Signification
To feel unwilling or burdened to go somewhere.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is deeply tied to the concept of 'Jeong' ({情|정}). Expressing that your steps are heavy when leaving someone is a way to show you value the relationship. In the intense 'Hell Joseon' discourse, this phrase is used to describe the collective burnout of office workers heading to work. Korean novelists often use '무거운 발걸음' to foreshadow a tragic event or a difficult decision a character is about to make. Koreans use this idiom in hashtags like #발걸음이무겁다 to ironically or sincerely complain about returning to reality after a trip.
Use it for empathy
If a friend says they have to go to a difficult meeting, say '발걸음이 무겁겠네요' (Your steps must be heavy) to show you understand their stress.
Don't use for physical pain
If your feet hurt from new shoes, don't use this. Use '발이 아파요' instead.
Signification
To feel unwilling or burdened to go somewhere.
Use it for empathy
If a friend says they have to go to a difficult meeting, say '발걸음이 무겁겠네요' (Your steps must be heavy) to show you understand their stress.
Don't use for physical pain
If your feet hurt from new shoes, don't use this. Use '발이 아파요' instead.
Combine with '차마'
Adding '차마' (cannot bear to) before the phrase makes it sound very natural and poetic: '차마 발걸음이 무거워 떠나지 못했다'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and adjective form.
부모님과 헤어지려니 발걸음___ _________.
The subject particle '이' is used with '발걸음', and '무거워요' is the correct polite conjugation.
Which situation best fits the phrase '발걸음이 무겁다'?
어떤 상황에서 이 표현을 쓸까요?
Going to school after a vacation usually involves a feeling of reluctance, which fits '발걸음이 무겁다'.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 지수 씨, 왜 그렇게 천천히 걸어요? 나: 아... 오늘 사장님께 혼날 것 같아서 ________________.
The context of being scolded by the boss creates a psychological burden, making '발걸음이 무겁네요' the correct choice.
Choose the sentence that uses the idiom INCORRECTLY.
다음 중 표현이 어색한 문장은?
In this case, the person is physically tired from walking. They should use '다리가 아파요' or '피곤해요' instead of the figurative idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Heavy vs Light Steps
Banque d exercices
4 exercices부모님과 헤어지려니 발걸음___ _________.
The subject particle '이' is used with '발걸음', and '무거워요' is the correct polite conjugation.
어떤 상황에서 이 표현을 쓸까요?
Going to school after a vacation usually involves a feeling of reluctance, which fits '발걸음이 무겁다'.
가: 지수 씨, 왜 그렇게 천천히 걸어요? 나: 아... 오늘 사장님께 혼날 것 같아서 ________________.
The context of being scolded by the boss creates a psychological burden, making '발걸음이 무겁네요' the correct choice.
다음 중 표현이 어색한 문장은?
In this case, the person is physically tired from walking. They should use '다리가 아파요' or '피곤해요' instead of the figurative idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsNo, it is almost exclusively for negative or somber emotions. For positive situations, use '발걸음이 가볍다'.
Yes, if you are expressing regret about leaving a position or declining an invitation, it is very polite and professional.
'마음이 무겁다' is about guilt or worry in general. '발걸음이 무겁다' specifically involves the act of going somewhere or leaving.
Yes, it is a compound noun made of '발' (foot) and '걸음' (step).
Expressions liées
발길이 떨어지지 않다
similarTo be unable to leave because of sadness or attachment.
마음이 무겁다
similarTo have a heavy heart/feel guilty.
발걸음이 가볍다
contrastTo have light steps (be excited to go).
어깨가 무겁다
similarTo feel a heavy responsibility.
