Meaning
To begin to speak or express oneself.
Cultural Background
In Korean corporate culture, junior employees often remain silent ('입을 닫다') until asked. When they finally '입을 열다', it's often seen as a sign of growing confidence. A common trope involves a character who knows a secret but refuses to 'open their mouth' to protect someone, leading to dramatic tension for several episodes. The right to remain silent is well-known, but in Korean media, the moment a suspect 'opens their mouth' is portrayed as the climax of an investigation. Modern 'influencer' culture uses this phrase in 'Expose' (폭로) videos, where they 'open their mouth' about a past controversy.
Pair with '드디어'
This idiom is almost best friends with the word '드디어' (finally). Using them together makes you sound very natural.
Not for Eating
Never use this when you want someone to take a bite of food. Use '아~ 하세요' or '입을 벌리세요'.
Meaning
To begin to speak or express oneself.
Pair with '드디어'
This idiom is almost best friends with the word '드디어' (finally). Using them together makes you sound very natural.
Not for Eating
Never use this when you want someone to take a bite of food. Use '아~ 하세요' or '입을 벌리세요'.
News Reading
If you see this in a news headline, look for the particle '에 대해' (about). It will tell you what the person is finally talking about.
Silence is Gold
Remember that in Korea, 'opening your mouth' is a significant choice. Use it to describe moments of courage or honesty.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '입을 열다'.
그는 10년 동안 비밀을 지키다가 어제 드디어 ______.
The context of 'keeping a secret for 10 years and finally...' requires 'opened his mouth' (revealed it).
Which situation best fits the phrase '입을 열다'?
Choose the most appropriate scenario:
The idiom refers to breaking silence or revealing truth, not physical mouth opening.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 범인이 아직도 아무 말도 안 해요? 나: 네, 도무지 ______ 않네요.
The negative '않네요' requires the '-지' form: '입을 열지 않다'.
Choose the most natural sentence.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
This is the classic figurative use: someone finally speaking up in a social setting.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
열다 vs 벌리다
Practice Bank
4 exercises그는 10년 동안 비밀을 지키다가 어제 드디어 ______.
The context of 'keeping a secret for 10 years and finally...' requires 'opened his mouth' (revealed it).
Choose the most appropriate scenario:
The idiom refers to breaking silence or revealing truth, not physical mouth opening.
가: 범인이 아직도 아무 말도 안 해요? 나: 네, 도무지 ______ 않네요.
The negative '않네요' requires the '-지' form: '입을 열지 않다'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
This is the classic figurative use: someone finally speaking up in a social setting.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's a neutral idiom. However, for very high-status people, '말씀을 시작하시다' is more polite.
Yes! '내가 드디어 입을 열었어' (I finally spoke up) is perfectly fine.
'말하다' is just 'to speak'. '입을 열다' implies you were quiet before or were holding something back.
Not always, but it usually means something important or something that was hard to say.
You can say '입 다물어' (Shut your mouth - rude) or '말하지 마세요' (Please don't speak).
It's a bit too idiomatic for a standard email. Use '의견을 말씀드리고자 합니다' (I would like to share my opinion) instead.
Yes, '입을 털다' is slang, but it's often negative (talking too much/nonsense).
Only in fairy tales where animals talk. Otherwise, use '입을 벌리다'.
'입을 닫다' (to close one's mouth/stay silent) or '입을 다물다'.
The technical term is '개구' (開口), but it's rarely used in daily speech.
Related Phrases
입을 떼다
similarTo start talking (literally 'to take the mouth off').
말문을 열다
specialized formTo open the gate of speech.
입을 다물다
contrastTo shut one's mouth / keep silent.
입을 맞추다
relatedTo align stories (or to kiss).
입을 씻다
relatedTo feign ignorance (literally 'to wash one's mouth').
