인맥이 넓다.
Inmaegi neolpda.
Have a wide network
Phrase in 30 Seconds
This phrase describes someone who has a vast network of influential or helpful acquaintances across various social and professional circles.
- Means: Having many useful social and professional connections.
- Used in: Job hunting, business networking, or describing social butterflies.
- Don't confuse: With just having 'many friends' (친구); it implies 'connections' (인맥).
Explanation at your level:
Signification
To have many acquaintances and connections, often useful for social or business purposes.
Contexte culturel
Networking is often formalized through 'Alumni Associations' ({동창회|同窓會}). Having a wide network within your university alumni is considered a massive career advantage. The term 'Inmaek-gwan-ri' (Network Management) is a recognized skill. Professionals often keep detailed records of people they meet, including their birthdays and family events, to keep their 'veins' wide. While older generations value traditional ties, younger Koreans are increasingly using social media like LinkedIn and 'Open Kakao Chats' to build 'digital 인맥'. It is considered polite to introduce people within your network to others, as this 'shares' the width of your network and builds trust.
Use with '편이다'
Instead of saying '인맥이 넓어요', it sounds more natural and humble to say '인맥이 넓은 편이에요' (I'm on the side of having a wide network).
Don't use for family
You don't say you have a 'wide network' of cousins. Use '가족이 많다' instead.
Signification
To have many acquaintances and connections, often useful for social or business purposes.
Use with '편이다'
Instead of saying '인맥이 넓어요', it sounds more natural and humble to say '인맥이 넓은 편이에요' (I'm on the side of having a wide network).
Don't use for family
You don't say you have a 'wide network' of cousins. Use '가족이 많다' instead.
The power of 'Sunbae'
In Korea, your 'Sunbae' (seniors) are the primary source of your 'Inmaek'. Treat them well!
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and adjective form.
그는 정계에 인맥___ 아주 ___. (He has a very wide network in politics.)
The subject particle '이' is used with the adjective '넓다'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I want to expand my network'?
인맥을 어떻게 하고 싶어요?
'넓히다' is the causative verb meaning 'to make wide/expand'.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate situation.
When would you say '인맥이 넓으시네요'?
'인맥' specifically refers to professional or influential connections.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 이번 프로젝트를 도와줄 전문가를 찾기가 너무 힘드네요. B: 김 부장님께 여쭤보세요. 그분은 ________.
A wide network is the most relevant trait for finding an expert.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
인맥이 넓다 vs. 친구가 많다
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsUsually, yes. It implies social competence. However, in some contexts, it can imply someone is too busy with 'business' relationships and lacks deep friendships.
Not really. '인맥' implies a two-way connection where you can actually ask for a favor. For followers, just use '팔로워가 많다'.
There isn't a direct single idiom, but you could say '인맥이 좁다' (network is narrow) or '아는 사람이 별로 없다'.
90% the same. '발이 넓다' is more about being a social butterfly, while '인맥이 넓다' sounds a bit more professional/strategic.
You use '인맥을 쌓다' (build a network) or '네트워킹을 하다' (to do networking).
Yes, but back it up with examples. Say '저는 다양한 활동을 통해 업계에 넓은 인맥을 쌓아왔습니다.'
Technically yes ({혈연}), but usually when people say '인맥', they are talking about school, work, or social connections.
It involves sending holiday greetings, attending weddings/funerals, and meeting for coffee to maintain the connection.
No, that sounds like a direct translation from English and is unnatural in Korean.
It is neutral-to-formal. It's perfectly fine in a newspaper or a business meeting.
It means a 'golden network'—connections to very rich, powerful, or famous people.
In Korean, social reach is visualized as a horizontal field or a spreading web, hence 'wide'.
Expressions liées
발이 넓다
synonymTo have wide feet (be well-connected)
마당발
similarA person with a wide social circle
인맥을 쌓다
builds onTo build a network
인맥이 두텁다
similarTo have a thick/deep network
낙하산
contrastParachute (nepotism)
Où l'utiliser
Job Interview
Interviewer: 우리 회사는 영업직이라 사람들을 많이 알아야 합니다.
