B1 Idiom Neutre

머리 싸매다

meo-ri ssa-mae-da

rack one's brains

Phrase in 30 Seconds

To 'clutch one's head' means to be deeply immersed in a difficult problem or intense study.

  • Means: To struggle intensely with a complex task or problem.
  • Used in: Academic exams, difficult work projects, or complex decision-making.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about a physical headache, but the act of intense thinking.
Head + Hands + Intense Focus = 머리 싸매다

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means you are thinking very hard about a hard problem. You use it when you are studying or working.
When you have a difficult task, you can say you are '머리 싸매다'. It means you are focusing deeply and maybe feeling a little bit stressed because the work is hard.
This idiom describes the act of intense concentration. It is used when someone is struggling to find a solution to a complex problem, often implying that the process is long and mentally exhausting.
Used to denote a state of prolonged, strenuous intellectual effort. It conveys the physical manifestation of mental strain, often used when one is tasked with solving a multifaceted problem or navigating a difficult situation.
This idiomatic expression functions as a metaphor for cognitive overload and the subsequent struggle to resolve it. It is frequently employed in contexts involving academic or professional rigor, where the subject is deeply engaged in analytical or creative problem-solving.
An evocative idiom that bridges the somatic experience of pain with the cognitive process of problem-solving. It signifies a state of deep, often agonizing, intellectual immersion. It is a hallmark of native-level discourse, used to characterize the gravity of a task that demands total mental commitment.

Signification

To think very hard or struggle to solve a difficult problem.

🌍

Contexte culturel

In Korea, the 'head' is considered the center of wisdom and stress. Holding it is a sign of deep respect for the difficulty of a task. Similar to Korea, 'atama o kakaeru' is used to show you are troubled by a situation. Westerners might say 'I'm racking my brain' or 'I'm pulling my hair out', which are similar in intensity. Focuses on the 'brain juice' being wrung out, emphasizing the exhaustion of mental resources.

💡

Use with -고 있다

Always use it with '-고 있다' to show you are currently in the process of struggling.

🎯

Add '고민하다'

Adding '고민하다' makes it sound much more natural and native.

Signification

To think very hard or struggle to solve a difficult problem.

💡

Use with -고 있다

Always use it with '-고 있다' to show you are currently in the process of struggling.

🎯

Add '고민하다'

Adding '고민하다' makes it sound much more natural and native.

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

시험 공부 때문에 며칠째 _________.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 머리 싸매고 있어

The progressive form '-고 있어' is used to describe an ongoing state.

Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?

Choose the best sentence.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 머리 싸매고 고민 중이다.

The phrase is used for intense thinking or problem-solving, not daily activities.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 이 문제 어떻게 풀어? B: _________.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 나도 머리 싸매고 있는 중이야.

It's a natural response to a question about a difficult problem.

🎉 Score : /3

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

2 questions

No, it is strictly for mental struggle now.

No, it's very common and relatable.

Expressions liées

🔗

골머리를 앓다

similar

To suffer from a headache/worry

🔗

머리를 쥐어짜다

similar

To wring one's head

🔗

고민에 빠지다

builds on

To fall into worry

🔗

심사숙고하다

specialized form

To contemplate deeply

Où l'utiliser

📚

Exam Prep

A: 시험 공부 잘 돼가?

B: 아니, 너무 어려워서 며칠째 머리 싸매고 있어.

informal
💻

Work Project

Manager: 기획안은 어떻게 됐나요?

Employee: 아직 해결할 게 많아서 머리 싸매고 고민 중입니다.

neutral
🐛

Coding Bug

Dev: 이 버그 때문에 미치겠어.

Friend: 머리 싸매고 있지 말고 좀 쉬어!

informal
💰

Budgeting

Wife: 이번 달 생활비가 부족해.

Husband: 어떻게 줄일지 머리 싸매고 고민해 보자.

neutral
✍️

Writing a Thesis

Professor: 논문 진행은 어떠니?

Student: 주제 때문에 머리 싸매고 있습니다.

neutral
🎁

Gift Shopping

A: 선물 뭐 살까?

B: 진짜 고민되네. 머리 싸매고 생각 좀 해보자.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you are holding your head so tightly that the answer pops out like a cork from a bottle.

Visual Association

Picture a student at a desk with a massive pile of books, hands pressed firmly against their temples, eyes wide with intense focus.

Story

Min-su had a huge math test. He sat at his desk, hands on his head, thinking hard. He was '머리 싸매고' studying all night. Finally, he solved it!

Word Web

고민하다공부하다스트레스문제해결집중

Défi

Spend 5 minutes today '머리 싸매고' thinking about a goal you want to achieve.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Romperse la cabeza

Spanish focuses on the damage, Korean on the containment.

French moderate

Se creuser la tête

French is about excavation, Korean is about physical pressure.

German high

Sich den Kopf zerbrechen

German is more aggressive in its imagery.

Japanese high

頭を抱える (Atama o kakaeru)

None, it is a near-perfect cultural and linguistic match.

Arabic moderate

يُعصر دماغه (Yu'sar dimaghuhu)

Arabic focuses on the brain, Korean on the head.

Chinese moderate

绞尽脑汁 (Jiǎo jìn nǎo zhī)

Chinese is more metaphorical about the brain's contents.

Korean high

머리를 쥐어짜다

Focuses on 'wringing' rather than 'clutching'.

Portuguese high

Quebrar a cabeça

Focuses on the result of the stress.

Easily Confused

머리 싸매다 vs 머리가 아프다

Learners often think this means 'I'm thinking hard'.

This literally means 'I have a headache'.

FAQ (2)

No, it is strictly for mental struggle now.

No, it's very common and relatable.

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