When talking about getting sick in Korean, you'll often hear the phrase 감기에 걸리다 (gamgie geollida). This literally translates to 'to get caught by a cold' or 'to hang on a cold.' It's the most common and natural way to express that you've caught a cold. You can use it in sentences like 저는 감기에 걸렸어요 (jeoneun gamgie geollyeosseoyo), meaning 'I caught a cold.' Remember, the particle 에 (e) is used here to indicate the cold is the thing you 'got caught by.'
It’s similar to how we might say 'come down with a cold' in English. This phrase is versatile and can be used in various tenses to describe when you caught the cold or if you frequently catch colds. For instance, if you want to say 'I often catch colds,' you can say 저는 감기에 잘 걸려요 (jeoneun gamgie jal geollyeoyo). Understanding this common idiom will significantly improve your ability to talk about health in Korean.
§ Don't say 아프다 (to be sick) instead of 감기에 걸리다
Many beginner Korean learners, especially those coming from English, often confuse 'to be sick' with 'to catch a cold'. While being sick is a general state of ill health, 'to catch a cold' is a very specific ailment. In Korean, the distinction is important.
Using 아프다 (to be sick) when you specifically mean 'to catch a cold' isn't technically wrong, but it's less precise. It's like saying "I'm feeling unwell" when you have a common cold. It's true, but there's a more specific and natural way to say it.
저는 감기에 걸렸어요. (I caught a cold.)
저는 아파요. (I'm sick/I hurt.)
The second sentence is more general and could mean anything from having a cold to a broken leg. The first sentence is clear and specific.
§ Using the wrong verb tense or particles
Another common mistake is incorrect verb conjugation or particle usage with 감기에 걸리다. Remember, it's a verb phrase, and it needs to be conjugated like any other verb.
- DEFINITION
- 감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold)
Let's look at some correct conjugations:
- Past tense: 감기에 걸렸어요 (caught a cold)
- Present progressive: 감기에 걸리고 있어요 (in the process of catching a cold, or having a cold)
- Future tense: 감기에 걸릴 거예요 (will catch a cold)
어제 감기에 걸렸어요. (I caught a cold yesterday.)
오늘 감기에 걸릴 것 같아요. (I think I'm going to catch a cold today.)
§ Overusing the phrase
While 감기에 걸리다 is important, sometimes learners overuse it. If you're describing the symptoms of a cold, you might use other verbs instead of repeating 감기에 걸리다. For example, if you have a runny nose or a cough, you'd use specific verbs for those actions.
콧물이 나요. (My nose is running / I have a runny nose.)
기침을 해요. (I am coughing / I have a cough.)
You would say you caught a cold, and then describe your symptoms. Not just that you keep 'catching a cold' multiple times within the same illness.
How Formal Is It?
"환절기에 감기에 걸리셨습니다. (You have caught a cold during the change of seasons.)"
"요즘 날씨가 추워서 감기에 걸렸어요. (I caught a cold because the weather is cold these days.)"
"야, 너 감기 걸렸어? (Hey, did you catch a cold?)"
"콜록콜록, 엄마 감기 걸렸쪄요. (Cough cough, Mommy caught a cold.)"
Exemples par niveau
감기에 걸렸어요. (gam-gi-e geol-lyeoss-eo-yo)
I caught a cold.
요즘 감기에 걸린 사람이 많아요. (yo-jeum gam-gi-e geol-lin sa-ram-i man-a-yo)
Many people have caught a cold these days.
저는 쉽게 감기에 걸려요. (jeo-neun swip-ge gam-gi-e geol-lyeo-yo)
I catch a cold easily.
감기에 걸리지 않도록 조심하세요. (gam-gi-e geol-li-ji anh-do-rok jo-sim-ha-se-yo)
Be careful not to catch a cold.
아이가 감기에 걸려서 학교에 못 갔어요. (a-i-ga gam-gi-e geol-lyeo-seo hak-gyo-e mot gat-sseo-yo)
My child caught a cold, so they couldn't go to school.
따뜻하게 입어서 감기에 걸리지 마세요. (ttat-teut-ha-ge ib-eo-seo gam-gi-e geol-li-ji ma-se-yo)
Dress warmly so you don't catch a cold.
친구가 감기에 걸려서 병원에 갔어요. (chin-gu-ga gam-gi-e geol-lyeo-seo byeong-won-e gat-sseo-yo)
My friend caught a cold and went to the hospital.
