A1 Idiom Neutre

발이 느리다

Bari neurida

To be slow-footed

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use '발이 느리다' to describe someone who is physically slow or takes a long time to get ready or react.

  • Means: To be physically slow or sluggish in movement.
  • Used in: Describing people who walk slowly or are slow to start tasks.
  • Don't confuse: It is not used for 'mental' slowness, only physical or reaction-based.
🐢 (Turtle) + 🏃 (Runner) = 발이 느리다

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means your feet move slowly. We use it when someone walks slowly or is slow to get ready. It is a simple way to describe speed.
In Korean, '발이 느리다' describes a person who is physically slow. You can use it when talking about walking or preparing for an event. It is a common idiom for daily life.
The idiom '발이 느리다' is used to characterize someone who lacks physical agility or is slow to react to environmental demands. It is frequently employed in casual settings to explain why someone might be late or lagging behind in a group activity.
While literally referring to walking speed, '발이 느리다' functions as a metaphor for sluggishness in action. It reflects the cultural emphasis on efficiency in Korea, where being 'slow-footed' is often viewed as a minor social inconvenience or a personality trait characterized by a relaxed pace.
The idiom '발이 느리다' serves as a linguistic marker for physical or behavioral latency. Within the context of Korean 'ppalli-ppalli' culture, the phrase functions as a mild critique of those who fail to maintain the collective tempo of social or professional interactions, highlighting the intersection of physical gait and social expectations.
From a cognitive linguistic perspective, '발이 느리다' maps the domain of physical locomotion onto the domain of social efficacy. It is a conventionalized expression that encodes the cultural value of speed. By utilizing this idiom, speakers negotiate social time, distinguishing between those who conform to the rapid pace of modern Korean society and those who maintain a more deliberate, albeit 'slow,' tempo.

Signification

To be slow in movement or reaction.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Reflects the 'ppalli-ppalli' culture.

💡

Context matters

Use it for physical speed only.

Signification

To be slow in movement or reaction.

💡

Context matters

Use it for physical speed only.

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank.

나는 준비할 때 ( ) 느려서 항상 늦는다.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 발이

The idiom for being slow in preparation is '발이 느리다'.

🎉 Score : /1

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

No, it is for people.

Expressions liées

🔗

손이 느리다

similar

Slow at work

Où l'utiliser

🚶

Walking with a friend

A: 빨리 가자!

B: 미안, 내가 발이 느려서 그래.

informal
⏰

Getting ready for work

A: 왜 이렇게 늦게 나와?

B: 준비할 때 발이 느려서 그래.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a turtle with heavy boots—it's '발이 느리다'!

Visual Association

A person trying to run in deep mud, moving very slowly.

Rhyme

발이 느리다, 정말 느리다.

Story

Min-su was always late. His friends called him 'the turtle.' One day, he tried to run, but he was still slow. He realized his feet were just naturally slow.

Word Web

느리다걸음속도굼뜨다늦다지각

Défi

Describe three things you are slow at using the phrase.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Ser lento

Korean uses the body part 'feet' specifically.

French high

Être lent

Korean is more idiomatic by specifying the feet.

German high

Langsam sein

Korean focuses on the body part.

Japanese very_high

足が遅い (Ashi ga osoi)

None, it is a direct equivalent.

Arabic moderate

بطيء الحركة (Bati' al-haraka)

Korean specifies feet.

Chinese high

脚慢 (Jiǎo màn)

Very similar cultural usage.

Korean high

발이 느리다

N/A

Portuguese high

Ser lento

Korean is more specific.

Easily Confused

발이 느리다 vs 발이 넓다

Learners confuse 'slow' with 'wide'.

발이 넓다 means to have a wide social network.

FAQ (1)

No, it is for people.

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