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A2 verb #3,000 le plus courant 8 min de lecture

털다

teolda
At the A1 level, you should learn '털다' as a simple action word for cleaning. Think of it as 'shaking' something to make it clean. For example, when you have dust on your coat, you '털다' the coat. When you have crumbs on your hands, you '털다' your hands. It is a very physical and easy-to-visualize word. You will mostly use it in the present tense (털어요) or the imperative (터세요/털어라). Focus on the connection between the object (like a blanket or clothes) and the action of shaking. Don't worry about the 'robbing' or 'confessing' meanings yet; just use it for basic cleaning and tidying up. For instance, '먼지를 털어요' (I shake off the dust) is a perfect A1 sentence. You might also see it in very simple instructions like '신발을 터세요' (Shake [the dirt off] your shoes). At this stage, just remember: 털다 = shake to clean.
At the A2 level, you can start to use '털다' in more varied contexts, such as emptying things. You might use it to describe emptying your pockets (주머니를 털다) or shaking an umbrella (우산을 털다) after it rains. You will also encounter the past tense '털었다' and the progressive '털고 있다'. You should begin to notice how '털다' is different from '닦다' (to wipe). While '닦다' is for cleaning a table with a cloth, '털다' is for shaking a rug. You can also learn the common phrase '먼지를 털다' as a set expression for dusting. Understanding the physical motion—a quick, snapping movement—is key to using it correctly. You might also hear it in the context of 'shaking off' snow from your shoulders. It's a very practical word for daily chores and maintaining personal hygiene.
At the B1 level, you should expand your understanding of '털다' to include its more figurative and idiomatic uses. One of the most important compounds to learn is '털어놓다' (to confess or speak frankly). This is used when you tell someone a secret or share your true feelings. For example, '친구에게 비밀을 털어놓았어요' (I confessed my secret to a friend). You should also be aware of the negative meaning: 'to rob' or 'to burgle'. While you might not use it yourself often, you will hear it in news stories or dramas, such as '은행을 털다' (to rob a bank). Additionally, you can use '털다' to mean spending all of your money, like '지갑을 털어서 선물을 샀다' (I emptied my wallet to buy a gift). This level requires you to distinguish between the literal physical action and these common metaphorical extensions.
At the B2 level, you should be comfortable with the passive form '털리다' and its various nuances. '털리다' is frequently used in informal contexts to mean being robbed, being defeated badly in a game, or having one's data leaked (e.g., '계정이 털렸다' - my account was hacked/compromised). You should also understand more nuanced expressions like '먼지 나게 털다', which literally means 'to shake until dust comes out' but figuratively means to investigate someone very rigorously or to scold someone severely. You can use '털다' to describe shaking off abstract things like '걱정을 털다' (to shake off worries) or '미련을 털다' (to shake off lingering regrets). Your usage should reflect an understanding of the intensity and thoroughness that '털다' implies compared to more neutral verbs like '버리다' or '없애다'.
At the C1 level, you should master the use of '털다' in literary and highly idiomatic contexts. You can use it to describe a thorough 'cleansing' of a situation or a total disclosure of facts. For example, in a legal or political context, '의혹을 털다' means to clear up all suspicions. You should also be able to use it in complex sentence structures involving auxiliary verbs like '-어 내다' (털어내다) to emphasize the successful removal of a persistent problem or emotion. At this level, you should appreciate the rhythmic and evocative nature of the word in prose, where it might describe the way the wind 'shakes' the last leaves from a tree or how a person 'shakes off' the shackles of their past. You should also be familiar with slang usages where '털다' might mean to talk excessively or to boast (입을 털다), though this should be used with caution due to its low register.
At the C2 level, your understanding of '털다' should be near-native, encompassing all its subtle connotations and historical nuances. You can analyze how '털다' functions in classical literature versus modern slang. You should be able to use it to describe the 'emptying' of one's soul or the 'shaking' of the foundations of an argument. You understand the social implications of words like '신상 털기' (doxing/digging up someone's personal information) and the ethical weight of '털어놓다' in a therapeutic or confessional setting. Your mastery allows you to use the word with precision in any register, from a formal police report about a '금고 털이' (safe-cracking) to a poetic description of autumn. You recognize the word's power to convey both the mundane act of cleaning and the profound act of total revelation or total loss.
Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

털다 en 30 secondes

  • Primary meaning: Shaking off dust, crumbs, or snow from surfaces like clothes or blankets.
  • Secondary meaning: Emptying a container, wallet, or piggy bank completely to use the contents.
  • Criminal meaning: Robbing a house, bank, or store by taking everything inside.
  • Emotional meaning: Confessing secrets or sharing deep feelings frankly (usually as '털어놓다').