저는 겨울에 자주 감기에 걸려요. (jeo-neun gyeo-ul-e ja-ju gam-gi-e geol-lyeo-yo)
I often catch a cold in winter.
환절기라서 감기에 걸리기 쉬워요.
It's easy to catch a cold because it's a changing season.
환절기 (changing season) + -라서 (because it is) + 감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold) + -기 쉬워요 (it's easy to do something)
어제 비를 맞아서 감기에 걸렸어요.
I caught a cold because I got caught in the rain yesterday.
어제 (yesterday) + 비를 맞다 (to get caught in the rain) + -아서/어서 (because, so) + 감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold)
따뜻하게 입지 않으면 감기에 걸릴 수 있어요.
If you don't dress warmly, you can catch a cold.
따뜻하게 (warmly) + 입다 (to wear) + -지 않으면 (if not) + 감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold) + -을/ㄹ 수 있다 (can, be able to)
저는 자주 감기에 걸리는 편이에요.
I tend to catch colds often.
자주 (often) + 감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold) + -는 편이다 (to tend to do something)
감기에 걸리면 푹 쉬는 게 좋아요.
If you catch a cold, it's good to rest well.
감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold) + -으면/면 (if) + 푹 (deeply, well) + 쉬다 (to rest) + -는 게 좋다 (it's good to do something)
아이가 감기에 걸려서 병원에 갔어요.
My child caught a cold, so we went to the hospital.
아이 (child) + 감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold) + -아서/어서 (because, so) + 병원 (hospital) + -에 가다 (to go to)
감기에 걸리지 않으려면 손을 자주 씻어야 해요.
To avoid catching a cold, you should wash your hands often.
감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold) + -지 않다 (not to do something) + -으려면/려면 (if one intends to, in order to) + 손을 씻다 (to wash hands) + -아야/어야 하다 (must, should)
요즘 같은 날씨에는 감기에 걸리기 쉬우니 조심하세요.
Be careful as it's easy to catch a cold in weather like this these days.
요즘 (these days) + 같은 (like) + 날씨 (weather) + -에는 (in/on) + 감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold) + -기 쉬우니 (because it's easy to do something) + 조심하다 (to be careful) + -세요 (please do)
Souvent confondu avec
This is the noun for 'a cold'. '감기에 걸리다' uses this noun to form the verb phrase.
This verb has many meanings, including 'to hang', 'to catch', 'to take (time)'. In this context, it means 'to catch' or 'to be afflicted with'.
While related to feeling unwell, '아프다' is a general term for being sick or in pain, whereas '감기에 걸리다' is specific to catching a cold.
Facile à confondre
Often confused with 'to catch a cold' because when you have a cold, you are sick.
'아프다' means 'to be sick/hurt' generally, while '감기에 걸리다' specifically means 'to catch a cold'. You can be 아프다 from many things, not just a cold.
머리가 아파요. (My head hurts.)
A fever is a symptom of a cold, so learners might confuse it with the act of catching a cold.
'열이 나다' means 'to have a fever'. It's a symptom, not the act of catching the cold itself.
열이 나서 병원에 갔어요. (I went to the hospital because I had a fever.)
This refers to body aches, which can accompany a cold.
'몸살' refers to general body aches or fatigue, often from overwork or a minor illness. '감기에 걸리다' is the specific illness.
몸살이 나서 쉬었어요. (I rested because I had body aches.)
Both are illnesses, but '독감' is more severe.
'독감' means 'flu', which is a more serious illness than a common cold (감기). '감기에 걸리다' is specifically for a cold.
독감에 걸려서 학교에 못 갔어요. (I couldn't go to school because I caught the flu.)
Runny nose is a common symptom of a cold.
'콧물' means 'runny nose' or 'snot'. It's a symptom of a cold, not the act of catching one.
콧물이 계속 나와요. (My nose keeps running.)
Comment l'utiliser
How to Use 감기에 걸리다
This phrase literally means 'to be caught by a cold' or 'to get on a cold'. It's a very common and natural way to say you've caught a cold in Korean. You can use it in various tenses to talk about when you caught a cold, or to express a wish for someone not to catch one.
Grammar Point: -에 걸리다
The pattern -에 걸리다 is used for 'to be caught in/by' or 'to get' something. For example, you can also say 병에 걸리다 (to get sick/to contract a disease) or 시험에 걸리다 (to fail an exam - less common, but shows the 'caught by' nuance).
