Phrase in 30 Seconds
A common idiom meaning to stop working on something or give up on a task, often due to exhaustion or loss of interest.
- Means: To stop doing a task or give up (literally 'to let go of hands').
- Used in: Work burnout, quitting a hobby, or pausing a project.
- Don't confuse: With '손을 씻다' (to wash hands), which means quitting a life of crime.
आपके स्तर पर व्याख्या:
मतलब
To stop doing something or give up on a task.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
In the competitive Korean education system, students who '손을 놓다' regarding a specific subject like Math are called '수포자' (Su-po-ja - Math abandoner). It's a common social term. The phrase reflects the communal nature of Korean farming. If one person 'lets go of their hands,' the whole village's work could be delayed, which is why it sometimes carries a nuance of irresponsibility. With the 'Quiet Quitting' trend globally, young Koreans use this phrase to describe doing the bare minimum or mentally checking out from work. Korean calligraphers and painters use the term to describe the moment they stop practicing their craft, often due to old age or a loss of 'Gi' (energy).
Use with '-아/어 버리다'
To sound more native when you're frustrated, say '손을 놓아 버렸어요.'
Not for 'dropping' things
If you drop your phone, don't use this! Use '떨어뜨리다'.
Use with '-아/어 버리다'
To sound more native when you're frustrated, say '손을 놓아 버렸어요.'
Not for 'dropping' things
If you drop your phone, don't use this! Use '떨어뜨리다'.
Respectful Retirement
When suggesting an elder retire, '손을 놓다' is polite and soft.
खुद को परखो
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '손을 놓다'.
너무 피곤해서 하던 일을 잠시 ( ).
The context of being tired and stopping work requires '손을 놓다'.
Which situation best fits the idiom '손을 놓다'?
Choose the best scenario:
The idiom refers to stopping a task or involvement.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 왜 요즘 피아노 안 쳐? B: 공부가 너무 바빠서 피아노에서 ( ).
Quitting a hobby due to being busy is a classic use of '손을 놓다'.
🎉 स्कोर: /3
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
अभ्यास बैंक
4 अभ्यास너무 피곤해서 하던 일을 잠시 ( ).
The context of being tired and stopping work requires '손을 놓다'.
Choose the best scenario:
The idiom refers to stopping a task or involvement.
A: 왜 요즘 피아노 안 쳐? B: 공부가 너무 바빠서 피아노에서 ( ).
Quitting a hobby due to being busy is a classic use of '손을 놓다'.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
4 सवालIt's rare. For relationships, we usually use '헤어지다' or '끝내다'. '손을 놓다' is mostly for tasks or work.
Not always. It can mean taking a well-deserved rest or retiring gracefully.
'포기하다' is a direct word for 'to give up.' '손을 놓다' is more idiomatic and visual.
Yes! '다이어트에서 손을 놓았다' is a very common way to say you stopped dieting.
संबंधित मुहावरे
손을 떼다
synonymTo take one's hands off something.
손을 씻다
similarTo wash one's hands.
손을 뻗다
contrastTo reach out one's hand.
손이 비다
builds onHands are empty.
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
Office Burnout
Colleague A: 김 대리님, 아직도 퇴근 안 하셨어요?
Colleague B: 네, 일이 너무 많아서 {손|手}을 놓을 수가 없네요.
Quitting a Hobby
Friend A: 요즘도 기타 연습해?
Friend B: 아니, 바빠서 한동안 {손|手}을 놓았어.
Business Failure
Reporter: 결국 그 프로젝트에서 {손|手}을 놓기로 하셨나요?
CEO: 네, 시장 상황이 좋지 않아 어쩔 수 없었습니다.
Housework Neglect
Mom: 방 꼬락서니가 이게 뭐니?
Son: 시험 공부하느라 청소에서 {손|手}을 놓았어요.
Retirement
Son: 아버지, 이제 일에서 {손|手}을 놓고 좀 쉬세요.
Father: 그래, 이제 그럴 때가 된 것 같구나.
Academic Giving Up
Teacher: 영수야, 수학 포기할 거니?
Student: 너무 어려워서 이미 {손|手}을 놓았어요.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Imagine you are holding a heavy 'SON' (son sounds like 'hand' in Korean) and you 'NOTA' (put it down) because you're done.
दृश्य संबंध
Visualize a farmer dropping a heavy wooden plow in the middle of a field and walking away toward a sunset. The plow represents the task, and the open hands represent the idiom.
Rhyme
일이 힘들면 손을 놓아, 잠시 쉬는 게 정말 좋아.
