물을 섭취하다
mureul seopchwihada
Consume water.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A formal, clinical way to say 'drink water,' used primarily in health, medical, or fitness contexts.
- Means: To biologically intake water for health purposes.
- Used in: Medical advice, news reports, and fitness tracking apps.
- Don't confuse: With '마시다' (to drink), which is for casual social settings.
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
To take in water by drinking it.
Cultural Background
Koreans often drink warm water or barley tea (boricha) for health. In medical contexts, '물을 {섭취|攝取}하다' often implies drinking pure, warm water to aid digestion. The 'Water Reminder' apps are huge in Korea. They use the term '수분 {섭취|攝取}' to make the habit feel like a scientific goal to be achieved. In traditional Korean medicine, the timing of water intake is crucial. Practitioners use formal terms to explain how water 'seop-chwi' affects the body's 'Gi' (energy). In Korean offices, having a large tumbler for water 'seop-chwi' is a common sight, reflecting a culture that values self-management and health even while busy.
Use with '충분한'
This phrase is almost always paired with '충분한' (sufficient). Memorize '충분한 물 {섭취|攝取}' as a single block.
Avoid at Parties
If you say this at a party, people will think you are talking about a science experiment. Stick to '마시다'.
Meaning
To take in water by drinking it.
Use with '충분한'
This phrase is almost always paired with '충분한' (sufficient). Memorize '충분한 물 {섭취|攝取}' as a single block.
Avoid at Parties
If you say this at a party, people will think you are talking about a science experiment. Stick to '마시다'.
The 2L Myth
In Korea, the '2 liters a day' rule is a common topic of conversation. Use '{섭취|攝取}' when debating this with a Korean friend to sound more informed.
Written vs Spoken
You will see this 10x more often in writing than you will hear it in casual speech.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct formal term for 'intake'.
건강을 위해서 매일 충분한 물을 _______해야 합니다.
In a sentence about health ('건강을 위해서'), the formal term '{섭취|攝取}' is the most appropriate.
Which sentence is most natural for a doctor to say to a patient?
의사가 환자에게 할 말로 가장 적절한 것은?
Doctors use the formal register and the term '{섭취|攝取}' when giving medical advice.
Complete the dialogue between a fitness trainer and a client.
트레이너: 운동 중에는 _______가 중요합니다. 회원: 네, 알겠습니다. 물을 자주 마실게요.
'수분 {섭취|攝取}' is the standard professional term used by trainers to discuss hydration.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
어떤 상황에서 '물을 {섭취|攝取}하다'를 사용할까요?
This phrase is for formal, informational contexts like news or medical reports.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
마시다 vs {섭취|攝取}하다
Common Collocations with {섭취|攝取}
What to intake
- • 물 (Water)
- • 영양소 (Nutrients)
- • 비타민 (Vitamins)
- • 칼로리 (Calories)
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! It is used for any nutritional intake, like '영양소 {섭취|攝取}' (nutrient intake) or '칼로리 {섭취|攝取}' (calorie intake).
It's grammatically correct but might sound a bit too formal. '물을 마셔요' is usually enough unless you are discussing health.
'물' is the common word for water. '수분' means 'moisture' or 'water content' and is used in more technical or descriptive ways.
It implies both. It is the general act of taking something into the body for nourishment.
No. Alcohol is not considered a nutrient, so '알코올 {섭취|攝取}' is only used in medical reports about addiction or health risks, never socially.
Yes, '{섭취|攝取}' is a noun. You add '하다' to make it a verb.
You say '수분 {섭취|攝取}량' or '물 {섭취|攝取}량'.
It sounds more professional and objective than '마시다', which is a subjective, everyday action.
Yes, the term is also used in North Korean medical contexts, as it is based on shared Hanja roots.
No, '섭취' implies taking it in through the mouth. For IVs, '투여' (administration) or '주입' (injection) is used.
Related Phrases
수분을 보충하다
similarTo replenish moisture
음용하다
specialized formTo drink (formal)
복용하다
contrastTo take medicine
들이키다
contrastTo gulp down
흡수하다
builds onTo absorb
Where to Use It
At the Doctor's Office
Doctor: 감기 기운이 있으니 물을 자주 {섭취|攝取}하세요.
