Meaning
To move a door from a closed to an open position.
Cultural Background
Traditional Korean gates (Daemun) were built with high thresholds to prevent evil spirits from entering. Opening them was a significant daily event. In Korea, the 'Open Run' (오픈런) culture is popular, where people line up before a store 'opens its doors' to buy limited items. When entering a room, it is polite to knock before 'opening the door'. In formal settings, you should wait for a response. The phrase '마음의 문을 열다' is a staple in K-Dramas, often used when a cold protagonist finally trusts the main character.
Polite Requests
Always add '좀' (jom) to make your request sound softer: '문 좀 열어 주세요'.
Irregular Verb Alert
Don't forget that '열다' changes to '엽니다' and '여세요'. This is a common test question!
Meaning
To move a door from a closed to an open position.
Polite Requests
Always add '좀' (jom) to make your request sound softer: '문 좀 열어 주세요'.
Irregular Verb Alert
Don't forget that '열다' changes to '엽니다' and '여세요'. This is a common test question!
Business Hours
If you see a sign saying '영업 중' (Yeong-eop jung), it means the door is already open for business.
Metaphorical Use
Use '마음의 문' in your diary or letters to sound more poetic and fluent in Korean.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of '문을 열다'.
너무 더워요. 창____ 좀 ____ 주세요.
The sentence asks for a favor: '창문을 좀 열어 주세요' (Please open the window).
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct honorific form.
In 'ㄹ' irregular verbs, 'ㄹ' drops before '-(으)세요'.
Fill in the blank in the dialogue.
A: 이 식당은 언제 ____? B: 아침 10시에 열어요.
The response mentions opening at 10 AM, so the question must be about opening.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: A scientist discovers a new planet.
This is the metaphorical use for starting a new era of exploration.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Open vs. Close
What can you 'Open'?
Use '열다'
- • 문 (Door)
- • 창문 (Window)
- • 마음 (Heart)
Don't use '열다'
- • 책 (Book - use 펴다)
- • 병 (Bottle - use 따다)
- • TV (use 켜다)
Practice Bank
4 exercises너무 더워요. 창____ 좀 ____ 주세요.
The sentence asks for a favor: '창문을 좀 열어 주세요' (Please open the window).
Choose the correct honorific form.
In 'ㄹ' irregular verbs, 'ㄹ' drops before '-(으)세요'.
A: 이 식당은 언제 ____? B: 아침 10시에 열어요.
The response mentions opening at 10 AM, so the question must be about opening.
Situation: A scientist discovers a new planet.
This is the metaphorical use for starting a new era of exploration.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, it is perfectly natural for cars, houses, and any physical door.
Use '열다' for doors/windows. Use '켜다' for lights, TVs, and electronic devices.
Yes, in casual conversation, the object marker '을' is very frequently dropped.
Use '문이 열려 있어요'. '문을 열다' is the action of opening it.
Usually, we just say '사이트에 들어가다' (enter a site) or '사이트를 열다', but '문을 열다' is not used for URLs.
'활짝' means 'wide'. So it means to fling the door wide open.
Yes, '개문하다' ({개문|開門}하다) is the formal Hanja version, but it's rarely used in speech.
Yes, '회의의 문을 열다' is a common way to say 'to start a meeting'.
English loanwords are trendy in Korea, especially for new 'hot places' or cafes.
The opposite is '문을 닫다' (to close the door).
No, for a bank account, use '계좌를 만들다' (make an account) or '개설하다' (open/establish).
It can mean either opening for the day or starting a new business permanently.
Related Phrases
문을 닫다
contrastTo close the door / To go out of business
마음의 문을 열다
specialized formTo open one's heart
문을 두드리다
similarTo knock on the door
개업하다
synonymTo open a business
창문을 열다
builds onTo open a window
