전화를 걸다 در ۳۰ ثانیه
- To make a phone call by dialing a number.
- Uses the irregular verb '걸다' (to hang/dial).
- Requires '에게/한테' for the person being called.
- Standard phrase for initiating voice communication.
The Korean verb phrase 전화를 걸다 (jeon-hwa-reul geol-da) is the standard way to express the action of initiating a telephone conversation. While it literally translates to 'to hang a telephone,' its functional meaning is 'to make a phone call.' This phrase is foundational for anyone learning Korean, as it covers everything from a casual call to a friend to a formal business inquiry. The word 전화 (jeon-hwa) means 'telephone' or 'electric talk,' and 걸다 (geol-da) is a versatile verb meaning 'to hang,' 'to hook,' or 'to bet.' Historically, this usage stems from the era of manual switchboards and rotary phones where one had to physically 'hook' a connection or 'hang' a dial motion to start a call. In modern South Korea, a society deeply integrated with mobile technology, this phrase remains the linguistic anchor for voice communication, even as the physical 'hanging' action has vanished.
- Core Usage
- Initiating a call to any recipient, whether landline or mobile.
- Verb Class
- Active verb phrase involving the object marker '를' (reul).
- Social Context
- Used in both formal and informal settings, though the verb changes to '드리다' (deu-ri-da) in high-honorific contexts.
어머니께 전화를 걸었지만 받지 않으셨어요. (I made a call to my mother, but she didn't answer.)
The nuance of 걸다 implies the active intent of the caller. Unlike the broader term 전화하다 (to phone/to talk on the phone), 전화를 걸다 specifically highlights the moment of dialing or 'placing' the call. If you are describing the process of trying to reach someone, this is the most accurate phrase. In a professional setting, you might hear a secretary say, '잠시만요, 전화를 걸어 드릴게요' (One moment, I will place the call for you). In a romantic or dramatic context, '그녀에게 전화를 걸 용기가 없어요' (I don't have the courage to call her) emphasizes the emotional weight of the action itself.
Culturally, the act of 'making a call' in Korea has evolved. While texting via KakaoTalk is the primary mode of daily communication, '전화를 걸다' is reserved for urgent matters, deep conversations, or formal business. Understanding when to use this phrase versus '문자를 보내다' (to send a text) is key to navigating Korean social etiquette. Furthermore, the phrase is often paired with particles like '에게' (to a person) or '한테' (to a friend) to specify the recipient of the call.
친구한테 전화를 걸어서 약속을 잡았어요. (I called my friend and made an appointment.)
Mastering 전화를 걸다 requires understanding its conjugation and the particles that accompany it. Since '걸다' ends in a consonant 'ㄹ', it follows specific irregular rules. When you want to say 'I am calling,' you use the present tense '걸어요' (informal polite) or '겁니다' (formal polite). For the past tense 'I called,' it becomes '걸었어요'. If you are expressing a future intention like 'I will call,' you use '걸 거예요' or '걸겠습니다'.
- Recipient Particles
- Use '에게' (formal/written) or '한테' (informal/spoken) for the person you are calling. Use '께' for elders or superiors.
- Object Marker
- '전화' is the object, so '를' is technically required, but it is often dropped in fast speech: '전화 걸어'.
모르는 번호로 전화를 거는 것은 긴장돼요. (Calling from an unknown number is nerve-wracking.)
The phrase is often used with auxiliary verbs to add nuance. For instance, '전화를 걸어 보다' means 'to try calling' (to see if they answer). '전화를 걸어 놓다' means 'to have already placed a call' or 'to leave a call pending.' If you are interrupted while dialing, you might say '전화를 걸려던 참이었어요' (I was just about to call). These variations allow for precise communication in various social scenarios.
고객센터에 전화를 걸어 봐도 계속 통화 중이네요. (Even though I try calling the customer center, it's constantly busy.)
