En 15 secondes
- Used when you are criticized or scolded by others.
- Literally means 'to eat insults' or 'to eat swears'.
- Very common in casual and workplace venting.
Signification
While the prompt mentions '영화을 먹다', the correct and common expression is actually '욕을 먹다'. It means to be criticized, scolded, or insulted by someone else.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Late for a meeting
지각해서 부장님께 욕을 먹었어요.
I got scolded by the director because I was late.
Texting a friend about a mistake
나 어제 실수해서 욕 진짜 많이 먹었어.
I made a mistake yesterday and got criticized so much.
A mother scolding a child
방 청소 안 하면 엄마한테 욕먹는다!
If you don't clean your room, you'll get an earful from mom!
Contexte culturel
There is a common joke that if you are criticized a lot, you will live a long life. This is often said to comfort someone who is being 'flamed' online. In hierarchical Korean companies, 'eating insults' from a boss is often seen as a rite of passage or a standard part of the job, though this is changing with younger generations. The term '악플' (evil comments) is the primary source of '욕을 먹다' for celebrities. Public sentiment can shift rapidly, leading to massive 'eating of insults.' Parents often use scolding as a form of discipline. Children might tell their friends they 'ate insults' from their mom to explain why they are grounded.
Drop the marker
In casual conversation, just say '욕먹었어' instead of '욕을 먹었어' to sound more natural.
Don't use with elders
Don't tell an elder '욕먹으세요' (Please eat insults). It's very rude. Use it only to describe a situation, not as a command.
En 15 secondes
- Used when you are criticized or scolded by others.
- Literally means 'to eat insults' or 'to eat swears'.
- Very common in casual and workplace venting.
What It Means
Imagine you did something wrong. Instead of a snack, you get a mouthful of criticism. That is 욕을 먹다. In Korean, we use the verb 먹다 (to eat) for many experiences. Here, you are 'consuming' the negative words someone says about you. It is a very common way to say 'I got scolded'.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when you are the victim of criticism. You don't 'give' the insults here; you receive them. Use the subject particle 이/가 for the person who did something wrong. For example, 내가 욕을 먹었어 means 'I got yelled at'. It sounds more natural than using passive verbs.
When To Use It
Use it when your boss is unhappy with your report. Use it when you forget your anniversary and your partner is mad. It is perfect for venting to friends about a bad day. It covers everything from a light scolding to a heavy verbal lashing. It is a staple of daily Korean conversation.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this in a very formal apology to a superior. Saying 제가 욕을 먹었습니다 to the person scolding you sounds a bit odd. It is better for describing the situation to a third party. Also, don't use it if the criticism was constructive and gentle. This phrase implies the words felt a bit 'biting' or harsh.
Cultural Background
Korean culture is very sensitive to social reputation and 'face'. Because of this, being criticized publicly is a big deal. The use of 'eating' suggests that you have to internalize or 'swallow' the unpleasantness. It reflects a society where social feedback is direct and impactful. It has been used for centuries to describe social consequences.
Common Variations
If you want to say someone is 'asking for it', use 욕을 벌다 (to earn insults). If you want to say someone 'ate a lot' of criticism, say 욕을 배불리 먹다. This adds a humorous touch, implying you are 'full' from all the yelling. You might also hear 욕먹다 as a single combined verb in casual speech.
Notes d'usage
While '욕' can mean profanity, in this phrase it usually refers to any stern scolding. Use '께' for superiors and '한테' for equals when identifying who scolded you.
Drop the marker
In casual conversation, just say '욕먹었어' instead of '욕을 먹었어' to sound more natural.
Don't use with elders
Don't tell an elder '욕먹으세요' (Please eat insults). It's very rude. Use it only to describe a situation, not as a command.
Intensity
Add '많이' (a lot) or '바가지로' (by the bucketful) to show how bad the scolding was.
The Longevity Joke
If a friend is sad about being criticized, tell them '욕 많이 먹어서 오래 살겠다!' to cheer them up.
Exemples
6지각해서 부장님께 욕을 먹었어요.
I got scolded by the director because I was late.
A classic workplace scenario using the honorific '께' for the boss.
나 어제 실수해서 욕 진짜 많이 먹었어.
I made a mistake yesterday and got criticized so much.
Uses '진짜 많이' to emphasize the amount of criticism.
방 청소 안 하면 엄마한테 욕먹는다!
If you don't clean your room, you'll get an earful from mom!
Used as a warning of future consequences.
욕을 너무 많이 먹어서 배가 불러요.
I've been criticized so much that I'm full.
A play on the literal meaning of 'eating'.
잘못도 없는데 왜 내가 욕을 먹어야 돼?
I didn't even do anything wrong, so why should I be criticized?
Expressing frustration or emotional hurt.
그렇게 하면 나중에 욕먹을 수도 있어요.
If you do it that way, you might get criticized later.
A polite warning in a neutral setting.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '욕을 먹다'.
어제 숙제를 안 해서 선생님께 ____.
The sentence refers to 'yesterday' (어제), so the past tense '욕을 먹었어요' is correct.
Which sentence is naturally used when a celebrity is criticized by the public?
그 연예인은 거짓말 때문에...
The continuous form '먹고 있습니다' is most natural for an ongoing situation of public criticism.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 왜 기분이 안 좋아 보여요? B: 아까 부장님께 ____.
B is explaining why they feel bad, so 'because I was scolded' (욕을 먹었거든요) fits best.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You arrived 1 hour late to a meeting with your angry boss.
Being late to a meeting with an angry boss will result in being scolded (욕을 먹다).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Scolding vs. Praising
Banque d exercices
4 exercices어제 숙제를 안 해서 선생님께 ____.
The sentence refers to 'yesterday' (어제), so the past tense '욕을 먹었어요' is correct.
그 연예인은 거짓말 때문에...
The continuous form '먹고 있습니다' is most natural for an ongoing situation of public criticism.
A: 왜 기분이 안 좋아 보여요? B: 아까 부장님께 ____.
B is explaining why they feel bad, so 'because I was scolded' (욕을 먹었거든요) fits best.
You arrived 1 hour late to a meeting with your angry boss.
Being late to a meeting with an angry boss will result in being scolded (욕을 먹다).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot necessarily. In this phrase, it can mean any kind of harsh criticism or scolding, even if no actual profanity was used.
Yes, you can use it for anything from a small 'nagging' to a huge public scandal.
It's a bit informal. Better to say '지적을 받았습니다' (I received a correction) or '피드백을 받았습니다'.
The opposite is '칭찬을 받다' (to receive praise).
Korean uses 'eat' for many passive experiences. It implies the experience is fully taken in by the person.
Yes, it is often written and used as a single verb in modern Korean.
You can say '욕먹을까 봐 걱정돼요.'
Yes, '한테' is more common in speech, while '에게' is more common in writing.
Yes, it is a standard Korean expression used across the peninsula.
No, that is not a natural expression. Stick to '먹다'.
Expressions liées
혼나다
similarTo get in trouble / be scolded
비난을 받다
synonymTo receive criticism
욕을 하다
contrastTo scold / insult someone
귀가 가렵다
similarEars are itchy
핀잔을 듣다
specialized formTo be given a piece of one's mind
