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Vocabulary
흐려지다

A2 verb #4,500 most common 7 min read

흐려지다

heuryeojida Top 4,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 흐려지다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 흐려지다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you just need to know that '흐려지다' is used for the weather. Think of it as 'becoming cloudy.' When you see the sun go away and the sky turns gray, you can say '하늘이 흐려져요.' It is a useful word for basic daily conversations about the weather. You might also see it in simple stories when a character gets sad and the weather changes to match their mood. Just remember: 하늘 (sky) + 이 (particle) + 흐려져요 (becomes cloudy).

At the A2 level, you start using '흐려지다' for things other than just the weather. You can use it to describe your eyesight or vision. For example, if you take off your glasses, you can say '앞이 흐려져요' (Things are becoming blurry). You should also learn the past tense '흐려졌어요' (became cloudy/blurry) and the future tense '흐려질 거예요' (will become cloudy). This word is part of a larger group of verbs ending in '-어지다' which mean 'to become [adjective].'

At the B1 level, you should be able to use '흐려지다' in more abstract contexts. This includes talking about memories fading ('기억이 흐려지다') or a person's facial expression becoming gloomy ('표정이 흐려지다'). You will also encounter it in more complex sentence structures, such as using it with '기 시작하다' (start to become cloudy) or '더니' (it was cloudy, and then...). You should also be able to distinguish it from similar words like '어두워지다' (to get dark) and '탁해지다' (to get muddy).

At the B2 level, you should understand the nuance of '흐려지다' in literature and professional settings. For example, a weather forecaster might say '점차 흐려져 비가 오겠습니다' (It will gradually become cloudy and then rain). You should also know the idiomatic expression '말끝을 흐려지다' (to trail off one's words), which implies hesitation or lack of confidence. You can use this word to describe social situations where boundaries or rules are becoming less clear or 'blurred.'

At the C1 level, you should be able to use '흐려지다' to discuss complex social and philosophical concepts. For instance, you might talk about how 'the boundary between reality and virtual reality is becoming blurred' (현실과 가상의 경계가 흐려지고 있다). You should understand its use in academic texts to describe the loss of clarity in arguments or the fading of historical significance. You should also be comfortable with various grammatical transformations and poetic usages in high-level literature.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of '흐려지다' and all its subtle connotations. You can use it to describe the most minute changes in atmosphere, tone, or logic. You understand how it interacts with other highly specific verbs to create rich, descriptive imagery. You can use it to critique art, analyze political trends, or write evocative poetry where the 'blurring' of states serves as a central metaphor for the human condition or the passage of time.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

흐려지다 in 30 Seconds

Used for weather turning cloudy or gray.
Used for vision or images becoming blurry or out of focus.
Used for memories, consciousness, or judgment becoming vague.
Used for facial expressions turning gloomy or sad.

The Korean verb 흐려지다 is a multifaceted word primarily used to describe a change in state from clear, bright, or distinct to something vague, dark, or obscured. At its most basic level, it refers to the weather turning cloudy. However, its usage extends far beyond the atmosphere, touching upon human perception, memory, and even the clarity of liquids. Understanding this word requires looking at the root 흐리다 (to be cloudy/dim) combined with the auxiliary grammatical structure -어지다, which indicates a transition or a process of becoming. Therefore, 흐려지다 literally translates to 'to become cloudy' or 'to become dim.'

Meteorological Context: This is the most common usage. When the sun disappears behind clouds, Koreans say the sky is '흐려지고 있다.' It implies a progression toward rain or a gray day.
Visual Perception: If your eyesight is failing or if you are looking through a steam-filled window, your vision '흐려진다.' It describes the loss of focus or sharpness.
Cognitive and Emotional States: Memories often fade over time. In Korean, we say memories '흐려진다.' Similarly, if someone's judgment is clouded by emotion or alcohol, this verb is perfectly applicable.

오후부터 하늘이 점차 흐려지더니 결국 비가 내리기 시작했습니다. (The sky gradually became cloudy from the afternoon, and eventually, it started to rain.)

The nuance of 흐려지다 often carries a slightly negative or somber tone, though not always. When a person's facial expression '흐려진다,' it suggests they have become sad, worried, or upset. It captures the moment the 'light' leaves their face. In artistic contexts, it can describe a color wash or a gradient effect where lines become less defined. Because it is a verb of change, it is frequently used with adverbs like '갑자기' (suddenly), '점차' (gradually), or '심하게' (severely).

