Meaning
To make a noisy, repetitive sound when expelling air from the lungs.
Cultural Background
Public etiquette requires covering your mouth with your sleeve (not your hand) when you '콜록콜록' cough. Wearing a mask is seen as a sign of respect for others' health. When someone is '콜록콜록', Koreans often recommend 'Pear Honey Tea' ({배숙|梨熟}), which is thought to soothe the lungs and stop coughing. The term 'Fine Dust Cough' (미세먼지 기침) is common. People often check the air quality index before deciding if their '콜록콜록' is a cold or just the air.
Use the Vowels
If you want to sound more native, use '콜록' for a small cough and '쿨럭' for a big one. Koreans will be impressed by your nuance!
Don't 'Eat' the Cough
Remember to use '하다' or '나다', never '먹다' (eat) or '마시다' (drink) for coughing.
Meaning
To make a noisy, repetitive sound when expelling air from the lungs.
Use the Vowels
If you want to sound more native, use '콜록' for a small cough and '쿨럭' for a big one. Koreans will be impressed by your nuance!
Don't 'Eat' the Cough
Remember to use '하다' or '나다', never '먹다' (eat) or '마시다' (drink) for coughing.
Mask Etiquette
If you say you are '콜록콜록', people will expect you to wear a mask. It's the most important social rule for this phrase.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct sound for a light cough.
어제 감기에 걸려서 밤새 (______) 기침을 했어요.
'콜록콜록' is the sound for coughing. '에취' is sneezing, '허허' is laughing, and '엉엉' is crying.
Which sentence is the most natural for a B1 learner describing symptoms to a doctor?
의사 선생님, 제가...
'기침이 나다' (a cough comes out) is a very natural way to describe symptoms.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 왜 마스크를 쓰고 있어? 나: 어제부터 (______).
Coughing is a primary reason for wearing a mask in Korea.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Korean Coughing Sounds
Sounds
- • 콜록콜록 (Light)
- • 쿨럭쿨럭 (Heavy)
- • 켁켁 (Choking)
- • 에취 (Sneeze)
Practice Bank
3 exercises어제 감기에 걸려서 밤새 (______) 기침을 했어요.
'콜록콜록' is the sound for coughing. '에취' is sneezing, '허허' is laughing, and '엉엉' is crying.
의사 선생님, 제가...
'기침이 나다' (a cough comes out) is a very natural way to describe symptoms.
가: 왜 마스크를 쓰고 있어? 나: 어제부터 (______).
Coughing is a primary reason for wearing a mask in Korea.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsMostly yes, but you can use it playfully for a pet dog or cat that sounds like it's coughing.
Yes, in casual texting, you can just write '나 어제부터 계속 콜록콜록 ㅠㅠ' and people will understand.
'기침하다' is the action you do, while '기침이 나다' feels more like the cough is happening to you involuntarily.
Related Phrases
콜록거리다
similarTo keep coughing repeatedly
쿨럭쿨럭
specialized formHeavy, deep cough
헛기침하다
contrastTo clear one's throat
재채기하다
similarTo sneeze