In complex sentences, '전화를 걸다' can act as a modifier. For example, '전화를 거는 사람' (the person who is calling) or '전화를 걸었던 시간' (the time I called). Understanding how to embed this phrase into larger structures is essential for B1 level proficiency. You might also encounter the passive-like structure '전화가 걸려 오다' (a call is coming in), which focuses on the receiving end but uses the same root '걸다'.
You will encounter 전화를 걸다 in a multitude of environments in Korea. In the workplace, it's ubiquitous. Offices are filled with the sound of people saying '제가 거래처에 전화를 걸겠습니다' (I will call the client). In customer service scripts, the phrase is used to explain procedures: '상담원에게 전화를 거시면 안내해 드립니다' (If you call a consultant, they will guide you). It is the standard technical term used in smartphone interfaces, where the button to initiate a call is often conceptually linked to this phrase.
드라마에서 주인공이 옛 연인에게 전화를 걸까 말까 고민하는 장면이 많아요. (In dramas, there are many scenes where the protagonist hesitates over whether to call an ex-lover or not.)
In Korean dramas (K-dramas) and movies, this phrase is often used to build tension. A character might say '경찰에 전화를 걸어!' (Call the police!) during a climax. In variety shows, you'll see segments like '지인에게 전화를 걸어 퀴즈 맞히기' (Calling an acquaintance to solve a quiz). The phrase is so common that it appears in song lyrics frequently, often symbolizing longing or the desire for connection. For example, lyrics might say '밤늦게 너에게 전화를 걸어' (Calling you late at night), evoking a sense of nostalgia or regret.
- Public Announcements
- '긴급 상황 시 112에 전화를 거십시오.' (In case of emergency, please call 112.)
- Daily Life
- Parents reminding children: '집에 도착하면 엄마한테 전화 걸어.' (Call mom when you get home.)
Even in the digital age, where VoIP services like 'KakaoTalk Voice Talk' are popular, people still use the phrase '전화를 걸다' to describe the act of starting those digital calls. It has become a generic term for voice-to-voice initiation. You'll also hear it in news reports concerning '보이스피싱' (voice phishing), where reporters warn: '낯선 번호로 전화를 거는 사기꾼들을 주의하세요' (Beware of scammers who call from unfamiliar numbers).
One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is the confusion between 전화를 걸다 and 전화를 하다. While both can mean 'to call,' 전화하다 is a general verb for 'telephoning' or 'talking on the phone.' If you want to emphasize the specific action of dialing or starting the call, 걸다 is better. However, using 전화하다 in place of 전화를 걸다 is usually acceptable, but using 걸다 when you are already in the middle of a long conversation is incorrect.
Incorrect: 한 시간 동안 전화를 걸었어요. (I 'dialed' for an hour - implies you kept redialing.)
Correct: 한 시간 동안 통화했어요. (I talked on the phone for an hour.)
Another common error involves the ㄹ-irregular conjugation. Many learners forget to drop the 'ㄹ' when adding formal endings. Saying '걸습니다' instead of '겁니다' is a hallmark of a beginner. Similarly, the use of particles can be tricky. Beginners often use '를' with the person (e.g., '친구를 전화 걸다'), which is incorrect. The person must take '에게' or '한테', and '전화' takes '를'.
- Mistake 1: Wrong Particle for Person
- Using '를' instead of '한테'. Correct: 친구한테 전화를 걸다.
- Mistake 2: Conjugation Error
- Saying '걸으세요' for 'Please call.' Correct: '거세요' (ㄹ drops before ㅅ).
- Mistake 3: Confusing 'Make' and 'Receive'
- Using '걸다' when you mean you 'got' a call. Use '받다' for receiving.
Lastly, learners often forget the honorific version. In Korea, social hierarchy is reflected in language. If you are calling your grandfather, you should never say '할아버지한테 전화를 걸었어요.' Instead, use '할아버지께 전화를 드렸어요.' Using the wrong level of respect can make you sound impolite, even if your grammar is technically correct.
