A1 Idiom 중립 1분 분량

발 디딜 틈 없다.

bal didil teum eobda.

No room to stand; crowded.

연습하기

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to describe a place so packed with people or objects that you cannot even find space to stand.

  • Means: Extremely crowded or packed with no room to move.
  • Used in: Describing concerts, subways during rush hour, or popular festivals.
  • Don't confuse: It describes space, not the number of people directly.
Foot (발) + No space (틈 없다) = Overcrowded place

내 수준에 맞는 설명:

This phrase means a place is very, very crowded. You use it when there are too many people or things in one room.
Use this idiom to describe a location where you cannot move because it is packed. It is common for subways or festivals. It literally means there is no gap to put your foot down.
This is a versatile idiom for describing high-density environments. Whether it is a concert venue or a cluttered storage room, it highlights the lack of physical space. It is a natural way to express that a location is at maximum capacity.
This idiom serves as a vivid descriptor for spatial constraints. It is frequently employed in both casual and semi-formal registers to emphasize the overwhelming nature of a crowded environment. It effectively communicates that the density of people or objects has reached a point where movement is impossible.
The phrase functions as a hyperbolic expression of spatial saturation. By focusing on the 'foot' as the unit of measurement, it creates a tactile image of overcrowding. It is a staple of descriptive Korean, allowing speakers to convey the intensity of urban congestion or domestic clutter with idiomatic precision.
This idiom exemplifies the cognitive mapping of physical space in Korean. By utilizing the 'no-gap' (틈 없다) construction, it provides a metaphorical framework for absolute density. It is a culturally embedded expression that bridges the gap between literal physical obstruction and the social experience of being in a high-density environment, reflecting the linguistic tendency to prioritize concrete, body-centric metaphors.

뜻

A place is so crowded that there is no space to step.

🌍

문화적 배경

Koreans often use this to complain about popular tourist spots. The Japanese equivalent '足の踏み場もない' is used in the exact same way.

💡

Context is key

Only use this for physical space!

💡

Context is key

Only use this for physical space!

셀프 테스트

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the correct usage of '발 디딜 틈 없다'.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: B

The phrase describes physical space, not time.

🎉 점수: /1

시각 학습 자료

연습 문제 은행

2 연습 문제
정답을 골라봐 Fill Blank

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답:
Which sentence is correct? Choose A1

Choose the correct usage of '발 디딜 틈 없다'.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: B

The phrase describes physical space, not time.

🎉 점수: /2

자주 묻는 질문

1 질문

No, only for physical space.

관련 표현

🔄

사람이 붐비다

synonym

People are crowded

🔗

꽉 차다

similar

To be full

어디서 쓸까?

🚇

Subway Rush Hour

A: 오늘 지하철 진짜 사람 많다.

B: 응, 발 디딜 틈이 없네.

neutral
☕

Popular Cafe

A: 여기 카페 자리 있어?

B: 아니, 발 디딜 틈도 없어.

informal

암기하기

기억법

Imagine trying to put your foot down on the floor, but a tiny ant says 'No space!'

시각적 연상

A crowded subway car where everyone is standing so close that you literally cannot see the floor.

Story

I went to the concert. It was packed. I looked down at the floor. I couldn't even see the ground. I realized, '발 디딜 틈이 없네!'

In Other Languages

Similar to 'packed like sardines' in English, though that focuses on the people rather than the floor space.

Word Web

사람붐비다공간좁다꽉 차다밀집

챌린지

Next time you are in a crowded place, whisper the phrase to yourself.

Review in 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week.

발음

강세 Even stress.

Pronounce clearly, linking the 'l' sound.

격식 수준 스펙트럼

격식체
발 디딜 틈이 없습니다.

발 디딜 틈이 없습니다. (Describing a crowded room.)

중립
발 디딜 틈이 없어요.

발 디딜 틈이 없어요. (Describing a crowded room.)

비격식체
발 디딜 틈이 없어.

발 디딜 틈이 없어. (Describing a crowded room.)

속어
사람 쩔어.

사람 쩔어. (Describing a crowded room.)

The phrase comes from the observation of crowded markets. In pre-modern Korea, markets were the center of life, and being unable to find a spot to stand was a common experience.

Joseon Dynasty:

재미있는 사실

It is one of the most common idioms used by Koreans to describe the subway.

문화 노트

Koreans often use this to complain about popular tourist spots.

“주말에 명동은 발 디딜 틈이 없어요.”

The Japanese equivalent '足の踏み場もない' is used in the exact same way.

“部屋が散らかっていて足の踏み場もない。”

대화 시작하기

“

오늘 지하철 어땠어요?

자주 하는 실수

✗

시간이 발 디딜 틈이 없다.

✓

시간이 없다 / 바쁘다.

wrong context
This phrase is only for physical space, not time.

L1 Interference

0 1

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Estar hasta los topes

Korean is specific to the floor/foot.

French moderate

Être bondé

Korean uses a specific body-part metaphor.

German Partially Similar

Aus allen Nähten platzen

Korean focuses on the inability to step.

Japanese Very Similar

足の踏み場もない

None, they are nearly identical.

Arabic Different

مزدحم جداً

Korean is more idiomatic.

Spotted in the Real World

📰

(2023)

“명동 거리는 발 디딜 틈이 없었습니다.”

Reporting on holiday crowds.

혼동하기 쉬운

발 디딜 틈 없다. 대 바쁘다

Learners often use '발 디딜 틈 없다' for 'busy'.

Use '바쁘다' for time, '발 디딜 틈 없다' for space.

자주 묻는 질문 (1)

No, only for physical space.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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