머리에 박히다
meori-e bakhida
Be deeply impressed in one's mind
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when a thought, song, or lesson is so strong it simply won't leave your mind.
- Means: To be firmly fixed in your memory like a nail in wood.
- Used in: Studying for exams, catchy songs, or hearing important advice.
- Don't confuse: Don't use it for physical pain in the head.
Explanation at your level:
意味
To be firmly fixed in one's memory or understanding.
文化的背景
The term '수능 금지곡' (CSAT Forbidden Songs) refers to songs so catchy that they '머리에 박혀서' (stick in the head) and distract students during the national exam. In Korean traditional education, rote memorization of Chinese characters ({한자|漢字}) was essential. The idea of 'nailing' knowledge into the head stems from this rigorous study culture. K-pop producers intentionally use 'killing parts'—short, repetitive phrases designed to '머리에 박히다' for global audiences who may not speak Korean. Parents often use the related phrase '귀에 못이 박히다' (calluses in the ear) to describe how many times they've told their children something, showing the '박히다' metaphor's prevalence in discipline.
Use with Adverbs
Pair it with '딱' (ttak) to sound more natural. '머리에 딱 박혔어!' sounds very native.
Passive Voice
Always remember it's '박히다' (passive). If you say '박다', people will think you are hammering a physical nail.
意味
To be firmly fixed in one's memory or understanding.
Use with Adverbs
Pair it with '딱' (ttak) to sound more natural. '머리에 딱 박혔어!' sounds very native.
Passive Voice
Always remember it's '박히다' (passive). If you say '박다', people will think you are hammering a physical nail.
Song Context
If you find a song annoying but catchy, this is the perfect phrase to use.
自分をテスト
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '박히다'.
어제 배운 문법이 아직 머리에 잘 안 (____).
The sentence is in the present tense/general state, so '박혀요' is correct. '박혔어요' would mean it already didn't stick in the past.
Which situation is MOST appropriate for '머리에 박히다'?
When would you say '머리에 딱 박혔어요'?
The idiom refers to information being firmly understood or memorized.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 이 노래 어때? B: 너무 좋아. 멜로디가 (____).
B is saying the melody is catchy and stuck in their head.
Match the phrase to the nuance.
Match '머리에 박히다' with its best description.
The phrase emphasizes the firmness and permanence of a memory.
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Active vs Passive
よくある質問
5 問Yes, if a shocking scene is stuck in your head, you can say '그 장면이 머리에 박혔어요.'
It's a bit casual. Better to say '깊이 각인되었습니다' (It was deeply imprinted) or '가슴에 새겼습니다'.
'외우다' is the action of trying to memorize. '박히다' is the result of it being successfully stored.
Yes, but it usually means something hurt your feelings or touched you emotionally.
Yes, in this context it is the passive form of '박다'.
関連フレーズ
뇌리에 남다
similarTo remain in one's mind/brain
귀에 못이 박히다
builds onTo be sick of hearing something
가슴에 새기다
similarTo engrave in one's heart
잊혀지지 않다
synonymTo not be forgotten
머리를 짜내다
contrastTo rack one's brain
どこで使う？
Catchy Song
Friend A: 너 왜 계속 그 노래만 불러?
Friend B: 몰라, 멜로디가 머리에 박혀서 안 떠나.
Studying Vocabulary
Student: 이 단어 너무 어려워요. 머리에 안 박혀요.
Teacher: 여러 번 써 보세요. 그럼 박힐 거예요.
Impactful Advice
Mentor: 실패를 두려워하지 마세요.
Mentee: 그 말씀이 제 머리에 깊이 박혔습니다.
Marketing Meeting
Manager: 우리 브랜드 이름이 소비자 머리에 박혀야 합니다.
Employee: 네, 강렬한 광고를 준비하겠습니다.
Shocking News
Person A: 어제 뉴스 봤어?
Person B: 응, 그 사고 장면이 머리에 박혀서 잠을 못 잤어.
Learning a Recipe
Mom: 설탕은 한 스푼만 넣는 거 잊지 마.
Son: 걱정 마, 머리에 딱 박아 뒀어.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of your brain as a soft piece of wood and a new word as a nail. To keep the word there, you have to 'hammer' it in until it's '박히다' (stuck).
Visual Association
Imagine a giant cartoon nail with the word 'KOREAN' written on it being gently hammered into a smiling brain. The nail is now part of the brain.
Rhyme
머리에 쏙, 기억이 꼭! (In the head smoothly, memory surely!)
Story
Min-su was studying for his history exam. He read the dates ten times, but they wouldn't stay. Finally, his teacher told a funny story about the King. Suddenly, the date '박혔다' (stuck) in his head like a nail, and he never forgot it again.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Find a K-pop song chorus you like. Listen to it 5 times. Then, tell a friend in Korean: '이 노래가 머리에 박혔어요!'
In Other Languages
Stuck in my head / Etched in my memory
English uses 'stuck' for songs more often, while Korean uses '박히다' equally for songs and study.
頭に焼き付く (Atama ni yakitsuku)
The Japanese version emphasizes a visual image being 'burned' in, while Korean emphasizes a fact being 'driven' in.
印在脑海里 (Yìn zài nǎohǎi lǐ)
Chinese is more poetic/visual; Korean is more mechanical/physical (nailing).
Grabado en la memoria
Spanish uses 'engraved' (grabado), which implies a more artistic or deliberate process than 'nailing'.
Avoir dans la tête
French lacks the specific 'nailing' verb nuance found in Korean.
Im Gedächtnis eingebrannt
German focuses on the heat/intensity of the memory formation.
محفور في الذاكرة (Mahfur fi al-dhakira)
Arabic implies a slow, deliberate carving, whereas Korean '박히다' can be sudden.
Ficar na cabeça
Less emphasis on the 'physical' act of being driven in compared to Korean.
Easily Confused
Both use '박히다' and involve the head/ears.
Use '머리' for things you WANT to remember or catchy songs. Use '귀' for things you are TIRED of hearing.
One is active, one is passive.
'머리를 박다' means to physically hit your head against something (like bowing deeply or an accident).
よくある質問 (5)
Yes, if a shocking scene is stuck in your head, you can say '그 장면이 머리에 박혔어요.'
It's a bit casual. Better to say '깊이 각인되었습니다' (It was deeply imprinted) or '가슴에 새겼습니다'.
'외우다' is the action of trying to memorize. '박히다' is the result of it being successfully stored.
Yes, but it usually means something hurt your feelings or touched you emotionally.
Yes, in this context it is the passive form of '박다'.
