.

Don't spin your pencil.

-지 마세요 for negative commands.

5

시계를 돌렸어요.

I turned the clock (hands).

Past tense '돌렸어요'.

6

핸들을 돌려요.

Turn the steering wheel.

Direct object '핸들' with '를'.

7

병뚜껑을 돌려요.

Turn the bottle cap.

Simple transitive usage.

8

장난감을 돌려요.

Spin the toy.

Basic action verb.

1

친구들에게 사탕을 돌렸어요.

I passed out candies to my friends.

Distribution usage of 돌리다.

2

전자레인지에 30초 돌려주세요.

Please put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.

-아/어 주다 for a request.

3

고개를 옆으로 돌리세요.

Turn your head to the side.

Body part + 을/를 + 돌리다.

4

새 이웃이 떡을 돌렸어요.

The new neighbor distributed rice cakes.

Cultural context: sharing food with neighbors.

5

몸을 뒤로 돌려 보세요.

Try turning your body around.

-아/어 보다 for 'try doing'.

6

청소기를 돌리고 있어요.

I am running the vacuum cleaner.

-고 있다 for present progressive.

7

나침반을 돌려 봐요.

Try turning the compass.

Physical rotation.

8

그는 갑자기 차를 돌렸어요.

He suddenly turned the car around.

Directional change.

1

불편해서 말을 다른 데로 돌렸어요.

It was uncomfortable, so I changed the subject.

Idiom: 말을 돌리다 (change the subject).

2

그는 화가 나서 등을 돌리고 나갔어요.

He got angry, turned his back, and left.

Idiom: 등을 돌리다 (turn one's back).

3

길을 잘못 들어서 발길을 돌렸습니다.

I took the wrong path, so I turned back.

Idiom: 발길을 돌리다 (turn back).

4

회사에서 새 명함을 돌렸어요.

I handed out my new business cards at the office.

Professional distribution.

5

아이들의 관심을 다른 곳으로 돌려야 해요.

We need to divert the children's attention elsewhere.

Abstract redirection.

6

이 기계를 어떻게 돌리는지 알아요?

Do you know how to operate this machine?

Indirect question -는지 알다.

7

그는 나쁜 길에서 마음을 돌렸어요.

He turned his heart away from the wrong path.

Metaphorical: 마음을 돌리다.

8

전단지를 돌리는 아르바이트를 해요.

I have a part-time job distributing flyers.

Usage for distribution work.

1

그는 모든 공을 팀원들에게 돌렸습니다.

He gave all the credit to his teammates.

Idiom: 공을 돌리다 (give credit).

2

회사는 자금을 돌리기 위해 대출을 받았다.

The company took out a loan to circulate funds.

Economic context: 자금을 돌리다.

3

문제를 해결하기 위해 머리를 돌려 봅시다.

Let's put our heads together (think hard) to solve the problem.

Idiom: 머리를 돌리다 (think hard/use brain).

4

그 소문은 사람들의 시선을 돌리기 위한 것이었다.

That rumor was intended to divert people's gaze (attention).

Abstract redirection of public focus.

5

정부는 정책의 방향을 돌리기로 결정했다.

The government decided to change the direction of its policy.

Formal/Political context.

6

그는 위기를 기회로 돌리는 능력이 있다.

He has the ability to turn a crisis into an opportunity.

Transformative usage.

7

그녀는 차갑게 고개를 돌려 버렸다.

She coldly turned her head away (completely).

-어 버리다 for completed action with emotion.

8

이 프로그램은 대용량 데이터를 돌릴 때 유용하다.

This program is useful when running large amounts of data.

Computing context.

1

그의 배신으로 많은 이들이 등을 돌렸다.

Due to his betrayal, many people turned their backs on him.

Social/Relational betrayal.

2

작가는 독자의 상상력을 자극하며 이야기를 돌렸다.

The author shifted the story while stimulating the reader's imagination.

Literary narrative shift.

3

그는 혐의를 타인에게 돌리려 애썼다.

He struggled to shift the blame onto others.

Legal/Moral redirection (blame).

4

세상의 흐름을 돌리는 것은 쉬운 일이 아니다.

Turning the tide of the world is no easy task.

Philosophical/Macro-level change.

5

그는 침묵으로 대답을 돌렸다.

He deflected the answer with silence.

Nuanced communication.

6

원인을 외부 환경으로 돌리는 태도는 지양해야 한다.

One should avoid the attitude of attributing causes to the external environment.

Academic/Psychological context.

7

그는 노련하게 대화의 주도권을 자신에게 돌렸다.

He skillfully turned the initiative of the conversation to himself.

Strategic social interaction.

8

기계가 쉴 새 없이 돌아가도록 계속 돌려야 한다.

The machine must be kept running so that it operates without rest.

Industrial/Continuous operation.

1

운명의 수레바퀴를 돌리는 것은 인간의 의지인가?

Is it human will that turns the wheel of fortune?

Philosophical/Metaphorical.

2

그는 문학적 은유를 통해 시대의 아픔을 돌려 표현했다.

He expressed the pain of the era indirectly through literary metaphors.

Indirect expression (돌려 표현하다).

3

권력의 향배를 돌리기 위한 치열한 암투가 벌어졌다.

A fierce secret struggle broke out to shift the direction of power.

Political/High-level vocabulary (향배).