Story
Min-su was building a giant Lego castle. After 10 hours, his back hurt and he was bored. He opened his hands, let the bricks fall, and said '손을 놓다.' He walked away to eat ramen, leaving the castle unfinished.
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'to wash one's hands of something,' though that implies avoiding responsibility. 'To drop the ball' is also similar but implies a mistake.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Try to use '{손|手}을 놓다' in a sentence about a hobby you used to have but don't do anymore. Write it in your journal.
Review this phrase 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week after learning to distinguish it from '손을 씻다'.
उच्चारण
Standard pronunciation, the 'n' carries over to the 'eu'.
The 'h' (ㅎ) and 'd' (ㄷ) combine to make a strong 't' (ㅌ) sound.
औपचारिकता का स्तर
해당 프로젝트에서 {손|手}을 놓기로 결정했습니다. (Work project)
그 프로젝트에서 {손|手}을 놓았어요. (Work project)
나 그 프로젝트 {손|手} 놓았어. (Work project)
그 프로젝트 그냥 던졌어. (I just threw/tossed that project.) (Work project)
Derived from the physical action of releasing a tool or an object held in the hand, specifically related to farming and manual labor in the Joseon Dynasty.
रोचक तथ्य
The word '손' (hand) appears in over 100 Korean idioms, showing how central manual labor was to the culture.
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
In the competitive Korean education system, students who '손을 놓다' regarding a specific subject like Math are called '수포자' (Su-po-ja - Math abandoner). It's a common social term.
“나는 중학교 때부터 수학에서 {손|手}을 놓았어.”
The phrase reflects the communal nature of Korean farming. If one person 'lets go of their hands,' the whole village's work could be delayed, which is why it sometimes carries a nuance of irresponsibility.
“모내기 철에 {손|手}을 놓으면 어떡하나?”
With the 'Quiet Quitting' trend globally, young Koreans use this phrase to describe doing the bare minimum or mentally checking out from work.
“회사 일에서 {손|手}을 놓고 싶을 때가 많아요.”
Korean calligraphers and painters use the term to describe the moment they stop practicing their craft, often due to old age or a loss of 'Gi' (energy).
“노화로 인해 붓에서 {손|手}을 놓게 되었다.”
बातचीत की शुरुआत
요즘 너무 힘들어서 {손|手}을 놓고 싶은 일이 있나요?
과거에 하다가 {손|手}을 놓은 취미가 있어요?
한국의 '수포자' 문화에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?
सामान्य गलतियाँ
손을 씻다 (to wash hands)
손을 놓다 (to let go of hands)
L1 Interference
손을 놓아지다
손을 놓게 되다
L1 Interference
Using it for 'dropping' a physical object like a phone.
핸드폰을 떨어뜨리다
L1 Interference
손에 놓다 (using 'e' instead of 'eul')
손을 놓다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Tirar la toalla
Spanish uses a boxing metaphor; Korean uses a manual labor metaphor.
Lâcher prise
French is often more positive/therapeutic; Korean can be more about work cessation.
Die Hände in den Schoß legen
German implies idleness; Korean implies cessation of a specific task.
手を引く (Te o hiku)
Japanese emphasizes 'pulling back' while Korean emphasizes 'letting go'.
رفع يده عن (Rafa'a yadahu 'an)
Arabic uses 'lifting' the hand; Korean uses 'releasing' the hand.
撒手 (Sāshǒu)
Chinese 'sāshǒu' can have a stronger connotation of death or total abandonment.
손을 떼다
'떼다' sounds more active and decisive; '놓다' sounds more like stopping due to exhaustion.
Abrir mão
Portuguese is more about relinquishing a right; Korean is more about stopping an activity.
Spotted in the Real World
“일에서 {손|手}을 놓는 게 가장 두렵습니다.”
A manager expressing his fear of being forced to quit his job.
“이제는 {손|手}을 놓을 시간.”
Reflecting on letting go of childhood habits as she turns 25.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Both involve hands and stopping an action.
Think: 'Washing' is for cleaning away 'dirty' deeds (crime). 'Letting go' is for stopping 'heavy' work.
They are almost identical.
Use '떼다' (detach) for business deals or specific cases. Use '놓다' (release) for general work or exhaustion.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (4)
It's rare. For relationships, we usually use '헤어지다' or '끝내다'. '손을 놓다' is mostly for tasks or work.
usage contextsNot always. It can mean taking a well-deserved rest or retiring gracefully.
basic understanding'포기하다' is a direct word for 'to give up.' '손을 놓다' is more idiomatic and visual.
comparisonsYes! '다이어트에서 손을 놓았다' is a very common way to say you stopped dieting.
practical tips