눈물이 고여 앞이 흐려졌다. (My vision became blurred as tears welled up.)

In social settings, this word can also describe the blurring of boundaries or rules. For instance, if the distinction between public and private matters becomes unclear, one might use this term. It is a versatile verb that bridges the gap between the physical world and abstract concepts, making it an essential part of intermediate Korean vocabulary.

Using 흐려지다 correctly requires an understanding of its conjugation and the particles that typically accompany it. Since it is an intransitive verb (meaning it doesn't take a direct object), the subject of the sentence is usually marked with the subject particles 이/가 or the topic particles 은/는.

Grammar Structure: Subject + 이/가 + 흐려지다. For example, '시력이 흐려지다' (Eyesight becomes blurry).
Past Tense: The past tense is '흐려졌다'. This is extremely common when reporting weather that has already changed or a memory that has already faded.

술을 마시니 정신이 흐려지네요. (Since I'm drinking, my mind is becoming cloudy/fuzzy.)

When talking about the weather, you will often see it in the form 흐려지겠습니다 in weather forecasts. This is the formal future tense used by announcers to predict cloudiness. In daily conversation, you might say 흐려질 것 같아요 (It looks like it will get cloudy) to express an opinion or observation about the sky.

안경이 없으면 글씨가 흐려져서 안 보여요. (Without glasses, the letters become blurry, so I can't see them.)

In more advanced usage, 흐려지다 can be used metaphorically to describe a person's speech. '말끝이 흐려지다' means to trail off at the end of a sentence, often indicating a lack of confidence, hesitation, or lying. This is a very descriptive way to characterize someone's behavior in a story or conversation.

Negative Forms: 안 흐려지다 (does not become cloudy) or 흐려지지 않다 (is not becoming cloudy). These are less common but grammatically correct.

You will encounter 흐려지다 in several specific environments in Korea. The most frequent is undoubtedly the daily weather report. Weather forecasters use this word to describe the transition from a sunny morning to a gray afternoon. If you are planning a hike or a picnic, listening for this word is crucial.

내일은 전국이 대체로 흐려지겠습니다. (Tomorrow, the whole country will generally become cloudy.)

Another common place is at the optometrist (안과). When describing your symptoms, you might say your vision becomes blurry when you look at a screen for too long. Doctors will use this word to ask about the progression of your eye health. It is also found in literature and song lyrics, where it often symbolizes sadness or the fading of a past love.

In K-Dramas: You'll hear characters say their 'memory is getting blurry' (기억이 흐려져) when they are trying to recall a distant past or when a character is suffering from amnesia.
In Art and Photography: Photographers use it to describe the depth of field or 'bokeh' effect where the background '흐려진다' to emphasize the subject.

Finally, you might hear this in news reports discussing social issues. For example, if the 'distinction between truth and falsehood' is becoming blurred in the age of information, journalists will use 흐려지다 to describe this phenomenon. It captures the essence of losing clarity in any situation.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing the adjective 흐리다 (to be cloudy) with the verb 흐려지다 (to become cloudy). Remember that '흐리다' describes a static state, while '흐려지다' describes a dynamic change. If the sky is already gray, use '흐려요'. If it was blue but is now turning gray, use '흐려지고 있어요'.

Mistake: Using Object Particles: Incorrect: 날씨를 흐려져요. (Weather-object becomes cloudy). Correct: 날씨가 흐려져요. (Weather-subject becomes cloudy). Because it is an intransitive verb, '를/을' is almost never used.

Incorrect: 기억을 흐려졌어요. (I blurred the memory.)
Correct: 기억이 흐려졌어요. (The memory became blurry.)

Another mistake is confusing 흐려지다 with 어두워지다 (to become dark). While they are related, '어두워지다' specifically refers to the amount of light (like sunset), whereas '흐려지다' refers to the loss of clarity or the presence of clouds/fog. You can have a '흐린' day that is still relatively bright, but an '어두운' day is always low on light.

Lastly, learners sometimes use 흐려지다 when they should use 탁해지다. '탁해지다' is specifically for liquids or air becoming muddy, polluted, or thick. While '흐려지다' can work for water, '탁해지다' is much more common when referring to pollution or physical particles making something opaque.

