Signification
To feel one's legs weaken or buckle, often from shock, fear, or exhaustion.
Contexte culturel
Koreans use 'body idioms' to express sincerity. Collapsing or having weak legs is seen as a genuine, uncontrollable reaction to news, often depicted in media to show a character's deep emotional investment. The Japanese equivalent 'knees are laughing' shows a more humorous take on the physical shaking of legs, though it is used in similar stressful contexts. In the age of social media, this phrase is often used in 'reaction' posts to describe meeting a favorite celebrity or seeing a shocking plot twist in a show. The use of passive voice in Korean idioms (like '풀리다') often suggests that the person is a victim of their emotions, rather than in control of them.
Pair it with '주저앉다'
To sound more native, use '다리에 힘이 풀려 주저앉았다' (My legs gave out and I slumped down). It's a very common combination.
Don't use with '을'
Never say '다리에 힘을 풀리다'. The particle must be '이' because it's a passive state.
Signification
To feel one's legs weaken or buckle, often from shock, fear, or exhaustion.
Pair it with '주저앉다'
To sound more native, use '다리에 힘이 풀려 주저앉았다' (My legs gave out and I slumped down). It's a very common combination.
Don't use with '을'
Never say '다리에 힘을 풀리다'. The particle must be '이' because it's a passive state.
Use for relief too!
Many learners only use this for fear. Using it for relief (e.g., after a hard exam) shows a higher level of language mastery.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
너무 무서운 영화를 봐서 다리에 힘이 ( ).
The past tense '풀렸어요' is most natural here as it describes the result of watching the movie.
Which situation is most appropriate for this idiom?
언제 '다리에 힘이 풀리다'를 사용할까요?
This idiom is used for shock or relief, such as a near-accident.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 합격 소식 들었어? 나: 응, 너무 기뻐서 ( ).
Slumping down due to relief/joy is a classic use of this idiom.
Match the feeling to the idiom.
Match 'Extreme Relief' with the correct phrase.
Relief often causes the physical sensation of legs going weak.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercices너무 무서운 영화를 봐서 다리에 힘이 ( ).
The past tense '풀렸어요' is most natural here as it describes the result of watching the movie.
언제 '다리에 힘이 풀리다'를 사용할까요?
This idiom is used for shock or relief, such as a near-accident.
가: 합격 소식 들었어? 나: 응, 너무 기뻐서 ( ).
Slumping down due to relief/joy is a classic use of this idiom.
Match 'Extreme Relief' with the correct phrase.
Relief often causes the physical sensation of legs going weak.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes! If someone is so attractive that you feel weak, you can say '그 사람을 보고 다리에 힘이 풀렸어요.' It's a bit dramatic but common in romance.
Yes, it's a shortened version. '다리에 힘이 풀리다' is more complete, but '다리 풀렸다' is very common in casual speech.
The phrase itself is neutral. You can make it formal by using '-습니다' or informal by using '-어'.
'떨리다' means shaking/trembling. '풀리다' means the strength is gone. You can be shaking but still standing; if your legs '풀리다', you likely need to sit down.
It's much less common. Usually, for arms, we say '팔에 힘이 빠지다'. '다리에 힘이 풀리다' is the set idiom.
This is exactly the phrase you need: '다리에 힘이 풀렸어요.'
Yes, in novels or descriptive news articles, but not in a dry business report or a legal document.
Not necessarily, but it implies you *almost* fell or felt like you could have.
Yes, like winning the lottery or a surprise party, as long as the shock is big enough to be physical.
The Hanja for '힘' is {力|력}, though it is almost always written in Hangul in this idiom.
Expressions liées
다리가 후들거리다
similarLegs are trembling
맥이 풀리다
similarTo lose one's energy or spirit
간이 콩알만 해지다
relatedTo be extremely scared (liver becomes as small as a bean)
기진맥진하다
specialized formTo be exhausted to the point of collapse