While 전화를 걸다 is the standard phrase, there are several alternatives depending on the context and the level of formality. Understanding these synonyms will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to navigate different social situations with ease.
- 전화하다 (To phone/call)
- The most common and versatile alternative. It covers both the act of calling and the act of talking. Use this for general statements like 'I'll call you later' (나중에 전화할게).
- 전화(를) 드리다 (To give a call - Honorific)
- Essential for speaking to elders, teachers, or bosses. It literally means 'to offer a call.' Always use this to show respect.
- 통화하다 (To talk on the phone)
- Focuses on the state of being in a conversation. '지금 통화 중이에요' means 'I am on the phone right now.' It is more formal than 전화하다.
- 연락하다 (To contact)
- A broader term that includes calling, texting, emailing, or meeting. If you aren't sure which method you'll use, say '연락할게요' (I'll contact you).
비교:
1. 친구에게 전화를 걸다 (Focus on the act of dialing)
2. 친구와 통화하다 (Focus on the conversation itself)
In some technical or older contexts, you might hear '전화를 넣다' (literally 'to put a call in'), though this is less common today. In modern slang or casual speech, people might say '보이스톡 해' (Do a VoiceTalk) referring specifically to the KakaoTalk calling feature. Knowing these distinctions allows you to choose the word that best fits your intent. For example, if you want to emphasize that you *tried* to reach someone but they didn't answer, '전화를 걸다' is much more descriptive than '전화하다'.
مثالها بر اساس سطح
친구한테 전화를 걸어요.
I call my friend.
Simple present tense using '걸어요'.
엄마한테 전화 걸었어요?
Did you call mom?
Past tense question form.
전화 걸지 마세요.
Please don't call.
-지 마세요 (Please don't...).
지금 전화 걸 거예요.
I will call now.
Future tense intention.
누구한테 전화 걸어요?
Who are you calling?
Question word '누구' (who).
집에 전화를 걸어요.
I call home.
Place + 에 (to a place).
전화 걸어 주세요.
Please make a call for me.
-어 주세요 (Requesting a favor).
매일 전화를 걸어요.
I call every day.
Frequency adverb '매일'.
선생님께 전화를 겁니다.
I call the teacher (formally).
Formal polite '겁니다' and honorific '께'.
전화를 걸고 싶어요.
I want to make a call.
-고 싶다 (Want to...).
전화를 걸어서 물어봤어요.
I called and asked.
-아서/어서 (and then/so).
왜 전화를 안 걸었어요?
Why didn't you call?
Negative '안' before the verb.
전화를 걸 줄 알아요?
Do you know how to make a call?
-ㄹ 줄 알다 (Know how to...).
전화를 걸면 소리가 나요.
If you call, it makes a sound.
-면 (If/When).
어제 친구한테 전화를 걸었어요.
I called my friend yesterday.
Past tense '걸었어요'.
여기서 전화를 걸 수 있어요?
Can I make a call here?
-ㄹ 수 있다 (Can/Possibility).
전화를 걸어 봤지만 안 받아요.
I tried calling, but they aren't answering.
-어 보다 (Try doing) + -지만 (but).
부장님께 전화를 드려야 해요.
I have to call the manager (honorific).
-어/아야 하다 (Must/Have to) with honorific '드리다'.
전화를 걸기 전에 메시지를 보내세요.
Send a message before you call.
-기 전에 (Before doing).
모르는 번호로 전화를 걸지 마세요.
Don't call from an unknown number.
Negative command with '모르는 번호'.
전화를 잘못 걸어서 죄송합니다.
I'm sorry, I dialed the wrong number.
Idiom '전화를 잘못 걸다'.
전화를 걸려고 하는데 배터리가 없어요.
I'm trying to call, but the battery is dead.
-려고 하다 (Intend to/Try to).
친구에게 전화를 걸어 놓을게요.
