Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when a thought, song, or lesson is so strong it simply won't leave your mind.
- Means: To be firmly fixed in your memory like a nail in wood.
- Used in: Studying for exams, catchy songs, or hearing important advice.
- Don't confuse: Don't use it for physical pain in the head.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
To be firmly fixed in one's memory or understanding.
Contexte culturel
The term '수능 금지곡' (CSAT Forbidden Songs) refers to songs so catchy that they '머리에 박혀서' (stick in the head) and distract students during the national exam. In Korean traditional education, rote memorization of Chinese characters ({한자|漢字}) was essential. The idea of 'nailing' knowledge into the head stems from this rigorous study culture. K-pop producers intentionally use 'killing parts'—short, repetitive phrases designed to '머리에 박히다' for global audiences who may not speak Korean. Parents often use the related phrase '귀에 못이 박히다' (calluses in the ear) to describe how many times they've told their children something, showing the '박히다' metaphor's prevalence in discipline.
Use with Adverbs
Pair it with '딱' (ttak) to sound more natural. '머리에 딱 박혔어!' sounds very native.
Passive Voice
Always remember it's '박히다' (passive). If you say '박다', people will think you are hammering a physical nail.
Use with Adverbs
Pair it with '딱' (ttak) to sound more natural. '머리에 딱 박혔어!' sounds very native.
Passive Voice
Always remember it's '박히다' (passive). If you say '박다', people will think you are hammering a physical nail.
Song Context
If you find a song annoying but catchy, this is the perfect phrase to use.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '박히다'.
어제 배운 문법이 아직 머리에 잘 안 (____).
The sentence is in the present tense/general state, so '박혀요' is correct. '박혔어요' would mean it already didn't stick in the past.
Which situation is MOST appropriate for '머리에 박히다'?
When would you say '머리에 딱 박혔어요'?
The idiom refers to information being firmly understood or memorized.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 이 노래 어때? B: 너무 좋아. 멜로디가 (____).
B is saying the melody is catchy and stuck in their head.
Match the phrase to the nuance.
Match '머리에 박히다' with its best description.
The phrase emphasizes the firmness and permanence of a memory.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Active vs Passive
Banque d exercices
5 exercices어제 배운 문법이 아직 머리에 잘 안 (____).
The sentence is in the present tense/general state, so '박혀요' is correct. '박혔어요' would mean it already didn't stick in the past.
When would you say '머리에 딱 박혔어요'?
The idiom refers to information being firmly understood or memorized.
A: 이 노래 어때? B: 너무 좋아. 멜로디가 (____).
B is saying the melody is catchy and stuck in their head.
Match '머리에 박히다' with its best description.
The phrase emphasizes the firmness and permanence of a memory.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsYes, if a shocking scene is stuck in your head, you can say '그 장면이 머리에 박혔어요.'
It's a bit casual. Better to say '깊이 각인되었습니다' (It was deeply imprinted) or '가슴에 새겼습니다'.
'외우다' is the action of trying to memorize. '박히다' is the result of it being successfully stored.
Yes, but it usually means something hurt your feelings or touched you emotionally.
Yes, in this context it is the passive form of '박다'.
Expressions liées
뇌리에 남다
similarTo remain in one's mind/brain
귀에 못이 박히다
builds onTo be sick of hearing something
가슴에 새기다
similarTo engrave in one's heart
잊혀지지 않다
synonymTo not be forgotten
머리를 짜내다
contrastTo rack one's brain
Où l'utiliser
Catchy Song
Friend A: 너 왜 계속 그 노래만 불러?
Friend B: 몰라, 멜로디가 머리에 박혀서 안 떠나.
Studying Vocabulary
Student: 이 단어 너무 어려워요. 머리에 안 박혀요.
Teacher: 여러 번 써 보세요. 그럼 박힐 거예요.
Impactful Advice
Mentor: 실패를 두려워하지 마세요.
Mentee: 그 말씀이 제 머리에 깊이 박혔습니다.
Marketing Meeting
Manager: 우리 브랜드 이름이 소비자 머리에 박혀야 합니다.
Employee: 네, 강렬한 광고를 준비하겠습니다.
Shocking News
Person A: 어제 뉴스 봤어?
Person B: 응, 그 사고 장면이 머리에 박혀서 잠을 못 잤어.
Learning a Recipe
Mom: 설탕은 한 스푼만 넣는 거 잊지 마.
Son: 걱정 마, 머리에 딱 박아 뒀어.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of your brain as a soft piece of wood and a new word as a nail. To keep the word there, you have to 'hammer' it in until it's '박히다' (stuck).
Association visuelle
Imagine a giant cartoon nail with the word 'KOREAN' written on it being gently hammered into a smiling brain. The nail is now part of the brain.
Rhyme
머리에 쏙, 기억이 꼭! (In the head smoothly, memory surely!)
Story
Min-su was studying for his history exam. He read the dates ten times, but they wouldn't stay. Finally, his teacher told a funny story about the King. Suddenly, the date '박혔다' (stuck) in his head like a nail, and he never forgot it again.
