Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this phrase to express physical discomfort in your feet after walking, hiking, or wearing tight shoes.
- Means: My feet hurt/ache (literal physical pain).
- Used in: After long walks, hiking, or wearing new high heels.
- Don't confuse: With '다리가 아프다' which refers to the whole leg.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
To experience pain or discomfort in one's feet.
Contexte culturel
Hiking is a national obsession. It's common to see people in full professional gear even for small hills. Complaining about foot pain is a standard part of the social experience. Koreans believe the feet are the 'second heart.' Foot pain is often seen as a sign of poor circulation or organ health. For Korean men, foot pain is associated with 'Haeng-gun' (marches). It's a symbol of endurance and shared hardship. Seoul is a walking city. Public transport is great, but the transfers involve a lot of stairs, leading to frequent 'bal-i apeuda' complaints.
Use with '-네요'
Saying '{발|足}이 {아프네요|痛---}' sounds more natural when you just realized your feet are hurting.
Don't say '아프해요'
This is a common mistake. Adjectives like '아프다' don't use the '-하다' form for yourself.
Use with '-네요'
Saying '{발|足}이 {아프네요|痛---}' sounds more natural when you just realized your feet are hurting.
Don't say '아프해요'
This is a common mistake. Adjectives like '아프다' don't use the '-하다' form for yourself.
The 'Excuse' Protip
If you want to leave a boring party, just say '{발|足}이 너무 {아파서|痛--} 먼저 갈게요' (My feet hurt so I'll go first). It's a very hard excuse to argue with!
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '아프다'.
너무 많이 걸어서 {발|足}이 ( ).
The polite present tense of '아프다' is '아파요'.
Which sentence is the most natural when your new shoes are uncomfortable?
새 구두를 신었어요. 그래서...
Shoes affect your feet (발).
Complete the dialogue.
A: 우리 좀 쉴까요? B: 네, 저도 ( ) 좀 ( ).
Resting (쉬다) is usually associated with foot pain after walking.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You just finished a 5-hour hike up Bukhansan.
Hiking causes foot pain.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Foot vs Leg
Banque d exercices
5 exercices너무 많이 걸어서 {발|足}이 ( ).
The polite present tense of '아프다' is '아파요'.
새 구두를 신었어요. 그래서...
Shoes affect your feet (발).
A: 우리 좀 쉴까요? B: 네, 저도 ( ) 좀 ( ).
Resting (쉬다) is usually associated with foot pain after walking.
Situation: You just finished a 5-hour hike up Bukhansan.
Hiking causes foot pain.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, for hands you must use '{손|手}이 {아파요|痛--}'.
It is always '발이' because '아프다' is an adjective describing the state of the foot.
You can say '{발|足}이 {아파|痛} 죽겠어요' (lit. Hurting to death).
Yes, '{발|足}이 좀 {아픕니다|痛---}' or '{발|足}이 좀 {아파요|痛--}' is perfectly fine.
You can say '왼쪽(left) {발|足}이 {아파요|痛--}' or '오른쪽(right) {발|足}이 {아파요|痛--}'.
Usually, it just means you walked too much, but if it lasts, you should see a doctor.
'아프다' is the common verb/adjective; '통증' is the medical noun for 'pain'.
Yes, but '{발목|足頸}을 {삐었어요|---}' is more specific.
It's a way of acknowledging the physical effort and bonding over the challenge.
Young people might say '{발|足} {조졌다|---}' (vulgar) or '{발|足} {터질|--} 것 {같다|--}'.
Expressions liées
{발바닥|足掌}이 {아프다|痛}
specialized formThe soles of the feet hurt
{발|足}이 {저리다|---}
similarFeet are numb/tingling
{다리|脚}가 {아프다|痛}
similarLegs hurt
{발|足}을 {삐다|--}
builds onTo sprain an ankle/foot
{발|足}이 {붓다|--}
similarFeet are swollen
Où l'utiliser
After Hiking
Friend A: 정상까지 다 왔어요!
Friend B: 와, 진짜 힘들다. {발|足}이 너무 {아파요|痛--}.
Shopping in Myeongdong
Tourist: 우리 더 쇼핑해요!
Guide: 잠시만요, 저는 {발|足}이 {아파서|痛--} 좀 쉬어야겠어요.
Wearing New Shoes
Sister: 그 구두 예쁘다!
Me: 고마워. 근데 새 거라서 {발|足}이 좀 {아파|痛}.
At a Wedding
Colleague: 계속 서 계시네요.
Manager: 네, 구두를 오래 신었더니 {발|足}이 좀 {아픕니다|痛---}.
At the Doctor
Doctor: 어디가 불편하세요?
Patient: 왼쪽 {발|足}이 계속 {아파요|痛--}.
After a Long Flight
Traveler: 드디어 도착했다!
Partner: 비행기에서 너무 오래 앉아 있었더니 {발|足}이 {아프네|痛-}.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of a 'Bar' (발) falling on your foot. Ouch! My 'Bar' (발) hurts (아파요)!
Association visuelle
Imagine a person sitting on a park bench in Seoul, holding their foot with a 'thought bubble' showing a mountain they just climbed.
Rhyme
발이 아파, 집에 가파 (My feet hurt, I want to go home - '가파' is a playful rhyme for '가고 싶어').