I'll place a call to my friend (and leave it that way).
-어 놓다 (To do something for future use).
전화를 거는 사람이 누구예요?
Who is the person calling?
Noun modifying form '-는'.
예약 확인을 위해 호텔에 전화를 걸었습니다.
I called the hotel to confirm the reservation.
-을 위해 (For the sake of/In order to).
전화를 걸 때마다 통화 중이네요.
Every time I call, it's busy.
-을 때마다 (Every time...).
급한 일이 생겨서 전화를 걸 수밖에 없었어요.
I had no choice but to call because something urgent came up.
-을 수밖에 없다 (No choice but to...).
전화를 걸려던 참에 그에게서 연락이 왔어요.
Just as I was about to call, he contacted me.
-려던 참에 (Just as I was about to...).
전화를 걸어서 상황을 자세히 설명했어요.
I called and explained the situation in detail.
Detailed description in past tense.
해외로 전화를 거는 방법이 복잡해요.
The method of making international calls is complicated.
Noun modifying form '-는 방법'.
전화를 걸어 준 덕분에 문제를 해결했어요.
Thanks to you calling, I solved the problem.
-ㄴ 덕분에 (Thanks to...).
언제든지 필요하면 전화를 거세요.
Call anytime if you need to.
Honorific command '거세요'.
그녀에게 전화를 걸 용기가 나지 않았다.
I didn't have the courage to call her.
Literary style past tense.
전화를 걸어봤자 아무도 받지 않을 것이다.
Even if I try calling, no one will answer.
-어 봤자 (Even if... it's useless).
사건의 진상을 파악하기 위해 경찰에 전화를 걸었다.
I called the police to grasp the truth of the incident.
Formal academic vocabulary '진상 파악'.
그는 습관적으로 옛 친구들에게 전화를 걸곤 한다.
He habitually makes calls to old friends.
-곤 하다 (Habitually do...).
전화를 거는 행위 자체가 부담스럽게 느껴질 때가 있다.
There are times when the act of calling itself feels burdensome.
Abstract noun phrase '행위 자체'.
공중전화로 전화를 거는 사람을 보기가 힘들어졌다.
It has become difficult to see people calling from public phones.
Observation of social change.
전화를 걸어 안부를 묻는 것이 예의라고 생각한다.
I think it is polite to call and ask how someone is doing.
Subjective opinion structure.
비상시에 대비해 전화를 걸 수 있는 상태를 유지해야 한다.
One must maintain a state where they can call in case of emergency.
Conditional '대비해' and '유지해야 한다'.
기술의 발전은 '전화를 걸다'라는 표현의 물리적 의미를 퇴색시켰다.
Technological advancement has faded the physical meaning of the expression 'to make a call'.
Sophisticated academic analysis.
그는 침묵을 깨기 위해 조심스럽게 전화를 걸어 보았다.
He carefully tried calling to break the silence.
Metaphorical and literary use.
문자 메시지의 범람 속에서도 전화를 거는 행위는 여전히 인격적인 교류의 정점으로 남는다.
Amidst the overflow of text messages, the act of calling remains the pinnacle of personal interaction.
Complex philosophical sentence.
과거에는 교환원을 통해 전화를 걸어야 했던 시절이 있었다.
There was a time in the past when one had to call through an operator.
Historical reference.
전화를 거는 순간의 긴장감은 디지털 시대에도 변함이 없다.
The tension at the moment of making a call remains unchanged even in the digital age.
Universal psychological observation.
상대방의 사정을 고려하지 않고 전화를 거는 것은 무례한 일이다.
Calling without considering the other person's situation is a rude thing to do.
Ethical/Etiquette judgment.
전화를 걸어 목소리를 듣는 것만으로도 큰 위안이 될 때가 있다.
Sometimes, just calling and hearing a voice can be a great comfort.
Emotional depth.
현대인들에게 전화를 거는 일은 단순한 통신을 넘어선 심리적 결단이다.
