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A2 verb #9,000 le plus courant 7 min de lecture

기다

gida Top 9,000

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces 기다 en 30 secondes

Explication 기다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners should focus on the most basic physical meaning of '기다'. This involves recognizing the word in the context of babies and very simple animal movements. At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex metaphors. Think of it as a counterpart to '걷다' (to walk). You will likely see it in children's books or basic descriptions of family life. The focus is on the present tense '기어요' and the past tense '기었어요'. Understanding that a baby '기어 다녀요' (crawls around) is the primary goal here. You should also learn the mimetic word '엉금엉금' which is almost always paired with '기다' in beginner materials to describe a slow, heavy crawl like that of a turtle.

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At the A2 level, you begin to use '기다' in combination with other direction verbs. You should become comfortable with '기어가다' (to crawl away) and '기어오다' (to come crawling). This level also introduces more subjects for the verb, such as insects (벌레, 개미) and reptiles (뱀). You might start to notice the word in more varied contexts, like describing slow traffic in a simple sentence. You should be able to conjugate it into different polite forms and use it with the '-고 있다' progressive form to describe what you see happening in the moment. '벌레가 벽을 기어오르고 있어요' (The bug is crawling up the wall) is a typical A2 sentence.

At the B1 level, the metaphorical uses of '기다' become important. You will encounter the phrase '목소리가 기어들어가다' to describe someone speaking timidly. You should also understand '기어오르다' not just as 'crawling up' a physical structure, but as a figurative expression for someone 'getting cheeky' or 'disrespecting' a senior. This level requires a deeper understanding of the nuances of '기다' in social interactions. You should also be able to distinguish between '기다' and the more formal Hanja term '포복하다' which you might see in news reports or military contexts. Your ability to use '기다' in complex sentences with various connectors (e.g., '기어서', '기으니까') should be solidified.

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At the B2 level, you should be able to recognize '기다' in more sophisticated literature and news media. This includes its use in describing natural phenomena, like fog or shadows 'crawling' across a surface. You will also encounter the word in more idiomatic expressions and slang. For instance, understanding the nuance of '기어 들어오다' when used to describe a child returning home late and ashamed, or a person returning to a job they previously quit. You should be able to discuss the nuances of the word in different registers, from child-friendly stories to adult conversations about social hierarchy and submission. Your grasp of mimetic and onomatopoeic words associated with '기다' should also expand beyond '엉금엉금'.

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At the C1 level, you are expected to understand the historical and dialectal variations of '기다'. This includes knowing that in certain dialects, '기다' can mean 'to be correct', and being able to distinguish this from the standard 'to crawl' based on context. You should be able to use '기다' in creative writing to create specific atmospheres—using it to describe the passage of time or the slow spread of an emotion. You will analyze how '기다' is used in classical or modern literature to convey a sense of helplessness, stealth, or biological inevitability. Your understanding of the word is now deeply tied to Korean cultural perceptions of posture and social standing.

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At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of '기다'. You can use it fluently in any context, including highly specialized or archaic ones. You understand the subtle difference between '기다' and its various synonyms in every possible nuance—whether it's the biological precision of an entomologist or the poetic license of a novelist. You can engage in discussions about the linguistics of movement verbs in Korean, explaining how '기다' fits into the broader system of verbs that describe contact with the ground. You are also fully aware of the social baggage the word can carry when applied to humans in a derogatory way, and you use it with absolute precision and cultural sensitivity.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

기다 en 30 secondes

Movement close to the ground.
Used for babies, bugs, and snakes.
Often used with '기어가다' or '기어오다'.
Can metaphorically mean groveling or being timid.

The Korean verb 기다 primarily describes the physical action of moving one's body while keeping it close to the ground. In its most literal sense, it refers to the way infants move before they learn to walk—crawling on their hands and knees. However, the semantic scope of 기다 extends far beyond the nursery. It is used to describe the movement of insects, reptiles, and even soldiers during tactical maneuvers. Understanding this word requires looking at the posture it implies: a humble, low-to-the-earth position that contrasts sharply with the upright posture of walking (걷다) or running (뛰다).

Physical Movement: The primary use case is for babies or animals. For example, '아기가 방을 기어 다녀요' (The baby is crawling around the room). It captures the rhythmic, often slow progression of a body in contact with a surface.
Metaphorical Submission: In social contexts, 기다 can imply a lack of power or a state of being defeated. When someone says '기어 들어오다' (to crawl back in), it often suggests returning in a state of shame or after a significant failure, metaphorically lowering one's stature.

