A1 Idiom तटस्थ

마음을 졸이다

ma-eum-eul jorida

to be on edge / worried

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use '마음을 졸이다' when you are feeling anxious or nervous while waiting for a result or an event.

  • Means: To feel intense anxiety or suspense while waiting for something.
  • Used in: Waiting for exam results, job interview outcomes, or news about a loved one.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about physical pain, but emotional tension.
Heart (마음) + Tightening/Constricting (졸이다) = Anxiety

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means you are worried or nervous while waiting for something important to happen.
You use this when you feel tense because you don't know the result of a situation yet. It is like being on the edge of your seat.
It describes the emotional state of suspense. It is commonly used when waiting for news or watching a high-stakes event where the outcome is uncertain.
This idiom captures the psychological tension of anticipation. It is frequently employed in narratives to describe a character's internal struggle while awaiting a significant turning point.
The phrase functions as a somatic metaphor for anxiety. It linguistically maps the process of reduction (boiling) onto the emotional experience of constriction, effectively conveying the intensity of prolonged uncertainty.
Rooted in the cognitive domain of heat and pressure, this idiom exemplifies how Korean conceptualizes anxiety as a physical state of internal contraction. It is a quintessential example of how cultural metaphors shape the expression of psychological distress.

मतलब

To feel anxious or uneasy, especially while waiting for something.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

The phrase is very common during the Suneung (college entrance exam) period. It is often used in dramas to build tension.

💡

Context is key

Always pair this with a reason for your anxiety using -느라 or -며.

मतलब

To feel anxious or uneasy, especially while waiting for something.

💡

Context is key

Always pair this with a reason for your anxiety using -느라 or -며.

खुद को परखो

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

시험 결과를 기다리며 _____.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 마음을 졸였다

You feel anxious while waiting for results, so '마음을 졸였다' is correct.

🎉 स्कोर: /1

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

1 सवाल

No, it is strictly for anxiety or suspense.

संबंधित मुहावरे

🔄

애를 태우다

synonym

To burn one's effort/heart.

🔗

가슴을 졸이다

similar

To tighten the chest.

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

📝

Waiting for exam results

A: 결과 나왔어?

B: 아직. 발표 기다리느라 마음을 졸이고 있어.

neutral
⚽

Watching a sports game

A: 점수 차가 1점이야!

B: 진짜 마음을 졸이면서 보고 있어.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a pot of soup on a stove. The soup is your heart, and the heat is your anxiety. As the heat stays on, your heart boils down and gets tight.

Visual Association

A person sitting on a chair, biting their nails, staring at a phone screen that won't light up.

Story

Min-su applied for his dream job. For three days, he couldn't sleep. He kept checking his email. He was truly '마음을 졸이다'. Finally, the acceptance letter arrived.

Word Web

불안긴장기다림초조결과기대

चैलेंज

Write three sentences about a time you waited for something important using this phrase.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Estar en ascuas

The source of the heat metaphor differs.

French high

Être sur des charbons ardents

French focuses on the surface (coals), Korean on the internal (heart).

German high

Auf heißen Kohlen sitzen

Korean is more focused on the heart's internal state.

Japanese high

やきもきする (Yakimoki suru)

The etymology is slightly different but the usage is almost identical.

Arabic moderate

على أعصابي (Ala a'sabi)

Arabic highlights the nervous system; Korean highlights the heart.

Easily Confused

마음을 졸이다 बनाम 마음을 놓다

Opposite meaning.

놓다 means to release/let go.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (1)

No, it is strictly for anxiety or suspense.

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