Applicant: 걱정 마십시오. 저는 이 업계에서 인맥이 아주 넓습니다.
Asking for a favor
Friend A: 나 이번에 변호사가 좀 필요한데...
Friend B: 너 인맥 넓잖아! 아는 사람 없어?
Gossiping about a socialite
Person A: 지수 결혼식 봤어? 연예인들이 진짜 많이 왔더라.
Person B: 응, 지수가 원래 인맥이 넓기로 유명하잖아.
Business Networking Event
Manager: 김 대리는 인맥을 넓히기 위해 이런 행사에 자주 참여하나?
Employee: 네, 인맥이 넓어야 나중에 큰 프로젝트를 할 때 도움이 되니까요.
University Alumni Meeting
Junior: 선배님은 어떻게 그렇게 아는 분이 많으세요?
Senior: 학교 다닐 때 활동을 많이 해서 인맥이 좀 넓은 편이야.
Dating App Profile
User A: 이상형이 어떻게 되세요?
User B: 저는 성격이 밝고 인맥이 넓은 사람이 좋아요.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'In-Mac' as an 'Internal Mac computer' that connects you to everyone in the world via a wide screen.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant spiderweb where every thread is a person, and you are in the center, able to reach any corner of the web because it is so 'wide'.
Rhyme
인맥이 넓으면, 앞길이 밝다 (If your network is wide, the road ahead is bright).
Story
Min-su wanted to start a cafe but had no money. However, his {인맥|人脈} was very wide. He called a friend who was a baker, another who was a designer, and a third who was a lawyer. Because his network was so wide, his cafe was a huge success.
Word Web
Défi
Try to find one person in your life who has a 'wide network' and write three sentences in Korean explaining why you think so.
In Other Languages
To be well-connected
English focuses on the 'connection' itself, Korean focuses on the 'vein' or flow between people.
人脈が広い (Jinmyaku ga hiroi)
Almost no difference; they are perfect equivalents.
人脉广 (Rénmài guǎng)
Chinese 'Rénmài' is often more explicitly tied to the concept of mutual favors (Guanxi).
Tener muchos contactos
Spanish is more literal ('contacts') whereas Korean is more metaphorical ('veins').
Avoir un bras long
French focuses on 'reach' (length), while Korean focuses on 'network' (width).
Gut vernetzt sein
German feels more technological/modern, while Korean feels more organic/biological (veins).
لديه واسطة (Ladayhi wasita)
Wasita often has a stronger connotation of 'influence' or 'mediation' than just 'width' of a network.
Ter um bom networking
Lacks the specific 'vein' metaphor found in Korean.
Easily Confused
Learners often use 'friends' when they mean 'professional connections'.
Use '인맥' for business/utility and '친구' for fun/emotion.
Literal translation of 'big feet' instead of the idiom 'wide feet'.
The idiom is 'wide' (넓다), not 'big' (크다).
FAQ (12)
Usually, yes. It implies social competence. However, in some contexts, it can imply someone is too busy with 'business' relationships and lacks deep friendships.
Not really. '인맥' implies a two-way connection where you can actually ask for a favor. For followers, just use '팔로워가 많다'.
There isn't a direct single idiom, but you could say '인맥이 좁다' (network is narrow) or '아는 사람이 별로 없다'.
90% the same. '발이 넓다' is more about being a social butterfly, while '인맥이 넓다' sounds a bit more professional/strategic.
You use '인맥을 쌓다' (build a network) or '네트워킹을 하다' (to do networking).
Yes, but back it up with examples. Say '저는 다양한 활동을 통해 업계에 넓은 인맥을 쌓아왔습니다.'
Technically yes ({혈연}), but usually when people say '인맥', they are talking about school, work, or social connections.
It involves sending holiday greetings, attending weddings/funerals, and meeting for coffee to maintain the connection.
No, that sounds like a direct translation from English and is unnatural in Korean.
It is neutral-to-formal. It's perfectly fine in a newspaper or a business meeting.
It means a 'golden network'—connections to very rich, powerful, or famous people.
In Korean, social reach is visualized as a horizontal field or a spreading web, hence 'wide'.
