Signification
To work extremely hard, often implying physical strain or difficulty.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is deeply tied to 'Education Fever' (교육열). Parents often sacrifice their retirement savings for their children's private education, literally 'bending their backs' for the next generation. The 'Jigye' (A-frame carrier) was the primary tool for transport. The physical reality of a farmer's bent back from years of carrying wood is the visual root of this idiom. Used to describe the 'Overtime Culture' (야근 문화). Employees use it to express that the workload is unsustainable. First-generation immigrants often use this phrase to describe the hard manual labor they performed in new countries to support their children's education.
Use with '-느라'
Always try to say *why* your back is bending using '-느라'. E.g., '공부하느라', '일하느라'.
Not for physical injury
If you fell down and your back hurts, do not use this. People will think you are talking about your job.
Signification
To work extremely hard, often implying physical strain or difficulty.
Use with '-느라'
Always try to say *why* your back is bending using '-느라'. E.g., '공부하느라', '일하느라'.
Not for physical injury
If you fell down and your back hurts, do not use this. People will think you are talking about your job.
The 'Spine Breaker' connection
If you like K-pop, listen to BTS's 'Spine Breaker' (등골브레이커) to understand the cultural weight of this idiom.
Empathy is key
When someone says this to you, the best response is '정말 고생이 많으시네요' (You are really going through a lot).
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '허리가 휘다'.
요즘 물가가 너무 비싸서 생활비 때문에 ( ).
The context is high prices and living costs, which is a classic 'bending back' situation.
Which situation is the MOST appropriate for using '허리가 휘다'?
When would a Korean person say this?
The phrase is used for heavy financial or work burdens.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 김 과장님, 요즘 왜 그렇게 피곤해 보이세요? 나: 프로젝트 마감이라서 ( ).
'-도록 일하다' is a common pattern to show the intensity of work.
Match the phrase to the meaning.
Match '허리가 휘다' with its figurative meaning.
The 'bending' represents the weight of the burden.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Literal vs Figurative
Banque d exercices
4 exercices요즘 물가가 너무 비싸서 생활비 때문에 ( ).
The context is high prices and living costs, which is a classic 'bending back' situation.
When would a Korean person say this?
The phrase is used for heavy financial or work burdens.
가: 김 과장님, 요즘 왜 그렇게 피곤해 보이세요? 나: 프로젝트 마감이라서 ( ).
'-도록 일하다' is a common pattern to show the intensity of work.
Match '허리가 휘다' with its figurative meaning.
The 'bending' represents the weight of the burden.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's a very standard idiom. However, don't use it to describe a superior's work unless you are being very empathetic, as it might sound like you're commenting on their personal struggle too familiarly.
Yes, you can use it literally if a bag is extremely heavy, but 90% of the time it's used figuratively.
'허리' is the waist/lower back. '등골' is the spine. '등골이 휘다' is more dramatic and often implies someone else is 'sucking the life' out of you (like a child spending a parent's money).
Use '허리를 펴다'. It means you are finally out of a difficult situation.
Yes, it's very common in newspaper editorials about the economy.
That usually refers to the physical posture of an old person. For the idiom of burden, '휘다' is the correct verb.
Yes, '등골 브레이커' (Spine Breaker) is a famous slang term derived from this concept.
Not necessarily. It usually just expresses that the current situation is very hard to endure.
Usually, it's tied to work or money. For purely emotional stress, '마음이 무겁다' (heart is heavy) is better.
Yes, young people use it to complain about part-time jobs or high rent.
Expressions liées
등골이 휘다
similarTo have one's spine bend.
뼈 빠지게 일하다
synonymTo work so hard your bones fall out.
허리를 펴다
contrastTo straighten one's back.
고생문이 훤하다
builds onThe gate of hardship is wide open.
손이 발이 되도록 빌다
similarTo pray until your hands become feet.