The Korean verb 털다 (teolda) is a multifaceted action verb primarily describing the physical act of shaking something to remove dust, particles, or moisture. At its core, it involves a vigorous movement intended to detach unwanted substances from a surface. However, its semantic range extends far beyond simple cleaning, encompassing concepts of emptying, stealing, and even emotional disclosure. Understanding 털다 requires looking at the intent behind the shaking: is it to clean, to empty, or to take?

Primary Action
The most common usage is removing dust from fabrics like blankets or coats.
Metaphorical Emptying
It can mean spending every last cent or emptying a container completely.
Illicit Removal
In a more negative context, it refers to robbing a place or person by 'shaking' them of their belongings.

"밖에서 옷의 먼지를 털고 들어오세요." (Please shake the dust off your clothes outside before coming in.)

In daily life, you will see Koreans 털다 their umbrellas after a rainstorm or 털다 their hands after eating something crumbly. It implies a certain level of force; you aren't just wiping (닦다), you are actively shaking or flicking. This nuance of 'shaking off' is what differentiates it from other cleaning verbs. When you 'shake off' a bad mood or a past failure, you are also using a figurative form of 털다, suggesting a clean break from the past.

"주머니를 털어 보았지만 돈이 한 푼도 없었다." (I emptied my pockets, but there wasn't a single cent.)

Furthermore, the verb is used in the phrase 털어놓다 (teoreo-nota), which means to 'pour out' or 'confess' one's inner thoughts. Imagine shaking a bag until everything inside falls out—that is the image of someone opening up their heart. This versatility makes 털다 one of the most expressive verbs in the Korean language, moving from the mundane task of dusting to the deep human experience of honesty.

Visual Image
A quick, snapping motion of the wrist or arms.
Result
The object becomes clean, empty, or the contents are revealed.

"그는 과거의 아픔을 털어버리고 새 출발을 했다." (He shook off the pain of the past and made a fresh start.)

Using 털다 correctly involves matching the object with the specific nuance of the action. While the basic conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in a consonant, the context dictates whether the action is helpful, neutral, or criminal. It is an active verb (동사) that usually takes an object marked by 을/를.

1. Physical Dusting and Shaking

When you want to remove something unwanted from a surface, use 털다. This is most common with textiles or body parts. For example, 먼지를 털다 (to dust/shake off dust) or 머리카락을 털다 (to shake out hair). If you are using a tool like a duster, the verb remains the same.

Example
신발에 묻은 흙을 털다 (Shake the dirt off your shoes).

2. Emptying and Spending

In a figurative sense, 털다 means to empty a container or a source of value. This is often used with money. 전 재산을 털다 means to spend or give away all of one's assets. It implies a thoroughness—nothing is left behind.

3. Criminal Contexts

Be careful with this usage! To 'shake' a place like a bank (은행을 털다) or a house (빈집을 털다) means to rob it. This stems from the idea of shaking out all the valuables until the place is empty. It is frequently used in news reports and crime dramas.

"도둑이 어젯밤 편의점을 털었다." (A thief robbed a convenience store last night.)

4. Compound Verbs

The most important compound is 털어놓다. This is essential for intermediate learners. It literally means 'to shake and put down,' but it translates to 'confessing' or 'speaking frankly.' If you have a secret, you 털어놓다 to a friend.

You will encounter 털다 in various settings, ranging from the domestic to the dramatic. Its high frequency in both spoken and written Korean makes it a vital part of a learner's vocabulary. Here are the most common scenarios where you will hear this word used.

1. At Home and During Chores

In a household setting, parents often tell children to 털다 their clothes before coming inside, especially during yellow dust (황사) season or after playing in the sand. You'll hear: "옷 좀 잘 털고 들어와!" (Shake your clothes off well before coming in!). It is also the standard verb for cleaning rugs, mats, and bedding.

Setting
Cleaning day, laundry, entering the house.

2. In News and Media

The criminal usage of 털다 is ubiquitous in news headlines. Words like 빈집털이 (robbing an empty house) are common terms for specific types of crimes. If a major financial scandal occurs, journalists might say investigators are "먼지 나게 털고 있다" (shaking [them] until dust comes out), meaning they are conducting an incredibly thorough and rigorous investigation to find any wrongdoing.

"경찰은 이번 사건의 배후를 끝까지 털 계획이다." (The police plan to thoroughly investigate the background of this case to the end.)

