피가 마르다.
piga mareuda.
To have one's blood run cold.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when you're so nervous or worried about a high-stakes situation that it feels physically draining.
- Means: Feeling extreme anxiety, usually while waiting for a critical result.
- Used in: Exam results, medical news, or high-pressure business deals.
- Don't confuse: It's much stronger than just being 'worried' ({걱정|却正}되다).
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
To feel extremely anxious or worried, as if one's blood is drying up.
Cultural Background
The phrase reflects 'Hanbang' (traditional medicine) where emotions are tied to physical elements like blood and fire. The 'pali-pali' culture makes the agony of waiting even more intense, leading to frequent use of this phrase in office settings. Suspenseful endings (cliffhangers) are often described by viewers as '{피|血} 말리는 엔딩' (blood-drying endings). The 'Suneung' exam period is the national 'blood-drying' season for millions of families.
Use '바짝바짝'
Add '바짝바짝' before '마르다' to sound like a native speaker who is truly at their limit.
Don't use for small things
If you use it for a 2-minute wait, people will think you are being sarcastic or dramatic.
Meaning
To feel extremely anxious or worried, as if one's blood is drying up.
Use '바짝바짝'
Add '바짝바짝' before '마르다' to sound like a native speaker who is truly at their limit.
Don't use for small things
If you use it for a 2-minute wait, people will think you are being sarcastic or dramatic.
Causative form
If someone is annoying you with constant questions, you can say '사람 {피|血} 좀 말리지 마세요' (Stop drying my blood/tormenting me).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrase.
{시험|試驗} {결과|結果}를 기다리는 동안 너무 긴장해서 ( ) 것 같아요.
Since the subject is the feeling of the person waiting, the intransitive '가 마르는' is correct.
Which situation is MOST appropriate for using '{피|血}가 마르다'?
다음 중 '{피|血}가 마르다'를 쓰기에 가장 적절한 상황은?
This phrase is for high-stakes suspense, like waiting for medical results.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 왜 그렇게 초조해 보여요? B: 오늘이 대출 승인 날인데 아직 연락이 없어서 ( ).
Waiting for a loan approval is a high-stress situation where one's blood would 'dry up'.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNot at all! While it sounds graphic, it's a very standard idiom. It's no scarier than saying 'I'm dying of curiosity' in English.
Usually no. It implies a negative, painful kind of stress. For positive excitement, use '설레다'.
'피가 마르다' is about the agony of waiting for a result. '애가 타다' is more about the restless longing or worry for someone's safety.
It becomes '{피|血}가 말랐어요' (My blood dried).
You can use it to describe a *past* challenge, but don't say it *to* the interviewer about the current interview, as it might sound too informal.
In Korean culture, blood represents your life essence. If it dries, your life is fading—a perfect metaphor for extreme stress.
No. '건조하다' is for skin or weather. '마르다' is the only verb used in this idiom.
Younger people might say '말려 죽이다' (to dry someone to death) when someone is being very annoying or stressful.
No, use '목이 마르다' for that.
The word '피' is native Korean, but the Hanja for blood is {혈|血}. You might see '{혈|血}이 마르다' in very old books, but never in speech.
Related Phrases
애가 타다
synonymTo be very anxious (lit. intestines are burning)
속이 타다
similarTo be anxious/frustrated inside
진땀을 흘리다
similarTo sweat hard (from a difficult situation)
안절부절못하다
similarTo be restless
Where to Use It
Waiting for Exam Results
Student A: 성적 확인했어?
Student B: 아니, 아직 안 떴어. 진짜 {피|血}가 마른다.
Job Interview Callback
Applicant: 연락이 왜 안 올까요? {피|血}가 마르는 기분이에요.
Friend: 조금만 더 기다려 봐. 곧 올 거야.
Sports Match Suspense
Fan 1: 제발 한 골만 더!
Fan 2: 와, 진짜 {피|血}가 바짝바짝 마르네.
Medical Results
Patient: 검사 결과가 언제 나오나요?
Nurse: 내일 오전 중에 나옵니다.
Patient: 네... 기다리는 동안 {피|血}가 마르겠네요.
Dating / Texting
Person A: 답장이 3시간째 없어.
Person B: 그 사람이 너 {피|血} 말리려고 그러는 거 아냐?
Business Crisis
Manager: 이번 계약이 안 되면 우리 회사는 끝입니다.
CEO: 정말 {피|血}가 마르는 상황이군요.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Dry Vampire'—when you're so worried, you have no blood left for the vampire to take!
Visual Association
Imagine a bright red thermometer (representing your blood) dropping and the liquid evaporating into thin air as a giant clock ticks loudly above you.
Rhyme
Wait for the call, blood starts to fall; wait for the prize, the blood surely dries.
Story
Min-su is waiting for his final grade. He stares at the screen for 5 hours. He feels his skin getting dry and his energy leaving. He thinks, 'My blood is literally turning into dust!' This is {피|血}가 마르다.
Word Web
Challenge
Next time you are waiting for a delivery or a text, say out loud: '아, {피|血}가 마르네!'
In Other Languages
Estar en un sinvivir
Spanish focuses on the 'soul' or 'life' in general, while Korean focuses on 'blood'.
Se faire un sang d'encre
French focuses on the color (ink), Korean focuses on the volume (drying up).
Blut und Wasser schwitzen
German is about the 'output' (sweat), Korean is about the 'internal depletion' (drying).
生きた心地가 안 나다
Japanese focuses on the 'feeling' of life, Korean on the 'substance' of blood.
على أعصابه
Arabic uses nerves; Korean uses blood.
心急如焚
Chinese describes the 'heat' (cause), Korean describes the 'drying' (effect).
애가 타다
'애가 타다' is more about restless longing; '{피|血}가 마르다' is more about agonizing suspense.
Estar com o coração na mão
Portuguese uses the heart's location; Korean uses the blood's state.
Easily Confused
Both use '마르다' (to dry).
Use '{목|喉}' for thirst/water; use '{피|血}' for anxiety/stress.
Both use '{피|血}'.
'나다' means to bleed (physical injury); '마르다' is the idiom for worry.
FAQ (10)
Not at all! While it sounds graphic, it's a very standard idiom. It's no scarier than saying 'I'm dying of curiosity' in English.
Usually no. It implies a negative, painful kind of stress. For positive excitement, use '설레다'.
'피가 마르다' is about the agony of waiting for a result. '애가 타다' is more about the restless longing or worry for someone's safety.
It becomes '{피|血}가 말랐어요' (My blood dried).
You can use it to describe a *past* challenge, but don't say it *to* the interviewer about the current interview, as it might sound too informal.
In Korean culture, blood represents your life essence. If it dries, your life is fading—a perfect metaphor for extreme stress.
No. '건조하다' is for skin or weather. '마르다' is the only verb used in this idiom.
Younger people might say '말려 죽이다' (to dry someone to death) when someone is being very annoying or stressful.
No, use '목이 마르다' for that.
The word '피' is native Korean, but the Hanja for blood is {혈|血}. You might see '{혈|血}이 마르다' in very old books, but never in speech.