거북이가 모래 위를 천천히 기어가고 있습니다. (The turtle is slowly crawling over the sand.)

Furthermore, the word is frequently used with adverbs like 엉금엉금 (the sound/shape of slow crawling) to add vivid imagery. In military terminology, the word is replaced by the more formal 포복, but in daily conversation, 기다 remains the standard. It is essential to note that the verb is also used for insects like ants or spiders, where the English 'crawl' and 'creep' overlap. Whether it is a baby's first milestone or a bug on the wall, 기다 is the go-to verb for movement that avoids the air and hugs the ground.

In modern slang and certain dialects, particularly in the Gyeongsang province, 기다 is sometimes used as a contraction of 게 맞다 (that is correct), but for learners of Standard Korean, focusing on the 'crawling' definition is the priority. The verb is irregular in some forms but follows standard '기-' + '-어' conjugation to become '기어'.

Using 기다 correctly involves matching it with the right particles and auxiliary verbs. Most commonly, it is paired with directional verbs like 가다 (to go) or 오다 (to come) to form 기어가다 (to crawl away/to go crawling) and 기어오다 (to come crawling). This indicates the direction of the movement relative to the speaker.

Subject-Particle Agreement: Typically, the subject is followed by '-이/가'. The surface being crawled upon uses '-을/를' if the motion covers the whole area, or '-에서' if emphasizing the starting point/location. '벌레가 벽을 기어올라요' (The bug is crawling up the wall).

술에 취해서 집에 기어 들어왔어요. (I was so drunk I crawled back home.)

The verb is often used in the continuous form -고 있다 to describe an ongoing action. '아기가 기고 있어요' (The baby is crawling). In more complex sentences, you might see it in the form of 기어다니다, which means to crawl around habitually or without a specific destination, much like 'walking around' (걸어다니다).

The Timidity Metaphor: '목소리가 기어들어가다' is a common idiomatic usage. For example: '그는 자신감이 없어서 목소리가 기어들어갔다' (He lacked confidence, so his voice trailed off/became tiny).

In literature, 기다 can describe the movement of fog or shadows across a landscape, personifying natural phenomena to give them a slow, stealthy quality. '안개가 산기슭을 기어오른다' (The fog crawls up the foot of the mountain). This usage elevates the word from simple biological description to evocative imagery.

You will encounter 기다 in various real-life scenarios, from the domestic to the dramatic. In a Korean home, parents celebrate when an infant begins to '기다', marking a major developmental milestone. You will hear phrases like '우리 아기가 이제 기기 시작했어요!' (Our baby started crawling now!).

In Nature and Outdoors: Hikers or gardeners might use it to describe pests or wildlife. '등산로에 뱀이 기어가고 있어요' (A snake is crawling on the hiking trail). It is the standard way to describe the movement of legless animals or many-legged insects.

개미들이 줄을 지어 기어갑니다. (The ants are crawling in a line.)

In military K-Dramas or variety shows like 'Real Men' (진짜 사나이), you will see soldiers practicing 'low crawling' (낮은 포복). While the command is formal, the soldiers describing the experience later might say '정말 힘들게 기었어요' (I crawled with such difficulty).

In Social Commentary: When someone is described as '기다' in a workplace context, it might imply they are being overly subservient or 'groveling' to a boss, though '아부하다' (to flatter) is more direct. However, '기다' captures the physical sense of lowering oneself.

Finally, in the context of technology or traffic, 기다 describes painfully slow speeds. '차가 너무 막혀서 도로 위를 기어가고 있어요' (The cars are crawling on the road because of the heavy traffic). This is identical to the English metaphor for slow-moving vehicles.

One of the biggest hurdles for learners is confusing 기다 with other movement verbs or similar-sounding words. Because Korean has many verbs for movement, choosing the right one is key to sounding natural.

Confusion with '걷다': Learners sometimes use '기다' when they mean a very slow walk. In Korean, '기다' is strictly for when the body is low or touching the ground. If you are upright but slow, use '천천히 걷다' (walk slowly).
The '이다' Dialect Trap: In some southern dialects (Satoori), '기다' is used as a slang version of '그것이다' (It is that) or '맞다' (That's right). You might hear '그게 기냐?' meaning 'Is that so?'. As a learner, don't confuse this with crawling!

Wrong: 아기가 걸어요 (when the baby is on knees).
Right: 아기가 기어요.

Another common mistake is with the conjugation. Since the root is '기-', the polite present form is '기어요'. Some learners mistakenly say '기요', which is incorrect. Always remember to add the '-어' for proper vowel harmony/connection.

