Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when your legs feel like jelly because you're shocked, terrified, or completely exhausted.
- Means: To lose strength in your legs due to intense emotion or fatigue.
- Used in: Scary situations, hearing bad news, or after intense physical exercise.
- Don't confuse: With just having 'sore legs' from walking too much.
あなたのレベルに合った解説：
意味
To feel one's legs weaken or buckle, often from shock, fear, or exhaustion.
文化的背景
Koreans use 'body idioms' to express sincerity. Collapsing or having weak legs is seen as a genuine, uncontrollable reaction to news, often depicted in media to show a character's deep emotional investment. The Japanese equivalent 'knees are laughing' shows a more humorous take on the physical shaking of legs, though it is used in similar stressful contexts. In the age of social media, this phrase is often used in 'reaction' posts to describe meeting a favorite celebrity or seeing a shocking plot twist in a show. The use of passive voice in Korean idioms (like '풀리다') often suggests that the person is a victim of their emotions, rather than in control of them.
Pair it with '주저앉다'
To sound more native, use '다리에 힘이 풀려 주저앉았다' (My legs gave out and I slumped down). It's a very common combination.
Don't use with '을'
Never say '다리에 힘을 풀리다'. The particle must be '이' because it's a passive state.
Pair it with '주저앉다'
To sound more native, use '다리에 힘이 풀려 주저앉았다' (My legs gave out and I slumped down). It's a very common combination.
Don't use with '을'
Never say '다리에 힘을 풀리다'. The particle must be '이' because it's a passive state.
Use for relief too!
Many learners only use this for fear. Using it for relief (e.g., after a hard exam) shows a higher level of language mastery.
自分をテスト
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
너무 무서운 영화를 봐서 다리에 힘이 ( ).
The past tense '풀렸어요' is most natural here as it describes the result of watching the movie.
Which situation is most appropriate for this idiom?
언제 '다리에 힘이 풀리다'를 사용할까요?
This idiom is used for shock or relief, such as a near-accident.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 합격 소식 들었어? 나: 응, 너무 기뻐서 ( ).
Slumping down due to relief/joy is a classic use of this idiom.
Match the feeling to the idiom.
Match 'Extreme Relief' with the correct phrase.
Relief often causes the physical sensation of legs going weak.
🎉 スコア： /4
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練習問題バンク
5 問題너무 무서운 영화를 봐서 다리에 힘이 ( ).
The past tense '풀렸어요' is most natural here as it describes the result of watching the movie.
언제 '다리에 힘이 풀리다'를 사용할까요?
This idiom is used for shock or relief, such as a near-accident.
가: 합격 소식 들었어? 나: 응, 너무 기뻐서 ( ).
Slumping down due to relief/joy is a classic use of this idiom.
Match 'Extreme Relief' with the correct phrase.
Relief often causes the physical sensation of legs going weak.
🎉 スコア： /5
よくある質問
10 問Yes! If someone is so attractive that you feel weak, you can say '그 사람을 보고 다리에 힘이 풀렸어요.' It's a bit dramatic but common in romance.
Yes, it's a shortened version. '다리에 힘이 풀리다' is more complete, but '다리 풀렸다' is very common in casual speech.
The phrase itself is neutral. You can make it formal by using '-습니다' or informal by using '-어'.
'떨리다' means shaking/trembling. '풀리다' means the strength is gone. You can be shaking but still standing; if your legs '풀리다', you likely need to sit down.
It's much less common. Usually, for arms, we say '팔에 힘이 빠지다'. '다리에 힘이 풀리다' is the set idiom.
This is exactly the phrase you need: '다리에 힘이 풀렸어요.'
Yes, in novels or descriptive news articles, but not in a dry business report or a legal document.
Not necessarily, but it implies you *almost* fell or felt like you could have.
Yes, like winning the lottery or a surprise party, as long as the shock is big enough to be physical.