4

그는 자신의 과오를 시대의 비극으로 돌리며 자기합리화를 했다.

He rationalized his actions by attributing his mistakes to the tragedy of the times.

Complex psychological attribution.

5

자본의 선순환을 돌리기 위한 정책적 제언이 잇따랐다.

Policy recommendations followed one after another to stimulate the virtuous cycle of capital.

Economic jargon (선순환).

6

역사의 물줄기를 돌린 그 사건은 우연에서 시작되었다.

That event, which turned the course of history, began by chance.

Historical metaphor.

7

그는 고통스러운 기억으로부터 필사적으로 고개를 돌렸다.

He desperately turned his head away from painful memories.

Psychological avoidance.

8

만물의 이치가 순환하듯, 그는 삶의 의미를 다시 제자리로 돌렸다.

As the logic of all things circulates, he returned the meaning of life to its original place.

Existential/Abstract return.

Colocaciones comunes

세탁기를 돌리다
고개를 돌리다
말을 돌리다
떡을 돌리다
핸들을 돌리다
관심을 돌리다
명함을 돌리다
전자레인지를 돌리다
자금을 돌리다
공을 돌리다

Frases Comunes

한 바퀴 돌리다

뒤로 돌리다

오른쪽으로 돌리다

다시 돌리다

뱅뱅 돌리다

나누어 돌리다

주제를 돌리다

시선을 돌리다

발길을 돌리다

생각을 돌리다

Se confunde a menudo con

돌리다 vs 돌다

Intransitive (turns by itself) vs. Transitive (you turn it).

돌리다 vs 돌려주다

To return something borrowed vs. To spin/distribute.

돌리다 vs 틀다

To twist a knob/faucet vs. General rotation.

Modismos y expresiones

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Fácil de confundir

돌리다 vs

돌리다 vs

돌리다 vs

돌리다 vs

돌리다 vs

Patrones de oraciones

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

Cómo usarlo

nuance 1

It implies intentionality. You are the cause of the rotation.

nuance 2

In distribution, it implies a circular or sequential passing of items.

Errores comunes
  • Using '돌리다' instead of '돌려주다' for returning items.
  • Confusing '돌다' (intransitive) and '돌리다' (transitive).
  • Using '사용하다' for a washing machine instead of the more natural '돌리다'.
  • Forgetting the object particle '을/를'.
  • Using '머리를 돌리다' to mean 'my head is spinning' (it actually means 'to think').

Consejos

Causative Form

Remember that '돌리다' is the causative of '돌다'. The '-리-' suffix makes it 'to make something turn'.

Laundry Verb

In Korea, we don't 'do' laundry, we 'turn' the washing machine. Use '세탁기 돌려요'.

Sharing Culture

Use '돌리다' when you share snacks at work. It sounds very natural and friendly.

Changing Topics

If someone asks a hard question, you can '말을 돌리다' to avoid it politely.

Brain Power

'머리를 돌리다' means to think creatively or find a clever solution.

Directional Clues

Pay attention to '왼쪽' (left) or '오른쪽' (right) before the verb.

Object Markers

Always check if you have an object with '을/를' before '돌리다'.

Rice Cakes

'떡을 돌리다' is a classic phrase for moving into a new home.

Return vs Turn

Don't forget the '주다' in '돌려주다' when returning an item.

Gaming

If you play Korean games, '가챠를 돌리다' is how you say 'spin for loot'.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

When you use a DOLL-ida, you make the DOLL spin around.

Origen de la palabra

Native Korean word.

Contexto cultural

Sharing snacks ('간식을 돌리다') is a key way to maintain harmony in the workplace.

The '이사 떡' (moving rice cakes) tradition is fading in big cities but still highly respected.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Inicios de conversación

"오늘 세탁기 돌렸어요? (Did you do the laundry today?)"

"이 근처에서 차를 돌릴 수 있을까요? (Can I turn the car around near here?)"

"우리 분위기를 좀 돌려볼까요? (Shall we change the mood a bit?)"

"새로 이사 왔는데 떡 좀 돌리려고요. (I just moved in and want to hand out some rice cakes.)"

"전자레인지에 얼마나 돌려야 해요? (How long should I put it in the microwave?)"

Temas para diario

오늘 하루 중 무언가를 '돌린' 경험에 대해 써 보세요. (Write about something you 'turned' or 'distributed' today.)

불편한 대화에서 말을 돌려본 적이 있나요? (Have you ever changed the subject in an uncomfortable conversation?)

성공의 공을 누구에게 돌리고 싶나요? (To whom would you like to give the credit for your success?)

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Yes, '컴퓨터를 돌리다' means to run a program or keep the computer working on a task.

It is a standard verb. To be polite to the listener, use '돌리세요' or '돌려요'.

'말을 바꾸다' means to change what you said (contradict yourself), while '말을 돌리다' means to change the topic of conversation.

Use '책을 돌려주다', not just '돌리다'.

Usually '모퉁이를 돌다' is used, but '차를 돌리다' is used for U-turns.

No, that is '어지럽다'. '머리가 돌다' can mean to go crazy.

Say '전자레인지에 (1분) 돌리다'.

Only if you are giving gifts to many people (like a whole class).

It means to give the credit for an achievement to someone else.

Yes, '공을 돌리다' can mean passing the ball around among teammates.

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