3. In Emotional Conversations

In K-Dramas or heart-to-heart talks, characters will often say, "이제 다 털어놔 봐." (Now, tell me everything / Pour it all out). This usage of 털어놓다 signifies a turning point in a relationship where secrets are shared and burdens are lightened. It conveys a sense of relief and vulnerability.

4. In Sports and Games

When a team is soundly defeated, fans might say their team was 털렸다 (the passive form). It means they were 'cleaned out' or 'destroyed' by the opponent. Similarly, in gaming, if a player loses all their items or gold, they say they were 털렸다.

While 털다 is a common word, its specific physical action is often confused with other cleaning or moving verbs. Avoiding these mistakes will make your Korean sound much more natural and precise.

1. Confusing '털다' with '닦다' (Wiping)

This is the most frequent error. 닦다 (dak-da) involves friction against a surface, usually with a cloth or liquid, to remove a stain or make it shine. 털다 involves shaking or hitting. You 닦다 a window, but you 털다 a rug. If you say you are 'shaking' the table when you mean 'wiping' it, a Korean speaker will be very confused.

Wrong
책상을 털어요 (I shake the desk - implies picking it up and shaking it).
Right
책상을 닦아요 (I wipe the desk).

2. Confusing '털다' with '씻다' (Washing)

씻다 (ssit-da) specifically requires water or a cleaning agent. You 씻다 your hands with soap. You 털다 your hands to get rid of water or crumbs. If you say you 'shook' your face, it sounds like you are vibrating your head rather than washing it.

3. Misusing the Passive Form '털리다'

Learners often forget that 털리다 (teol-li-da) is the passive form. If you say "내가 도둑을 털었다," it means *you* robbed the thief. If you were the victim, you must say "내가 도둑에게 털렸다" (I was robbed by the thief). Using the active voice when you mean the passive voice can lead to accidental confessions of crime!

4. Overusing it for 'Emptying'

While 털다 can mean to empty, it usually implies a vigorous or total emptying. For a simple action like emptying a trash can into a larger bin, 비우다 (bi-u-da) is more common and neutral. Use 털다 when you are shaking the last bits out of the can.

Korean has several verbs that describe cleaning, shaking, or removing. Distinguishing between 털다 and its synonyms will help you reach a higher level of fluency.

1. 털다 vs. 흔들다 (Heundeul-da)

흔들다 simply means 'to shake' or 'to wave.' It doesn't necessarily imply that something is being removed. You 흔들다 your hand to say goodbye, or 흔들다 a bottle of juice to mix it. 털다 is shaking with the *purpose* of getting something off or out.

흔들다
Waving a flag, shaking a tail.
털다
Shaking a rug to remove dust.

2. 털다 vs. 털어내다 (Teoreo-naeda)

These are very similar, but 털어내다 emphasizes the result of the action—the fact that the dust is now *off* or *gone*. The auxiliary verb -내다 suggests completing a difficult task or achieving a result. You might use 털어내다 when talking about shaking off a long-held grudge or a thick layer of snow.

3. 털다 vs. 훔치다 (Hum-chi-da)

In the context of stealing, 훔치다 is the general word for 'to steal.' 털다 is more specific to 'robbing' a place or 'cleaning someone out.' You 훔치다 an apple from a store (stealing an item), but you 털다 the store (taking everything or robbing the register).

"지갑을 훔쳤다" (Stole a wallet) vs. "집을 털었다" (Robbed a house).

4. 털다 vs. 뿌리치다 (Ppurichida)

뿌리치다 means to shake off someone's hand or to reject a request forcefully. While 털다 is about particles or contents, 뿌리치다 is about physical or social grip. If someone grabs your arm and you shake them off, you 뿌리치다.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

""

Informel

""

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Exemples par niveau

1

옷을 털어요.

I shake my clothes.

Present tense of 털다.

2

먼지를 터세요.

Please shake off the dust.

Honorific imperative form.

3

손을 털어요.

I shake my hands.

Simple object + verb.

4

이불을 털었어요.

I shook the blanket.

Past tense.

5

여기서 털지 마세요.

Don't shake it here.

-지 마세요 (prohibitive).

6

가방을 털어 봐요.

Try shaking the bag.

-아/어 보다 (try doing).

7

눈을 털어요.

I shake off the snow.

Literal physical removal.

8

우산을 잘 터세요.

Shake your umbrella well.

Adverb '잘' + imperative.

1

주머니를 털어 보세요.

Try emptying your pockets.

Emptying context.