Patient: 네, 따뜻한 물을 많이 {섭취|攝取}하겠습니다.
Using a Fitness App
App Notification: 오늘의 수분 {섭취|攝取} 목표를 달성하셨나요?
User: 아직 물을 충분히 {섭취|攝取}하지 못했네.
Watching the News
Anchor: 폭염 특보입니다. 야외 활동을 자제하고 물을 충분히 {섭취|攝取}하시기 바랍니다.
Viewer: 뉴스에서 물 많이 마시라고 하네.
In a Biology Class
Teacher: 인체는 수분 {섭취|攝取}를 통해 노폐물을 배출합니다.
Student: 물을 {섭취|攝取}하지 않으면 어떻게 되나요?
Reading a Vitamin Bottle
Label: 1일 1회, 충분한 물과 함께 {섭취|攝取}하십시오.
Consumer: 물하고 같이 먹으라는 뜻이구나.
Job Interview (Health Sector)
Interviewer: 노인들의 수분 {섭취|攝取} 부족 문제를 어떻게 해결할 수 있을까요?
Candidate: 정기적인 수분 {섭취|攝取} 알림 서비스를 도입해야 합니다.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Seop-chwi' as 'Sip-Chew'. Even though you don't chew water, it's the 'serious' way to take it in, like eating a meal.
Visual Association
Imagine a doctor in a white coat holding a clipboard and a glass of water, pointing to a chart that says 'INTAKE' in big letters.
Rhyme
건강을 위해 (For health), 물을 섭취해 (Intake water)!
Story
A robot named Seop-Chwi 3000 only drinks water when its sensors detect low hydration levels. It doesn't 'drink' for fun; it 'intakes' for optimal performance.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to find the word '섭취' on the back of a Korean bottled water label or a vitamin bottle today.
In Other Languages
Ingerir agua
Spanish often uses 'hidratarse' (to hydrate oneself) in fitness contexts where Korean uses '수분 섭취'.
S'hydrater / Ingérer de l'eau
French reflexive verbs are more common for this than the Korean active '하다' form.
Wasser zu sich nehmen
German doesn't have a single verb that perfectly matches the 'Sino-Korean' clinical feel of '섭취'.
水を摂取する (Mizu o sesshu suru)
Almost no difference; the usage patterns are nearly identical due to shared linguistic history.
تناول الماء (Tanawul al-ma')
The Arabic verb 'tanawul' is also used for eating, whereas '섭취' is more clinical.
摄取水分 (Shèqǔ shuǐfèn)
Chinese often uses '水分' (moisture) more frequently than just '水' (water) in this collocation.
Ingerir água
Similar to Spanish, 'hidratar-se' is also a very strong competitor in fitness contexts.
To intake water / To hydrate
English often uses 'hydration' as a general concept, while Korean focuses on the act of '섭취' (intake).
Easily Confused
Learners often use '먹다' (to eat) for water because it's common in casual Korean.
While '물 먹다' is okay with friends, '물을 {섭취|攝取}하다' is for health contexts, and '물을 마시다' is the standard neutral form.
Learners mix up '물' (water) and '수분' (moisture/hydration).
'물' is the liquid itself; '수분' is the chemical/biological component. They are often interchangeable in health contexts.
FAQ (10)
Yes! It is used for any nutritional intake, like '영양소 {섭취|攝取}' (nutrient intake) or '칼로리 {섭취|攝取}' (calorie intake).
It's grammatically correct but might sound a bit too formal. '물을 마셔요' is usually enough unless you are discussing health.
'물' is the common word for water. '수분' means 'moisture' or 'water content' and is used in more technical or descriptive ways.
It implies both. It is the general act of taking something into the body for nourishment.
No. Alcohol is not considered a nutrient, so '알코올 {섭취|攝取}' is only used in medical reports about addiction or health risks, never socially.
Yes, '{섭취|攝取}' is a noun. You add '하다' to make it a verb.
You say '수분 {섭취|攝取}량' or '물 {섭취|攝取}량'.
It sounds more professional and objective than '마시다', which is a subjective, everyday action.
Yes, the term is also used in North Korean medical contexts, as it is based on shared Hanja roots.
No, '섭취' implies taking it in through the mouth. For IVs, '투여' (administration) or '주입' (injection) is used.
