Phrase in 30 Seconds
Literally 'giving strength to the belly,' this means tightening your abs to look better, prepare for effort, or brace for impact.
- Means: Tensing abdominal muscles for physical or social reasons.
- Used in: Taking photos, lifting heavy objects, or feeling nervous.
- Don't confuse: It's not just about exercise; it's often about social appearance.
あなたのレベルに合った解説：
意味
To tighten one's abdominal muscles, often from nervousness or effort.
文化的背景
The 'Body Profile' (바디프로필) trend has made this phrase extremely common on Instagram. People post about the struggle of 'giving strength' to their abs during shoots. In Korean traditional medicine (Hanbang), 'giving strength to the Dan-jeon' is believed to improve digestion and circulate 'Gi'. Practitioners are taught to 'give strength to the belly' to maintain balance and generate power from the center of the body. Maintaining a 'tight' core is often associated with being 'diligent' (부지런하다), while a relaxed belly can be seen as 'lazy' (게으르다) in professional settings.
Use '빡' for emphasis
If you want to sound like a native, add '빡' (ppak) to show you are tensing really hard: '배에 힘 빡 줘!'
Don't use with '를'
Saying '배를 힘을 주다' is a common beginner mistake. Stick to '배에'.
Use '빡' for emphasis
If you want to sound like a native, add '빡' (ppak) to show you are tensing really hard: '배에 힘 빡 줘!'
Don't use with '를'
Saying '배를 힘을 주다' is a common beginner mistake. Stick to '배에'.
Self-deprecation
Koreans often use this phrase to jokingly admit they are trying to look better than they are.
自分をテスト
Which particle correctly completes the phrase?
사진을 찍을 때 배___ 힘을 주세요.
The idiom always uses the particle '에' to indicate the location where strength is applied.
Complete the dialogue between a trainer and a student.
Trainer: 무거운 걸 들 때는 ( ). Student: 네, 알겠습니다!
When lifting heavy things, you must tighten your core (주세요), not relax it (빼세요).
Match the situation to the reason for using '배에 힘을 주다'.
Situation: A person is wearing a very tight dress at a wedding.
In social settings with tight clothes, the phrase refers to 'sucking it in' for aesthetics.
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
너무 긴장해서 나도 모르게 배에 ( )을 줬어요.
'힘' (strength/power) is the key noun in this idiom.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
練習問題バンク
5 問題사진을 찍을 때 배___ 힘을 주세요.
The idiom always uses the particle '에' to indicate the location where strength is applied.
Trainer: 무거운 걸 들 때는 ( ). Student: 네, 알겠습니다!
When lifting heavy things, you must tighten your core (주세요), not relax it (빼세요).
Situation: A person is wearing a very tight dress at a wedding.
In social settings with tight clothes, the phrase refers to 'sucking it in' for aesthetics.
너무 긴장해서 나도 모르게 배에 ( )을 줬어요.
'힘' (strength/power) is the key noun in this idiom.
🎉 スコア： /5
よくある質問
5 問No, even very fit people use it to define their muscles more clearly in photos.
Yes, it is the perfect phrase for physically bracing for impact.
The opposite is '배에 힘을 빼다' (to relax the stomach).
Between close friends, it's a common joke. To a stranger, it would be very rude as it implies they look fat.
While the phrase is native Korean, the concept is related to {복압|腹壓} (abdominal pressure).
関連フレーズ
배를 집어넣다
similarTo suck in one's stomach
배에 힘을 빼다
contrastTo relax one's stomach muscles
기운을 내다
similarTo cheer up / To find strength
어깨에 힘을 주다
builds onTo act arrogant / To put on airs
목에 힘을 주다
similarTo be stiff-necked / Arrogant
どこで使う？
At the Gym
Trainer: 스쿼트 할 때 배에 힘을 주세요.
Student: 네, 배에 힘을 꽉 주고 있어요!
Group Photo
Friend A: 자, 찍는다! 하나, 둘, 셋!
Friend B: 잠깐만! 나 배에 힘 좀 줄게.
Job Interview
Applicant: (Thinking) 너무 떨려. 배에 힘을 주고 당당하게 말하자.
Interviewer: 자기소개 부탁드립니다.
First Date
Person A: 오늘 옷이 좀 타이트하네?
Person B: 응, 그래서 계속 배에 힘을 주고 있어. 힘들어.
Doctor's Exam
Doctor: 여기를 누를 테니 배에 힘을 빼보세요.
Patient: 자꾸 긴장돼서 배에 힘이 들어가요.
Singing Lesson
Teacher: 고음을 낼 때는 배에 힘을 더 줘야 해요.
Student: 배에 힘을 주니까 소리가 더 잘 나와요.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of a 'Bae' (stomach) who wants to look 'Him' (powerful/strong) for a photo.