Lastly, ensure you distinguish between 기다 (to crawl) and 길다 (to be long). While they look similar, their functions (verb vs. adjective) and conjugations are different. '길어요' (It is long) vs. '기어요' (I crawl).

While 기다 is the general term for crawling, Korean offers more specific words depending on the context and the 'feeling' of the movement.

포복하다 (Pobok-hada): This is a Hanja-based formal term used mostly in military or academic contexts. It specifically refers to the tactical 'belly crawl'. You wouldn't use this for a baby unless you were making a joke about them being in the army.
서행하다 (Seohaeng-hada): Used for vehicles. Instead of saying a car is 'crawling' (기어가다), traffic reports will use '서행' (moving slowly/low speed).

Comparison:
1. 기다: General/Informal (Baby, bug, metaphor).
2. 포복하다: Military/Technical.
3. 엉금엉금: Mimetic word for 'crawlingly'.

If you want to describe someone 'creeping' or 'sneaking', 살금살금 걷다 (walking stealthily) is often better than 기다, unless they are literally on their knees. For insects that scurry quickly, 기어가다 is still used, but you might add 빠르게 (quickly) to differentiate it from the slow crawl of a snail.

In summary, while 기다 is versatile, choosing between the pure Korean 기다 and Hanja alternatives like 포복 or 서행 depends on whether you are in a casual, military, or formal setting.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word '기다' is one of the most basic physical action verbs in Korean, appearing in some of the earliest recorded Korean texts with the same meaning it has today.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ki.da/

US /ki.dɑ/

Stress is usually even, but the first syllable '기' may be slightly emphasized in isolation.

Rime avec

치다 (chida) 지다 (jida) 피다 (pida) 미다 (mida) 리다 (rida) 비다 (bida) 시다 (sida) 이다 (ida)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing it like 'kida' with a very strong English 'K'.
Confusing it with '길다' (long).
Not conjugating to '기어' in sentences.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in text, often paired with '아기' or '벌레'.

Écriture 3/5

Requires correct conjugation (기어) and understanding of compound verb forms.

Expression orale 2/5

Simple pronunciation, but requires natural intonation for idioms.

Écoute 3/5

Must distinguish from '길다' and '기다' (dialect) in fast speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

걷다 가다 오다 아기 벌레

Apprends ensuite

포복하다 서행하다 아부하다 스멀스멀 엉금엉금

Avancé

위계질서 하극상 (related to 기어오르다) 포복절도 (laughing so hard you crawl)

Grammaire à connaître

-어 가다/오다 (Directional auxiliary)

기어 + 가다 = 기어가다

-고 있다 (Progressive)

기고 있다

-기 시작하다 (Start doing)

기기 시작하다

-아/어서 (Reason/Sequence)

기어서 힘들어요

-는 (Noun modifying form)

기어가는 벌레

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Exemples par niveau

아기가 기어요.

The baby crawls.

Basic present tense: 기(다) + 어요 = 기어요.

개미가 방바닥을 기어가요.

The ant is crawling across the room floor.

기다 + 가다 = 기어가다 (to crawl away/along).

그는 목소리가 기어들어가는 소리로 대답했다.

He answered in a voice that was trailing off (timidly).

Metaphorical use of '기어들어가다' for a quiet, unconfident voice.

안개가 산등성이를 기어오르고 있었다.

The fog was crawling up the mountain ridge.

Personification using '기어오르다' for natural elements.

권력 앞에서 기는 사람들을 보면 환멸이 느껴진다.

I feel disillusioned when I see people groveling before power.

'기다' used to mean 'groveling' or 'acting submissively'.

그는 마치 패배를 인정하듯 기어 들어오는 태도를 보였다.

He showed an attitude of crawling back in, as if admitting defeat.

Expressing a complex social state through the verb '기어 들어오다'.

Collocations courantes

아기가 기다

벌레가 기다

엉금엉금 기다

목소리가 기어들어가다

기어 오르다

바닥을 기다

차가 기어가다

기어 나가다

기어 들어오다

낮게 기다

Phrases Courantes

기어 다니다

— To crawl around habitually.

아기가 온 집안을 기어 다녀요.

기어 가다

— To crawl away or towards a destination.

벌레가 구석으로 기어갔어요.

기어 나오다

— To crawl out of somewhere.

동굴에서 기어 나왔다.

기어 오르다

— To crawl up a surface or disrespect someone.

벽을 기어오르는 스파이더맨.

기어 들어가다

— To crawl into or lose confidence in voice.