For modern people, making a call is a psychological decision that goes beyond simple communication.
Sociological commentary.
ترکیبهای رایج
عبارات رایج
— Can you make a call for me? Used when asking for a simple favor.
손이 바빠서 그런데, 전화 좀 걸어 줄래?
— To call and check something. Very common in business.
배송 상태를 전화를 걸어 확인해 보세요.
— To try calling. Implies you aren't sure if they'll answer.
일단 한번 전화를 걸어 보자.
— A place worth calling or a place where one can make a call.
주변에 전화를 걸 만한 곳이 없어요.
— To call and consult. Used for services.
전문가에게 전화를 걸어 상담하세요.
— To call and wake someone up.
내일 아침에 전화를 걸어 깨워 줘.
— To call and inform someone of something.
결과가 나오면 바로 전화를 걸어 알릴게요.
— To call and ask for a favor.
친구에게 전화를 걸어 부탁해 봤어요.
— To call and apologize.
어제 일은 전화를 걸어 사과하는 게 좋겠어.
— To call and make an appointment/plans.
주말에 만날 약속을 전화를 걸어 잡았어요.
اصطلاحات و عبارات
— To strike up a conversation. Uses the same '걸다' logic as starting a connection.
모르는 사람에게 말을 걸기가 힘들어요.
Neutral— To pick a fight or start an argument. Also uses '걸다'.
그 사람이 나에게 자꾸 시비를 걸어요.
Informal— To place high hopes or expectations on someone/something.
우리는 이번 프로젝트에 큰 기대를 걸고 있다.
Formal— To risk one's life. '걸다' here means to bet or stake.
그는 자신의 일에 목숨을 걸었다.
Neutral— To start a fight.
먼저 싸움을 거는 쪽이 잘못이다.
Neutral— To hypnotize someone.
의사가 환자에게 최면을 걸었습니다.
Formal— To make a prank call.
경찰서에 장난 전화를 걸면 처벌받아요.
Informal— To transfer a call or to make multiple calls to different people.
담당자에게 전화를 돌려 드리겠습니다.
Formal— To ignore a call (slang). Literally 'to chew a call'.
내 전화를 왜 자꾸 씹어?
Summary
The phrase '전화를 걸다' is the most precise way to say 'to make a call' in Korean. Remember that '걸다' is an ㄹ-irregular verb, so it conjugates to '걸어요' or '겁니다'. Example: '친구한테 전화를 걸었어요' (I called my friend).
- To make a phone call by dialing a number.
- Uses the irregular verb '걸다' (to hang/dial).
- Requires '에게/한테' for the person being called.
- Standard phrase for initiating voice communication.
محتوای مرتبط
این کلمه در زبانهای دیگر
قواعد دستوری مرتبط
واژههای بیشتر general
몇몇
A2تعدادی; اندکی.
조금
A1من کمی کره ای بلدم. (한국어를 조금 알아요.)
적게
A1کم، به مقدار کم. برای توصیف کاری که به میزان محدودی انجام میشود استفاده میشود.
약간
A2کمی؛ اندکی. برای توصیف مقدار کم یا درجه ناچیز استفاده میشود.
많이
A1خیلی / زیاد. 'خیلی خوردم' (많이 먹었어요). 'خیلی دلم برات تنگ شده' (많이 보고 싶었어요).
잠시
A2برای یک لحظه؛ به طور خلاصه. 'لطفا یک لحظه صبر کنید.' (잠시만 기다려 주세요.) 'من کمی بعد برمی گردم.' (잠시 후에 돌아오겠습니다.)
잠깐
A2For a short time; a moment.
아까
A2کمی پیش، قبلا. من او را کمی پیش دیدم.
대해
A2به معنای 'درباره' یا 'در مورد'. برای معرفی موضوع یک گفتگو یا فکر استفاده میشود.
~에 대해서
A2درباره؛ در مورد.