視覚的連想
Imagine a person standing in front of a mirror, taking a deep breath and pulling their belly in as hard as they can before a camera flashes.
Rhyme
배에 힘을 줘, 멋진 모습 보여줘! (Bae-e himeul jwo, meotjin moseup boyeojwo! - Give strength to the belly, show a cool look!)
Story
Min-su is at the beach. He sees his crush. He immediately 'gives strength to his belly' (배에 힘을 주다) to hide his lunch. He holds it so long he turns red, but he looks fit!
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'suck it in' or 'brace yourself'. In Japanese, 'hara ni chikara o ireru' is almost identical in meaning and structure.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Next time you take a selfie, say '배에 힘을 주자!' out loud and do the action. It will link the physical sensation to the phrase.
Review this phrase whenever you are at the gym or looking in a mirror.
発音
Pronounced clearly as two syllables.
The 'm' sound carries over to the next syllable.
Standard 'j' sound in Korean.
フォーマル度スペクトル
배에 힘을 주십시오. (Instructional)
배에 힘을 주세요. (Instructional)
배에 힘 좀 줘. (Instructional)
배에 힘 빡 줘라. (Instructional)
The phrase originates from the physical observation that the abdomen is the center of human physical exertion. Historically, it was a literal instruction for laborers and warriors.
豆知識
There is a popular health theory in Korea called 'Draw-in Exercise' which is literally just '배에 힘을 주는 것'.
文化メモ
The 'Body Profile' (바디프로필) trend has made this phrase extremely common on Instagram. People post about the struggle of 'giving strength' to their abs during shoots.
“바디프로필 찍을 때 배에 힘 주느라 죽는 줄 알았어요. (I thought I would die tensing my stomach during the body profile shoot.)”
In Korean traditional medicine (Hanbang), 'giving strength to the Dan-jeon' is believed to improve digestion and circulate 'Gi'.
“건강을 위해 평소에도 배에 힘을 주고 걸으세요. (For your health, walk with your core tensed.)”
Practitioners are taught to 'give strength to the belly' to maintain balance and generate power from the center of the body.
“기합을 넣을 때 배에 힘을 꽉 주세요! (Tighten your stomach hard when you shout!)”
Maintaining a 'tight' core is often associated with being 'diligent' (부지런하다), while a relaxed belly can be seen as 'lazy' (게으르다) in professional settings.
“면접에서는 배에 힘을 주고 바른 자세로 앉아야 해요. (In an interview, you should sit with your core tight and in a good posture.)”
会話のきっかけ
사진 찍을 때 보통 배에 힘을 주나요?
운동할 때 어디에 가장 힘을 많이 줘요?
긴장되는 상황에서 배에 힘이 들어간 적이 있나요?
よくある間違い
배를 힘을 주다
배에 힘을 주다
L1 Interference
배에 힘을 만들다
배에 힘을 주다
L1 Interference
배에 힘을 넣다
배에 힘을 주다
L1 Interference
배에 힘을 주다 (to mean 'I have a stomach ache')
배가 아프다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Suck it in / Brace yourself
English uses different phrases for aesthetics vs. preparation.
腹に力を入れる (Hara ni chikara o ireru)
Almost no difference; very high cultural overlap.
肚子使劲 (Dùzi shǐjìn)
Chinese often specifies the 'retracting' action for aesthetics.
Meter la panza
Spanish focuses on the 'moving in' of the belly rather than 'giving strength'.
Rentrer le ventre
Lacks the 'strength/power' nuance of the Korean '힘'.
Den Bauch einziehen
German is more literal about the direction of movement.
شد بطنك (Shid batnak)
Very similar in the 'tightening' concept.
Encolher a barriga
Uses the verb 'shrink' rather than 'give strength'.
Spotted in the Real World
“광수야, 사진 찍으니까 배에 힘 좀 줘!”
During a mission where they had to take a group photo.
“숨을 참고 배에 힘을 줘봐도...”
Lyrics about trying to look thin.
間違えやすい
Both start with '배' (stomach).
Remember '부르다' is 'full/bloated', while '힘을 주다' is an 'action' you do.
Both involve 'belly' and 'strength/guts'.
'배짱' is a noun meaning 'boldness', while '배에 힘을 주다' is a physical action.
よくある質問 (5)
No, even very fit people use it to define their muscles more clearly in photos.
usage contextsYes, it is the perfect phrase for physically bracing for impact.
usage contextsThe opposite is '배에 힘을 빼다' (to relax the stomach).
basic understandingBetween close friends, it's a common joke. To a stranger, it would be very rude as it implies they look fat.
practical tipsWhile the phrase is native Korean, the concept is related to {복압|腹壓} (abdominal pressure).
grammar mechanics