In Other Languages
In English, we say something is 'etched in memory' or 'stuck in my head.' In Japanese, they use '頭に焼き付く' (burned into the head).
Word Web
Défi
Find a K-pop song chorus you like. Listen to it 5 times. Then, tell a friend in Korean: '이 노래가 머리에 박혔어요!'
Review this phrase after 1 day, then 3 days. Try to use it whenever you successfully memorize a new Korean word.
Prononciation
Pronounce 'meo-ri' clearly, 'e' is the location particle.
The 'k' sound in '박' and 'h' in '히' combine to sound like a strong 'k' (aspirated).
Spectre de formalité
설명이 머리에 깊이 박혔습니다. (After a lesson)
설명이 머리에 박혔어요. (After a lesson)
설명이 머리에 딱 박혔어. (After a lesson)
설명 대박, 머리에 꽂혔어! (Slang '꽂히다' is often used similarly) (After a lesson)
Derived from the physical action of driving a nail (못) into wood. The passive form '박히다' describes the state of the nail being immovable once driven in.
Le savais-tu ?
The verb '박다' is also used in '대박' (daebak), though the etymology of 'daebak' is debated, some link it to 'hitting/driving in' a big win.
Notes culturelles
The term '수능 금지곡' (CSAT Forbidden Songs) refers to songs so catchy that they '머리에 박혀서' (stick in the head) and distract students during the national exam.
“SHINee's 'Ring Ding Dong' is a famous example of a song that gets '머리에 박히다'.”
In Korean traditional education, rote memorization of Chinese characters ({한자|漢字}) was essential. The idea of 'nailing' knowledge into the head stems from this rigorous study culture.
“천자문을 머리에 박힐 때까지 외웠다. (I memorized the Thousand Character Classic until it was nailed into my head.)”
K-pop producers intentionally use 'killing parts'—short, repetitive phrases designed to '머리에 박히다' for global audiences who may not speak Korean.
“The 'DDU-DU DDU-DU' hook is designed to stick in your head instantly.”
Parents often use the related phrase '귀에 못이 박히다' (calluses in the ear) to describe how many times they've told their children something, showing the '박히다' metaphor's prevalence in discipline.
“공부하라는 소리가 귀에 못이 박히게 들었다. (I heard 'Go study' so much I have calluses in my ears.)”
Amorces de conversation
요즘 머리에 박힌 노래가 있어요?
한국어 단어 중에서 가장 머리에 잘 박히는 단어는 뭐예요?
선생님의 조언 중에서 머리에 깊이 박힌 것이 있나요?
Erreurs courantes
머리에 박았어요 (when meaning it's stuck)
머리에 박혔어요
L1 Interference
머리를 박혔어요
머리에 박혔어요
L1 Interference
귀에 박혔어요 (to mean memorized)
머리에 박혔어요
L1 Interference
생각이 머리에 박아요
생각이 머리에 박혀요
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Stuck in my head / Etched in my memory
English uses 'stuck' for songs more often, while Korean uses '박히다' equally for songs and study.
頭に焼き付く (Atama ni yakitsuku)
The Japanese version emphasizes a visual image being 'burned' in, while Korean emphasizes a fact being 'driven' in.
印在脑海里 (Yìn zài nǎohǎi lǐ)
Chinese is more poetic/visual; Korean is more mechanical/physical (nailing).
Grabado en la memoria
Spanish uses 'engraved' (grabado), which implies a more artistic or deliberate process than 'nailing'.
Avoir dans la tête
French lacks the specific 'nailing' verb nuance found in Korean.
Im Gedächtnis eingebrannt
German focuses on the heat/intensity of the memory formation.
محفور في الذاكرة (Mahfur fi al-dhakira)
Arabic implies a slow, deliberate carving, whereas Korean '박히다' can be sudden.
Ficar na cabeça
Less emphasis on the 'physical' act of being driven in compared to Korean.
Spotted in the Real World
“머릿속에 울린다... (Implied context of the song being an earworm)”
The song is the most famous 'CSAT Forbidden Song' because it gets stuck in the head.
“이 공식이 머리에 박힐 때까지 풀어!”
A strict coach telling a student to memorize math formulas.
Facile à confondre
Both use '박히다' and involve the head/ears.
Use '머리' for things you WANT to remember or catchy songs. Use '귀' for things you are TIRED of hearing.
One is active, one is passive.
'머리를 박다' means to physically hit your head against something (like bowing deeply or an accident).
Questions fréquentes (5)
Yes, if a shocking scene is stuck in your head, you can say '그 장면이 머리에 박혔어요.'
usage contextsIt's a bit casual. Better to say '깊이 각인되었습니다' (It was deeply imprinted) or '가슴에 새겼습니다'.
practical tips'외우다' is the action of trying to memorize. '박히다' is the result of it being successfully stored.
basic understandingYes, but it usually means something hurt your feelings or touched you emotionally.
usage contextsYes, in this context it is the passive form of '박다'.
grammar mechanics