The Hanja for '힘' is {力|력}, though it is almost always written in Hangul in this idiom.
関連フレーズ
다리가 후들거리다
similarLegs are trembling
맥이 풀리다
similarTo lose one's energy or spirit
간이 콩알만 해지다
relatedTo be extremely scared (liver becomes as small as a bean)
기진맥진하다
specialized formTo be exhausted to the point of collapse
どこで使う？
Watching a Horror Movie
A: 방금 그 장면 봤어? 진짜 무서웠지?
B: 응, 너무 놀라서 지금 다리에 힘이 풀렸어.
Receiving Exam Results
딸: 엄마, 저 장학금 받게 됐어요!
엄마: 어머, 정말? 다행이다... 엄마는 너무 기뻐서 다리에 힘이 풀리네.
After a Near-Miss Accident
운전자: 죄송합니다, 정말 큰일 날 뻔했네요.
보행자: 괜찮아요... 근데 너무 놀라서 다리에 힘이 풀려 못 걷겠어요.
Finishing a Marathon
친구 1: 드디어 결승점이다! 기분이 어때?
친구 2: 말도 마. 지금 다리에 힘이 다 풀려서 바로 눕고 싶어.
A Surprise Proposal
남자: 나랑 결혼해 줄래?
여자: 세상에... 너무 깜짝 놀라서 다리에 힘이 풀려.
Hearing Bad News at Work
부장: 김 대리, 이번 프로젝트가 취소되었다네.
김 대리: 네? 그 소식을 들으니 정말 다리에 힘이 풀리는군요.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of your legs as 'Dali' (다리) paintings—melting and soft like the clocks in his famous artwork.
視覚的連想
Imagine a marionette puppet whose strings are suddenly cut. The legs collapse instantly because there is no 'him' (힘/strength) holding them up.
Rhyme
Darie himi pulli-da, now I'm on the mulli-da (floor).
Story
You are walking through a haunted house. Suddenly, a ghost jumps out! You try to run, but your legs turn into cooked noodles. You can't move because the 'strength' (힘) has been 'unplugged' (풀리다) from your 'legs' (다리).
In Other Languages
English uses 'legs turned to jelly' or 'knees buckled'. Japanese uses 'knees are laughing' (膝が笑う). All focus on the legs failing during stress.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Next time you finish a very hard workout or see something shocking in a K-drama, say out loud: '와, 진짜 다리에 힘이 풀리네!'
Review this phrase 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week after learning, especially focusing on the passive verb '풀리다'.
発音
Standard pronunciation, no special changes.
The 'h' sound in '힘' can be weak in fast speech, sounding almost like 'imi'.
The double 'l' sound is important; ensure the tongue hits the roof of the mouth clearly.
フォーマル度スペクトル
너무 놀라서 다리에 힘이 풀렸습니다. (Reacting to a surprise)
너무 놀라서 다리에 힘이 풀렸어요. (Reacting to a surprise)
너무 놀라서 다리에 힘이 풀렸어. (Reacting to a surprise)
와, 진짜 깜놀해서 다리 풀림. (Reacting to a surprise)
The phrase originates from the physical observation of muscle failure during the 'freeze' response of the human nervous system. In traditional Korean medicine, it was believed that sudden shock caused 'Gi' (energy) to scatter, leaving the lower body unsupported.
豆知識
The verb '풀리다' is also used for 'solving' a problem or 'melting' ice, suggesting that the strength in your legs has literally 'dissolved'.
文化メモ
Koreans use 'body idioms' to express sincerity. Collapsing or having weak legs is seen as a genuine, uncontrollable reaction to news, often depicted in media to show a character's deep emotional investment.
“In K-dramas, a mother hearing her son is in the hospital will almost always have her legs give out.”
The Japanese equivalent 'knees are laughing' shows a more humorous take on the physical shaking of legs, though it is used in similar stressful contexts.
“After a long hike, a Japanese person might say their knees are laughing.”
