Signification
To feel extremely anxious or worried, as if one's blood is drying up.
Contexte culturel
The phrase reflects 'Hanbang' (traditional medicine) where emotions are tied to physical elements like blood and fire. The 'pali-pali' culture makes the agony of waiting even more intense, leading to frequent use of this phrase in office settings. Suspenseful endings (cliffhangers) are often described by viewers as '{피|血} 말리는 엔딩' (blood-drying endings). The 'Suneung' exam period is the national 'blood-drying' season for millions of families.
Use '바짝바짝'
Add '바짝바짝' before '마르다' to sound like a native speaker who is truly at their limit.
Don't use for small things
If you use it for a 2-minute wait, people will think you are being sarcastic or dramatic.
Signification
To feel extremely anxious or worried, as if one's blood is drying up.
Use '바짝바짝'
Add '바짝바짝' before '마르다' to sound like a native speaker who is truly at their limit.
Don't use for small things
If you use it for a 2-minute wait, people will think you are being sarcastic or dramatic.
Causative form
If someone is annoying you with constant questions, you can say '사람 {피|血} 좀 말리지 마세요' (Stop drying my blood/tormenting me).
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrase.
{시험|試驗} {결과|結果}를 기다리는 동안 너무 긴장해서 ( ) 것 같아요.
Since the subject is the feeling of the person waiting, the intransitive '가 마르는' is correct.
Which situation is MOST appropriate for using '{피|血}가 마르다'?
다음 중 '{피|血}가 마르다'를 쓰기에 가장 적절한 상황은?
This phrase is for high-stakes suspense, like waiting for medical results.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 왜 그렇게 초조해 보여요? B: 오늘이 대출 승인 날인데 아직 연락이 없어서 ( ).
Waiting for a loan approval is a high-stress situation where one's blood would 'dry up'.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercices{시험|試驗} {결과|結果}를 기다리는 동안 너무 긴장해서 ( ) 것 같아요.
Since the subject is the feeling of the person waiting, the intransitive '가 마르는' is correct.
다음 중 '{피|血}가 마르다'를 쓰기에 가장 적절한 상황은?
This phrase is for high-stakes suspense, like waiting for medical results.
A: 왜 그렇게 초조해 보여요? B: 오늘이 대출 승인 날인데 아직 연락이 없어서 ( ).
Waiting for a loan approval is a high-stress situation where one's blood would 'dry up'.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot at all! While it sounds graphic, it's a very standard idiom. It's no scarier than saying 'I'm dying of curiosity' in English.
Usually no. It implies a negative, painful kind of stress. For positive excitement, use '설레다'.
'피가 마르다' is about the agony of waiting for a result. '애가 타다' is more about the restless longing or worry for someone's safety.
It becomes '{피|血}가 말랐어요' (My blood dried).
You can use it to describe a *past* challenge, but don't say it *to* the interviewer about the current interview, as it might sound too informal.
In Korean culture, blood represents your life essence. If it dries, your life is fading—a perfect metaphor for extreme stress.
No. '건조하다' is for skin or weather. '마르다' is the only verb used in this idiom.
Younger people might say '말려 죽이다' (to dry someone to death) when someone is being very annoying or stressful.
No, use '목이 마르다' for that.
The word '피' is native Korean, but the Hanja for blood is {혈|血}. You might see '{혈|血}이 마르다' in very old books, but never in speech.
Expressions liées
애가 타다
synonymTo be very anxious (lit. intestines are burning)
속이 타다
similarTo be anxious/frustrated inside
진땀을 흘리다
similarTo sweat hard (from a difficult situation)
안절부절못하다
similarTo be restless
