A1 Idiom Neutre

마음을 다잡다

ma-eum-eul dajapda

to pull oneself together

Phrase in 30 Seconds

To regain control of your emotions or focus after being distracted or upset.

  • Means: To pull one's scattered thoughts or feelings back into order.
  • Used in: Recovering from a mistake, preparing for a challenge, or calming down.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about physically grabbing something; it is purely mental.
Distracted mind + deep breath = focused intention

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means to calm down or focus again. You use it when you are sad or distracted and want to work hard again.
It is used when you need to regain your focus. If you feel nervous or upset, you 'tighten' your mind to feel better and continue your task.
This idiom describes the process of emotional regulation. It is often used when someone has experienced a setback and needs to re-establish their determination to achieve a specific goal.
It functions as a psychological reset mechanism. In Korean society, it is a common expression for demonstrating resilience, implying that one is actively taking charge of their internal state to overcome external challenges.
The phrase encapsulates the cognitive effort required to suppress emotional volatility in favor of goal-oriented behavior. It is a linguistic marker of self-regulation, often employed in narratives of personal growth or professional recovery.
From a cognitive linguistics perspective, '마음을 다잡다' utilizes the 'Mind as an Object' metaphor. By conceptualizing the mind as something that can be 'grasped' or 'tightened,' the speaker externalizes their internal state, allowing for a deliberate, agentive shift in focus. It is a sophisticated tool for expressing agency over one's psychological landscape.

Signification

To regain control of one's emotions or focus after being upset or distracted.

🌍

Contexte culturel

In Korea, students often use this phrase when they feel 'burnout' from studying. Employees use it to show they are ready to handle a difficult project.

💡

Use with '다시'

Adding '다시' (again) makes the phrase sound very natural when you are restarting a task.

Signification

To regain control of one's emotions or focus after being upset or distracted.

💡

Use with '다시'

Adding '다시' (again) makes the phrase sound very natural when you are restarting a task.

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

시험을 앞두고 ______.

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

When preparing for a test, you need to focus, which is '마음을 다잡다'.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Yes, you can say '마음을 다잡아 보세요' (Try to pull yourself together).

Expressions liées

🔄

마음을 가다듬다

synonym

To compose one's mind.

🔗

정신을 차리다

similar

To come to one's senses.

Où l'utiliser

📝

Before a big test

A: 너무 떨려요.

B: 심호흡하고 마음을 다잡아 봐요.

neutral
💔

After a breakup

A: 아직도 힘들지?

B: 응, 그래도 이제 마음을 다잡으려고 해.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Heart' (마음) that is a slippery fish. You must 'Grab' (잡다) it tight to keep it from flopping away.

Visual Association

A runner who tripped, taking a deep breath, tightening their shoelaces, and looking at the finish line.

Story

Min-su failed his math test. He felt like crying. He went to the park, sat on a bench, and took a deep breath. He told himself, 'I can do this.' He felt his mind settle. He had finally '마음을 다잡았다'.

Word Web

집중결심회복정신노력다짐

Défi

Write down one thing you are worried about, then write '마음을 다잡고' followed by one action you will take to solve it.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Recuperar el control

Korean emphasizes the 'grasping' action, while Spanish emphasizes 'recovery'.

French high

Se ressaisir

French is more reflexive (se), while Korean uses the object (마음).

German moderate

Sich zusammenreißen

German is more intense and physical than the Korean version.

Japanese high

気を引き締める

Japanese focuses on 'Ki' (spirit/energy), Korean focuses on 'Maum' (heart/mind).

Arabic high

تماسك

Arabic is more concise, using a single verb rather than a phrase.

Easily Confused

마음을 다잡다 vs 마음을 먹다

Both involve '마음'.

마음을 먹다 means to make a resolution (to decide). 마음을 다잡다 means to regain focus.

FAQ (1)

Yes, you can say '마음을 다잡아 보세요' (Try to pull yourself together).

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