머리 싸매다.
meori ssamaeda.
Wrap head.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use '머리 싸매다' when you are working incredibly hard to solve a difficult problem or making a tough decision.
- Means: To rack one's brains or struggle intensely with a complex task.
- Used in: Exam preparation, business strategy meetings, or resolving personal dilemmas.
- Don't confuse: It's not about physical injury, but mental effort and focus.
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
Meaning to rack one's brains or struggle deeply with a problem.
Cultural Background
The 'headband of determination' is a real cultural artifact. Students often wear headbands with slogans like '필승' (Certain Victory) during exam periods. The practice of wrapping the head was a common folk remedy for 'Hwa-byung' (anger illness) or stress-induced headaches among scholars. In the workplace, '머리를 싸매다' is often used by leaders to show they are working hard for their employees' welfare or the company's future. Characters in dramas who are 'wrapping their head' are often shown with a specific visual setup: messy hair, a headband, and a desk covered in papers.
Use with '-고 있다'
This idiom is almost always used in the progressive form because racking your brains is a process, not a one-time action.
Don't use for physical injury
If you see someone with a bandage on their head from a fall, don't say they are 'wrapping their head' in this idiomatic sense!
Meaning
Meaning to rack one's brains or struggle deeply with a problem.
Use with '-고 있다'
This idiom is almost always used in the progressive form because racking your brains is a process, not a one-time action.
Don't use for physical injury
If you see someone with a bandage on their head from a fall, don't say they are 'wrapping their head' in this idiomatic sense!
The 'Hard Work' Flex
Using this phrase in a job interview to describe how you solved a past problem will make you sound very diligent and 'Korean' in your work ethic.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '머리를 싸매다'.
시험 범위가 너무 많아서 어제 밤새 (______) 공부했어요.
The context of studying all night for a large exam range requires the idiom for intense effort.
Which situation is MOST appropriate for using '머리를 싸매다'?
다음 중 '머리를 싸매다'를 쓰기에 가장 적절한 상황은?
Solving a serious company deficit is a complex, high-stakes problem that fits the idiom's intensity.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 이번 수학 숙제 다 했어? 나: 아니, 너무 어려워서 세 시간째 (______).
The speaker is struggling with a hard math homework for three hours, which is a perfect 'head-wrapping' scenario.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's better to use '고민하다' for small things. '머리를 싸매다' implies a significant struggle.
No, it's actually quite positive as it shows you are working hard on a company problem.
No, it's 99% figurative. It just means you are thinking so hard it *could* give you one.
'싸매다' is about the struggle/effort; '짜내다' is about the result/idea generation.
Yes, like racking your brains to plan a surprise party, but the process itself is always described as 'hard'.
You can use '{고심|苦心}하다' for a more formal, literary feel.
Yes, '그는 머리를 싸매고 있다' is perfectly fine.
Very often! Especially regarding economic policies or international disputes.
Not really. It's more about the 'painful effort' which is respected in Korea.
Yes, to describe a struggle that is now over.
Related Phrases
머리를 맞대다
similarTo put heads together
골머리를 앓다
similarTo suffer from a headache
머리를 짜내다
specialized formTo squeeze one's brain
머리를 식히다
contrastTo cool one's head
밤을 새우다
builds onTo stay up all night
Where to Use It
Preparing for a big exam
지수: 내일이 시험인데 아직 반도 못 읽었어.
민호: 나도 그래. 오늘 밤은 둘이 머리 싸매고 공부해야겠다.
Solving a bug in code
팀장: 이 버그 왜 아직 안 잡혔어요?
개발자: 죄송합니다. 어제부터 머리를 싸매고 있는데 원인을 모르겠어요.
Planning a wedding budget
예비 신부: 예산이 너무 부족해. 어떡하지?
예비 신랑: 우리 같이 머리 싸매고 다시 계산해 보자.
Writing a difficult email
사원: 부장님께 사과 메일을 써야 하는데 너무 어려워요.
동료: 혼자 머리 싸매지 말고 내가 좀 도와줄까?
Government policy making
기자: 이번 부동산 정책에 대해 어떻게 생각하십니까?
의원: 국민들을 위해 정부가 머리를 싸매고 만든 대책입니다.
Choosing a menu for a picky group
친구 1: 누구는 회 못 먹고, 누구는 고기 안 먹고... 메뉴 정하기 힘들다.
친구 2: 메뉴 하나 정하는데 이렇게 머리 싸맬 일이야?
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine you are so smart your brain is expanding, and you have to 'wrap it' (싸매다) with a headband to keep it from popping while you solve a hard puzzle.
Visual Association
A student at 2 AM with a white 'Victory' headband tied tightly around their forehead, surrounded by empty coffee cans and thick books.
Rhyme
머리를 싸매면, 정답이 보이면! (If you wrap your head, the answer will appear!)
Story
Min-su had a giant math problem. He felt his head getting bigger and bigger with thoughts. He took his favorite scarf and tied it tight around his head. Suddenly, he could focus! He sat there 'wrapping his head' until the sun came up and he finally found the answer.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down one thing you are currently 'wrapping your head' over in Korean and post it on your study wall.
In Other Languages
Rack one's brain
English uses a torture metaphor; Korean uses a medical/remedy metaphor.
頭を抱える (Atama o kakaeru)
Japanese focuses on the distress; Korean focuses on the effort to solve.
冥思苦想 (Míng sī kǔ xiǎng)
Chinese is more abstract; Korean is more visual/physical.
Quebrarse la cabeza
Spanish uses 'breaking' (destruction); Korean uses 'wrapping' (preservation/focus).
Se creuser la tête
French uses 'digging' (searching); Korean uses 'wrapping' (concentrating).
Sich den Kopf zerbrechen
German focuses on the mental strain causing 'shattering'.
يشغل باله (Yashghal balahu)
Arabic focuses on preoccupation; Korean focuses on the physicalized effort.
Quebrar a cabeça
Focuses on the 'breaking point' of the mind.
Easily Confused
Learners think they are interchangeable for any headache.
Use '머리가 아프다' for the sensation of pain; use '머리를 싸매다' for the action of trying to solve the thing causing the pain.
Both involve thinking.
'머리를 굴리다' (rolling the head) often implies being sneaky or trying to find a shortcut, whereas '싸매다' is honest, hard work.
FAQ (10)
It's better to use '고민하다' for small things. '머리를 싸매다' implies a significant struggle.
No, it's actually quite positive as it shows you are working hard on a company problem.
No, it's 99% figurative. It just means you are thinking so hard it *could* give you one.
'싸매다' is about the struggle/effort; '짜내다' is about the result/idea generation.
Yes, like racking your brains to plan a surprise party, but the process itself is always described as 'hard'.
You can use '{고심|苦心}하다' for a more formal, literary feel.
Yes, '그는 머리를 싸매고 있다' is perfectly fine.
Very often! Especially regarding economic policies or international disputes.
Not really. It's more about the 'painful effort' which is respected in Korea.
Yes, to describe a struggle that is now over.