In the age of social media, this phrase is often used in 'reaction' posts to describe meeting a favorite celebrity or seeing a shocking plot twist in a show.
“최애(favorite member)를 실물로 영접했더니 다리에 힘이 풀림.”
The use of passive voice in Korean idioms (like '풀리다') often suggests that the person is a victim of their emotions, rather than in control of them.
“It's not 'I released my strength,' but 'The strength was released from me.'”
会話のきっかけ
최근에 너무 놀라서 다리에 힘이 풀렸던 적이 있어요?
무서운 영화를 볼 때 다리에 힘이 풀리는 편인가요?
운동을 얼마나 세게 하면 다리에 힘이 풀릴까요?
よくある間違い
다리에 힘을 풀다
다리에 힘이 풀리다
L1 Interference
다리가 힘이 풀리다
다리에 힘이 풀리다
L1 Interference
다리에 힘이 벗다
다리에 힘이 풀리다
L1 Interference
다리에 힘이 풀려요 (when just tired from sitting)
다리가 저려요
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
My legs turned to jelly / My knees buckled
English often uses a simile (like jelly), whereas Korean uses a passive verb (loosened).
膝が笑う (hiza ga warau)
Japanese focuses on the shaking (trembling), while Korean focuses on the loss of strength.
吓得腿软 (xià de tuǐ ruǎn)
Chinese explicitly mentions the cause (scared) within the common phrase structure.
Temblar las piernas
Spanish emphasizes the visible shaking more than the internal feeling of strength leaving.
Avoir les jambes en coton
French uses a noun (cotton) to describe the quality of the legs.
Weiche Knie bekommen
Focuses specifically on the knees rather than the whole leg.
ارتجفت فرائصه (irtajafat fara'isuhu)
Focuses on the upper body/shoulders rather than the legs.
Ficar com as pernas bambas
The word 'bamba' implies unsteadiness more than a total release of strength.
Spotted in the Real World
“무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다... 끝나고 나서 다리에 힘이 풀려버렸어.”
After surviving the first deadly game, the protagonist describes his physical state.
“하늘이 파래서 햇살이 빛나서 내 눈물이 더 잘 보이나 봐... 다리에 힘이 풀려.”
Lyrics describing the weakness and despair of a breakup.
“나 진짜 다리에 힘 풀렸어.”
When the family is hiding under the table and almost gets caught.
間違えやすい
Learners use the active '풀다' instead of passive '풀리다'.
Remember: '풀다' is what you do to your shoelaces; '풀리다' is what happens to your legs when you see a ghost.
Both involve strange leg sensations.
'저리다' is 'pins and needles' (numbness); '힘이 풀리다' is 'weakness' (no power).
よくある質問 (10)
Yes! If someone is so attractive that you feel weak, you can say '그 사람을 보고 다리에 힘이 풀렸어요.' It's a bit dramatic but common in romance.
usage contextsYes, it's a shortened version. '다리에 힘이 풀리다' is more complete, but '다리 풀렸다' is very common in casual speech.
basic understandingThe phrase itself is neutral. You can make it formal by using '-습니다' or informal by using '-어'.
grammar mechanics'떨리다' means shaking/trembling. '풀리다' means the strength is gone. You can be shaking but still standing; if your legs '풀리다', you likely need to sit down.
comparisonsIt's much less common. Usually, for arms, we say '팔에 힘이 빠지다'. '다리에 힘이 풀리다' is the set idiom.
usage contextsThis is exactly the phrase you need: '다리에 힘이 풀렸어요.'
practical tipsYes, in novels or descriptive news articles, but not in a dry business report or a legal document.
cultural usageNot necessarily, but it implies you *almost* fell or felt like you could have.
basic understandingYes, like winning the lottery or a surprise party, as long as the shock is big enough to be physical.
usage contextsThe Hanja for '힘' is {力|력}, though it is almost always written in Hangul in this idiom.
grammar mechanics