이불 속으로 기어 들어갔다.

기어 건너다

— To crawl across something.

다리를 기어서 건넜다.

기어 내리다

— To crawl down.

침대에서 기어 내려왔다.

기어 넘다

— To crawl over an obstacle.

담을 기어 넘었다.

기어 붙다

— To crawl and stick to something.

벽에 기어 붙어 있는 곤충.

기어 오다

— To crawl towards the speaker.

강아지가 나에게 기어온다.

Souvent confondu avec

기다 vs 걷다

'걷다' is walking upright; '기다' is crawling on the ground.

기다 vs 길다

'길다' is an adjective meaning 'long'; '기다' is a verb meaning 'crawl'.

기다 vs 기다 (Dialect)

In Gyeongsang-do, '기다' is often used for '맞다' (That's right).

Expressions idiomatiques

"목소리가 기어들어간다"

— To speak in an extremely quiet, timid, or unconfident voice.

혼날 때 목소리가 기어들어갔다.

Common

"어디서 기어올라?"

— How dare you be so cheeky/disrespectful (to a superior).

신입 사원이 과장님한테 기어오르네?

Informal/Aggressive

"바닥을 기다"

— To be at the absolute bottom (of luck, status, or economy).

경기가 바닥을 기고 있다.

Economic/Metaphorical

"기어 들어오다"

— To return home in a shameful or exhausted state.

술 마시고 새벽에 기어 들어왔니?

Informal

"기고 걷고 하다"

— To be able to do both (implies growth or various abilities).

이제 기고 걷고 다 해요.

Family

"기어가는 소리"

— A sound so small it's barely audible.

기어가는 소리로 말하면 안 들려.

Neutral

"뱀 기어가듯"

— To move in a winding, sneaky, or smooth way.

길이 뱀 기어가듯 굽어 있다.

Literary

"개미 기어가는 소리"

— An idiom for an extremely tiny sound.

개미 기어가는 소리만큼 작게 속삭였다.

Common

"기어올라 타다"

— To climb onto something by crawling.

아빠 등에 기어올라 탔다.

Child-friendly

"기어다니는 벌레만도 못한"

— Worse than a crawling bug (extreme insult).

그런 짓을 하다니 기어다니는 벌레만도 못해.

Archaic/Dramatic

Facile à confondre

기다 vs 길다

Similar spelling and pronunciation.

'길다' is an adjective (long); '기다' is a verb (crawl). Conjugations: 길어요 vs 기어요.

이 줄은 길어요 (This string is long) vs 아기가 기어요 (The baby crawls).

기다 vs 끄다

Both are 2-syllable verbs ending in '다'.

'끄다' means to turn off (lights/fire).

불을 꺼요 vs 바닥을 기어요.

기다 vs 깎다

Initial consonant 'ㄱ'.

'깎다' means to peel or cut.

사과를 깎아요 vs 벌레가 기어요.

기다 vs 기르다

Contains '기'.

'기르다' means to raise or grow something.

강아지를 길러요 vs 강아지가 기어요.

기다 vs 기대다

Contains '기'.

'기대다' means to lean on something.

벽에 기대요 vs 벽을 기어올라요.

Structures de phrases

[Noun]이/가 기어요.

아기가 기어요.

[Noun]이/가 [Place]을/를 기어가요.

벌레가 벽을 기어갑니다.

[Noun]이/가 엉금엉금 기어요.

거북이가 엉금엉금 기어요.

목소리가 기어들어가요.

그는 목소리가 기어들어갔다.

[Noun]한테 기어오르다.

나한테 기어오르지 마.

[Noun]이/가 [Place]에 기어 붙다.

나방이 벽에 기어 붙어 있다.

기어서 [Verb].

너무 힘들어서 기어서 갔어요.

[Abstract Noun]이/가 기어오다.

공포가 기어왔다.

Famille de mots

Noms

기기 (the act of crawling)

포복 (military crawl)

Verbes

기어오르다

기어내리다

기어다니다

기어들어가다

기어가다

기어오다

Adjectifs

기는 (crawling - present participle)

Apparenté

걷다 (walk)

뛰다 (run)

눕다 (lie down)

벌레 (bug)

아기 (baby)

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

High in daily life (babies/bugs) and metaphorical speech.