2

과자 부스러기를 털었어요.

I shook off the cookie crumbs.

Specific object '부스러기'.

3

신발의 흙을 털고 들어오세요.

Shake the dirt off your shoes and come in.

-고 (and then) connector.

4

빗물을 털어냈어요.

I shook off the rainwater.

-어 내다 (resultative).

5

카펫을 밖에서 터는 게 좋아요.

It's good to shake the carpet outside.

-는 게 좋다 (it's better to).

6

머리를 털어서 말려요.

Shake your hair to dry it.

Method/Reasoning.

7

옷에 묻은 먼지를 털어 줄게요.

I'll shake the dust off your clothes for you.

-어 주다 (do for someone).

8

강아지가 몸을 털어요.

The dog is shaking its body.

Natural animal action.

1

친구에게 고민을 털어놓았어요.

I confessed my worries to my friend.

Compound verb 털어놓다.

2

저금통을 털어서 영화를 봤어요.

I emptied my piggy bank and watched a movie.

Figurative emptying of money.

3

도둑이 그 집을 털었다고 해요.

They say a thief robbed that house.

Indirect speech -다고 하다.

4

비밀을 다 털어놓을게요.

I will tell you all my secrets.

Future intention.

5

과거의 실수를 털어버리세요.

Shake off your past mistakes.

Metaphorical 'shaking off'.

6

주머니를 다 털어도 천 원밖에 없어요.

Even if I empty my pockets, I only have 1,000 won.

-아/어도 (even if).

7

그는 속마음을 잘 털어놓지 않아요.

He doesn't easily reveal his inner feelings.

Negation -지 않다.

8

은행을 털려는 계획이 실패했어요.

The plan to rob the bank failed.

-(으)려는 (intending to).

1

어제 지하철에서 지갑을 털렸어요.

I had my wallet stolen on the subway yesterday.

Passive form 털리다.

2

경찰이 그 회사를 먼지 나게 털고 있어요.

The police are investigating that company very thoroughly.

Idiom '먼지 나게 털다'.

3

게임 아이템을 다 털려서 속상해요.

I'm upset because all my game items were taken.

Passive usage in gaming.

4

그는 모든 의혹을 털어내고 복귀했다.

He cleared all suspicions and made a comeback.

Formal resultative.

5

아무리 털어도 먼지가 계속 나와요.

No matter how much I shake it, dust keeps coming out.

아무리 -어도 (no matter how).

6

그녀는 남편에게 모든 사실을 털어놓기로 했다.

She decided to tell her husband the whole truth.

-기로 하다 (decide to).

7

편의점을 털던 범인이 잡혔습니다.

The criminal who was robbing the convenience store was caught.

Retrospective modifier -던.

8

마지막 남은 힘까지 다 털어 넣었다.

I poured in every last bit of my strength.

Figurative use of emptying energy.

1

그는 자신의 치부를 가감 없이 털어놓았다.

He revealed his flaws without adding or subtracting anything.

Advanced vocabulary '치부', '가감 없이'.

2

정치권은 이번 비리를 먼지 하나 안 나오게 털어야 한다.

The political circles must investigate this corruption so thoroughly that not even a speck of dust remains.

Hyperbolic idiom for investigation.

3

해킹으로 인해 개인정보가 무더기로 털렸다.

Personal information was stolen in bulk due to hacking.

Passive '털리다' for data breaches.

4

그는 과거의 굴레를 털어내고 자유를 찾았다.

He shook off the shackles of the past and found freedom.

Metaphorical '굴레' (shackles).

5

털어서 먼지 안 나는 사람 없다더니 정말이네.

They say there's no one who doesn't have dust when shaken, and it's true.

Proverbial usage.

6

그는 전 재산을 털어 장학 재단을 설립했다.

He used all his assets to establish a scholarship foundation.

Altruistic 'emptying'.

7

수사관들은 용의자의 집을 샅샅이 털었다.

The investigators searched the suspect's house thoroughly.

Adverb '샅샅이' (thoroughly).

8

마음의 짐을 털어버리니 한결 가벼워졌다.

Now that I've shaken off the burden on my heart, I feel much lighter.

Psychological relief.

1

역사의 뒤안길로 사라진 진실을 털어내는 작업이 시작되었다.

The work of unearthing the truths that vanished into the shadows of history has begun.

Highly literary/abstract.

2

그의 발언은 당의 근간을 털어버릴 만큼 파괴적이었다.

His remarks were destructive enough to shake the very foundations of the party.

Metaphorical foundation-shaking.