Story
You are shopping in Myeongdong. You see a beautiful pair of shoes. You wear them all day. By 5 PM, you look at your friend and say '발이 아파요'. Your friend points to a cafe. You sit, drink coffee, and the pain goes away.
In Other Languages
Similar to 'My feet are killing me' in English or 'Me duelen los pies' in Spanish, focusing on the physical sensation of fatigue.
Word Web
Défi
Next time you take a walk, say '발이 아파요' to yourself every time you see a bench.
Review this when you are actually tired from walking; the physical sensation will anchor the memory.
Prononciation
The 'ㄹ' moves to the next syllable because of the '이'.
The 'ㅍ' is aspirated (strong puff of air).
Spectre de formalité
{발|足}이 {아픕니다|痛---}. (General statement of pain)
{발|足}이 {아파요|痛--}. (General statement of pain)
{발|足}이 {아파|痛}. (General statement of pain)
{발|足} {터질|--} 것 {같아|--}. (General statement of pain)
The word '발' is a pure Korean (native) word for foot. '아프다' is also a native Korean adjective. Together, they form a basic S-V (Subject-Adjective) structure that has existed since the earliest forms of the language.
Le savais-tu ?
In old Korea, people used to massage their feet with wooden rollers to cure 'foot pain' after long journeys.
Notes culturelles
Hiking is a national obsession. It's common to see people in full professional gear even for small hills. Complaining about foot pain is a standard part of the social experience.
“아이고, {발|足}이야! (Oh, my feet!)”
Koreans believe the feet are the 'second heart.' Foot pain is often seen as a sign of poor circulation or organ health.
“{발|足}이 {아프면|痛-} {건강|健康}이 안 좋은 거예요. (If your feet hurt, your health is not good.)”
For Korean men, foot pain is associated with 'Haeng-gun' (marches). It's a symbol of endurance and shared hardship.
“군대에서 {발|足}이 진짜 {아팠지|痛--}. (My feet really hurt in the army, right?)”
Seoul is a walking city. Public transport is great, but the transfers involve a lot of stairs, leading to frequent 'bal-i apeuda' complaints.
“지하철 환승이 너무 길어서 {발|足}이 {아파요|痛--}. (The subway transfer is so long my feet hurt.)”
Amorces de conversation
오늘 많이 걸었어요? {발|足}은 안 {아파요|痛--}?
새 구두를 신으면 보통 어디가 가장 {아파요|痛--}?
등산 후에 {발|足}이 {아플|痛-} 때 좋은 방법이 있나요?
Erreurs courantes
{발|足}이 {아프해요|---}
{발|足}이 {아파요|痛--}
L1 Interference
{다리|脚}가 {아파요|痛--} (when referring to the foot)
{발|足}이 {아파요|痛--}
L1 Interference
{발|足}을 {아파요|痛--}
{발|足}이 {아파요|痛--}
L1 Interference
{마음|心}이 {발|足}처럼 {아파요|痛--}
{마음|心}이 {아파요|痛--}
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
足が痛い (Ashi ga itai)
Korean distinguishes between foot (bal) and leg (dari) more strictly.
脚疼 (Jiǎo téng)
Chinese doesn't require the subject markers that Korean does.
Me duelen los pies
Korean uses a simple Subject + Adjective structure.
J'ai mal aux pieds
Korean describes the foot's state; French describes the person's possession of pain.
Meine Füße tun weh
German uses a possessive pronoun (meine), whereas Korean often omits it.
قدماي تؤلمانني (Qadamaya tu'limanani)
Korean does not have a dual form for body parts.
Meus pés estão doendo
Korean uses a simple adjective that covers both state and progression.
My feet hurt
English uses a verb (hurt), while Korean uses an adjective (아프다).
Spotted in the Real World
“아, {발|足}이 너무 {아파요|痛--}! 좀 쉬자!”
After a long mission involving running through a park.
“새 구두를 신으면 {발|足}이 {아파|痛}...”
Lyrics describing the discomfort of high heels.
“{발|足}이 {아파서|痛--} 못 걷겠어요.”
A character complaining about physical fatigue.
Facile à confondre
Learners often mix up 'foot' (bal) and 'leg' (dari).
Remember: 'Bal' is for your shoes, 'Dari' is for your pants.
Sounds similar to a beginner's ear.
Bae = Belly, Bal = Foot.
Questions fréquentes (10)
No, for hands you must use '{손|手}이 {아파요|痛--}'.
basic understandingIt is always '발이' because '아프다' is an adjective describing the state of the foot.
grammar mechanicsYou can say '{발|足}이 {아파|痛} 죽겠어요' (lit. Hurting to death).
usage contextsYes, '{발|足}이 좀 {아픕니다|痛---}' or '{발|足}이 좀 {아파요|痛--}' is perfectly fine.
cultural usageYou can say '왼쪽(left) {발|足}이 {아파요|痛--}' or '오른쪽(right) {발|足}이 {아파요|痛--}'.
practical tipsUsually, it just means you walked too much, but if it lasts, you should see a doctor.
basic understanding'아프다' is the common verb/adjective; '통증' is the medical noun for 'pain'.
comparisonsYes, but '{발목|足頸}을 {삐었어요|---}' is more specific.
usage contextsIt's a way of acknowledging the physical effort and bonding over the challenge.
cultural usageYoung people might say '{발|足} {조졌다|---}' (vulgar) or '{발|足} {터질|--} 것 {같다|--}'.
practical tips