Common Mistakes
1. Using '하다' instead of '걸리다': Some beginners might try to say 감기하다. This is incorrect. 감기 is a noun (cold), and you need the verb 걸리다 to express the action of catching it.
2. Incorrect particle: Make sure to use the particle -에 with 감기. Saying 감기 걸리다 without -에 is grammatically incorrect, though some native speakers might omit it in very casual speech.
Teste-toi 12 questions
Write a short sentence about someone catching a cold today. Use '감기에 걸리다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저는 오늘 감기에 걸렸어요. (I caught a cold today.)
Imagine you are talking to a friend. Write a sentence asking if they caught a cold. Use '감기에 걸리다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
감기에 걸리셨어요? (Did you catch a cold?)
Write a sentence about what you should do if you catch a cold. Use '감기에 걸리다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
감기에 걸리면 쉬어야 해요. (If you catch a cold, you should rest.)
민수 씨에게 무슨 일이 일어났습니까?
Read this passage:
민수 씨는 어제 밤에 잠을 잘 못 잤어요. 그리고 오늘 아침에 목이 아팠어요. 기침도 많이 했어요. 민수 씨는 감기에 걸린 것 같아요.
민수 씨에게 무슨 일이 일어났습니까?
Passage says 민수 씨는 감기에 걸린 것 같아요, meaning he seems to have caught a cold due to his symptoms.
Passage says 민수 씨는 감기에 걸린 것 같아요, meaning he seems to have caught a cold due to his symptoms.
왜 많은 사람들이 감기에 걸렸습니까?
Read this passage:
이번 겨울은 아주 추웠어요. 그래서 많은 사람들이 감기에 걸렸어요. 따뜻한 옷을 입고 건강 관리를 잘 해야 해요.
왜 많은 사람들이 감기에 걸렸습니까?
The passage states '이번 겨울은 아주 추웠어요. 그래서 많은 사람들이 감기에 걸렸어요.' (This winter was very cold. That's why many people caught a cold.)
The passage states '이번 겨울은 아주 추웠어요. 그래서 많은 사람들이 감기에 걸렸어요.' (This winter was very cold. That's why many people caught a cold.)
친구가 저에게 무엇을 조심하라고 말했습니까?
Read this passage:
친구가 저에게 '감기에 걸리지 않도록 조심하세요!' 라고 말했어요. 저는 친구에게 '네, 고마워요.' 라고 대답했어요.
친구가 저에게 무엇을 조심하라고 말했습니까?
The friend said '감기에 걸리지 않도록 조심하세요!', which means 'Be careful not to catch a cold!'
The friend said '감기에 걸리지 않도록 조심하세요!', which means 'Be careful not to catch a cold!'
This sentence means 'It's good to get a preventive shot to prepare for catching a cold/flu.' The phrase '감기에 걸리다' (to catch a cold) is followed by '독감에 대비해' (in preparation for the flu), and then '예방 주사를 맞는 것이 좋습니다' (it's good to get a preventive shot).
This sentence translates to 'If your immunity weakens, you can easily catch a cold, so pay attention to your health management.' The structure starts with the condition '면역력이 약해지면' (if immunity weakens), followed by the consequence '감기에 쉽게 걸릴 수 있으니' (you can easily catch a cold, so), and ends with the advice '건강 관리에 유의하세요' (pay attention to health management).
This sentence means 'I worked late into the night, and in the end, I caught a severe body-ache cold and suffered for several days.' The sequence describes working late, then the result of catching a severe cold, and finally the consequence of suffering for days.
/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
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비정상적이다
B1Deviating from what is normal or usual; abnormal.
비정상이다
A2To be abnormal or irregular.
에 대해서
A2Indicating the topic or subject; about, concerning.
누적되다
B1To be accumulated or added up over a period of time. It is frequently used to describe the buildup of fatigue, debt, or environmental damage.
몸살
A2General body aches and fatigue, often accompanying a cold or flu.
몸살나다
A2To suffer from body aches and fatigue, often due to a cold.
쑤시다
B1To have a dull, throbbing pain; to ache.
에취
A2Achoo! (onomatopoeia for sneezing).
급성적이다
A2To be acute or sudden (e.g., an illness).
급성이다
A2Having a rapid onset and short course; to be acute (illness).