3

부조리한 관습을 털어내지 못하면 미래는 없다.

If we cannot shake off irrational customs, there is no future.

Social commentary.

4

그는 문학을 통해 인간 존재의 심연을 털어 보여주었다.

Through literature, he laid bare the abyss of human existence.

Poetic 'shaking out' to reveal.

5

자본의 논리에 의해 영혼까지 털린 현대인들의 초상.

A portrait of modern people whose very souls have been emptied by the logic of capital.

Existential passive usage.

6

검찰은 기업의 비자금 내역을 현미경으로 보듯 털어댔다.

The prosecution scrutinized the company's slush fund details as if looking through a microscope.

-어 대다 (repetitive/intense action).

7

그는 마지막 자존심마저 털어 넣으며 용서를 구했다.

He cast aside even his last bit of pride and begged for forgiveness.

Emotional 'emptying'.

8

세월의 먼지를 털어내자 찬란한 본모습이 드러났다.

As the dust of time was shaken off, its brilliant original form was revealed.

Metaphorical time/dust.

Collocations courantes

먼지를 털다
이불을 털다
주머니를 털다
은행을 털다
비밀을 털어놓다
속을 털다
신발을 털다
옷을 털다
탈탈 털다
먼지 나게 털다

Phrases Courantes

탈탈 털리다

먼지 나게 털리다

영혼까지 털리다

지갑을 털다

빈집을 털다

고민을 털어놓다

과거를 털다

미련을 털다

먼지를 털어내다

툭툭 털다

Souvent confondu avec

털다 vs 닦다 (wipe)

털다 vs 씻다 (wash)

털다 vs 흔들다 (shake/wave)

Expressions idiomatiques

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Facile à confondre

털다 vs 떨다

To tremble or shiver (몸을 떨다), whereas 털다 is to shake something else.

털다 vs 뜯다

To pluck or tear off.

Structures de phrases

Comment l'utiliser

nuance

Implies force and completeness.

colloquialism

'털리다' is often used when someone's logic is defeated in an argument.

Erreurs courantes
  • Using 털다 instead of 닦다 for cleaning a flat surface.
  • Using 털다 instead of 악수하다 for shaking hands.
  • Forgetting that 털리다 is the passive form.
  • Using 털다 for 'shivering' (should be 떨다).
  • Using 털다 for 'washing' with water.

Astuces

Compound Verbs

Focus on 털어놓다 and 털어버리다 as they are high-frequency.

Dusting Etiquette

Be mindful of where you shake things in Korea; avoid doing it near others.

Passive Voice

Master 털리다 to describe being a victim of theft or a bad loss.

Gaming Terms

Use 털리다 when you lose all your resources in a game.

Batchim

The 'ㄹ' sound should be light and crisp.

Descriptive Power

Use adverbs like '탈탈' or '툭툭' with 털다 for better imagery.

News Context

When you hear '털다' on the news, look for words like '검찰' (prosecution) or '의혹' (suspicion).

Confessions

Use '사실은...' before 털어놓다 to sound more natural.

Visualizing

Visualize the dust flying off a rug to remember the core meaning.

Don't Confuse

Never use 털다 for 'wiping' a table.

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

Native Korean word.

Contexte culturel

In modern Korea, shaking blankets off balconies is often discouraged due to dust falling on neighbors.

The term '털다' is frequently used in media to describe rigorous prosecution of high-profile figures.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"고민이 있으면 나한테 털어놔 봐."

"어제 도둑이 우리 동네를 털었대요."

"이불 털기 좋은 날씨네요."

"지갑을 털어서 친구 생일 선물을 샀어요."

"게임하다가 아이템 다 털린 적 있어요?"

Sujets d'écriture

오늘 내가 털어버리고 싶은 걱정은 무엇인가요?

누구에게 비밀을 털어놓은 적이 있나요?

집을 대청소하며 먼지를 턴 경험을 써 보세요.

돈을 다 털어서 샀던 가장 비싼 물건은?

과거의 미련을 털어내는 방법에 대해 써 보세요.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, use 설거지하다 or 씻다. 털다 only means shaking off water after washing.

Not necessarily. It can mean spending all your money for a good cause, like a gift or charity.

털어내다 emphasizes the result of the dust actually being removed.

Only metaphorically, like 'investigating' them or 'robbing' them.

Use 악수하다, not 털다.

It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

It's slang for talking too much, boasting, or lying.

Only the part of cleaning that involves shaking dust.

It's a noun meaning a person who robs empty houses or the act itself.

털어 주세요 or 터세요.

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