Erreurs courantes

기요 → 기어요
The verb stem '기' requires the '-어' suffix for the polite present tense. '기요' is a common learner error.
길어요 (to mean crawl) → 기어요
'길어요' comes from '길다' (long). '기어요' comes from '기다' (crawl).
포복해요 (for a baby) → 기어요
'포복하다' is too formal/military for a baby. Use '기다' instead.
걷어가다 → 기어가다
Learners sometimes confuse '걷다' (walk) and '기다' (crawl) when forming compound verbs.
목소리가 기어가다 → 목소리가 기어들어가다
The idiom specifically uses '기어들어가다' (crawl into), not just '기어가다'.

Astuces

Conjugation check

Always remember '기' + '어' = '기어'. Don't shorten it to '기' in polite speech; it must be '기어요'.

Insects

For most bugs, '기어가다' is the most natural way to describe their movement.

Social Nuance

Use '기어오르다' carefully; it's quite strong and can be seen as aggressive or very informal.

Context is King

If you hear '기다' in a movie and the character is standing, they are likely using the dialect version for 'That's right'.

Baby Milestones

Knowing '기다' helps you talk about childhood and family milestones with Koreans.

Vivid Adverbs

Pair '기다' with '엉금엉금' for turtles/babies and '스멀스멀' for creepy bugs to sound more descriptive.

Confidence

Use '목소리가 기어들어가다' to describe a shy person in your writing or speech.

Formal Contexts

Recognize '포복' in news or movies, but use '기다' when talking to friends about it.

Commuting

'차가 기어가요' is a great phrase to use when you are late due to traffic.

Animal Movement

Snakes, lizards, and snails all '기다' in Korean.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a 'Key' (기) on the floor. To pick it up, you have to crawl ('기다') to it.

Association visuelle

Visualize a baby or a green caterpillar moving slowly across a line.

Word Web

Baby Insect Snake Military Submissive Slow Floor Knees

Défi

Try to describe three different things that crawl using '기다' in three separate sentences today.

Origine du mot

Middle Korean '기다' (ki-da). It has remained largely unchanged in its core phonetics and meaning over centuries.

Sens originel : To move with the body touching the ground.

Koreanic

Contexte culturel

Be careful when using '기다' for adults, as it can imply they are acting like animals or are extremely subservient.

Similar to English 'crawl' used for traffic or babies, but the 'cheeky' metaphor (기어오르다) is unique to the Korean hierarchical context.

The 'Low Crawl' training in the Korean military variety show 'Real Men'. Children's songs about turtles and snails.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Home life

아기가 기어요
기어 다니지 마
무릎으로 기어

Nature

뱀이 기어가요
거미가 기어와요
개미가 기어다녀요

Traffic

차가 기어가요
도로가 꽉 막혔어요
너무 느려요

Social/Work

기어오르지 마
목소리가 왜 기어들어가?
기어 들어왔어

Military

낮은 포복으로 기어
빨리 기어가
기어서 이동해

Amorces de conversation

"우리 아기가 언제부터 기기 시작했는지 알아요?"

"길에 뱀이 기어가는 걸 본 적 있어요?"

"교통 체증 때문에 차가 기어갈 때 기분이 어때요?"

"왜 그 사람은 목소리가 기어들어가는 소리로 말할까요?"

"벌레가 몸 위로 기어오르면 어떻게 할 거예요?"

Sujets d'écriture

오늘 길에서 기어가는 생물을 본 적이 있나요?

아기가 처음 기었을 때의 감동에 대해 써보세요.

누군가 나에게 기어오를 때(무례할 때) 어떻게 대처해야 할까요?

교통 체증으로 차가 기어갔던 경험을 설명하세요.

자신감이 없어서 목소리가 기어들어갔던 순간이 있었나요?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, it is very common to say someone '기어 들어왔다' (crawled in) when they are so drunk they can barely walk. It emphasizes their incapacitated state.

'기다' is a native Korean word used in everyday life for babies and bugs. '포복하다' is a formal Hanja-based word used specifically for military crawling or technical descriptions.

Yes, '기다' is the standard verb for the movement of snakes, as they move along the ground without legs.

You can say '기어오르지 마' (Gi-eo-o-reu-ji ma). It literally means 'Don't crawl up [to my level]'.

It means someone is speaking very quietly and without confidence, as if their voice is retreating back into them.

No, '기다' is a regular verb. The stem is '기-', so you add '-어' to get '기어'.

Yes, in heavy traffic, you can say '차가 기어간다' to mean the cars are moving at a snail's pace.

It is an onomatopoeic/mimetic word that describes the slow, awkward motion of crawling, often used with '기다'.

The verbal noun is '기기', which you might see in developmental charts for babies.

Only in specific regional dialects or very informal slang where it's a contraction of '그게 맞다'. In standard Korean, it always means 'to crawl'.

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