To sound more natural and precise in Korean, it is helpful to know the synonyms and alternatives for 흐려지다 depending on the context.

탁해지다 (To become muddy/impure): Use this for water that gets dirty or air that gets polluted. '물이 탁해지다' (The water becomes muddy).
희미해지다 (To become faint/dim): This is the best word for lights, sounds, or memories that are fading away. '기억이 희미해지다' (The memory is becoming faint).
침침해지다 (To become dim/blurry - specifically for eyes): This is specifically used when your eyes feel tired and your vision gets blurry. '눈이 침침해지다'.

Comparison:
- 하늘이 흐려지다 (The sky becomes cloudy)
- 기억이 희미해지다 (The memory becomes faint)
- 공기가 탁해지다 (The air becomes polluted)

If you want to describe a person's speech becoming unclear because they are mumbling, you can use 웅얼거리다 (to mumble) or 말을 얼버무리다 (to gloss over/speak vaguely). While 말끝이 흐려지다 specifically describes the voice getting quieter or less distinct at the end, these alternatives describe the overall manner of speaking.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The suffix '-어지다' is one of the most productive ways in Korean to turn an adjective into a verb of change. It is almost like adding 'become' in English.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /hɯ.ɾjʌ.dʑi.da/

US /hu.rjə.dʒi.da/

The stress is even across all syllables, typical of Korean, but a slight emphasis may fall on the first syllable '흐'.

Rhymes With

느려지다 (to become slow) 그려지다 (to be drawn) 버려지다 (to be abandoned) 어려지다 (to become younger) 드러지다 (to be prominent) 부러지다 (to be broken) 벌어지다 (to happen/widen) 멀어지다 (to become distant)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'ryeo' as two syllables 'ri-eo'.
Making the 'h' sound too strong like a German 'ch'.
Confusing 'eo' (ㅓ) with 'o' (ㅗ).
Pronouncing 'ji' as 'zi'.
Failing to elide the sounds smoothly.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in texts, especially weather reports.

Writing 5/5

Requires correct conjugation and understanding of '-어지다'.

Speaking 4/5

Pronunciation of 'ryeo' can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 3/5

Commonly heard in daily life and media.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

흐리다 날씨 하늘 눈 기억

Learn Next

맑아지다 어두워지다 희미하다 탁하다 선명하다

Advanced

모호하다 불분명하다 혼탁하다 몽롱하다 침침하다

Grammar to Know

-아/어지다 (Become/Get)

예뻐지다 (become pretty), 좋아지다 (become better).

-기 시작하다 (Start to)

흐려지기 시작했다 (started to become cloudy).

-ㄹ 것 같다 (Seems like/Will likely)

흐려질 것 같아요 (It seems like it will get cloudy).

-더니 (Indicates a change from a past observation)

흐려지더니 비가 오네요 (It was getting cloudy, and now it's raining).

-게 하다 (Make/Cause)

판단력을 흐려지게 하다 (make judgment become clouded).

Examples by Level

하늘이 흐려져요.

The sky is becoming cloudy.

Present tense: 흐려지다 -> 흐려져요.

오후에 날씨가 흐려질 거예요.

The weather will become cloudy in the afternoon.

Future tense: -ㄹ 거예요.

갑자기 흐려졌어요.

It suddenly became cloudy.

Past tense: 흐려졌어요.

하늘이 조금 흐려지네요.

The sky is becoming a bit cloudy, I see.

-네요 ending for observation.

흐려지기 전에 집에 가요.

Let's go home before it gets cloudy.

-기 전에 (before doing).

비가 오려고 흐려지나 봐요.

It seems to be getting cloudy because it's about to rain.

-나 봐요 (it seems like).

날씨가 흐려져서 슬퍼요.

I'm sad because the weather became cloudy.

-어서/아서 (reason).

매일 오후마다 흐려져요.

It gets cloudy every afternoon.

Adverbial usage: 매일 오후마다.

안경을 벗으면 앞이 흐려져요.

If I take off my glasses, my vision becomes blurry.

Conditional: -(으)면.

텔레비전 화면이 갑자기 흐려졌어요.

The TV screen suddenly became blurry.

Subject: 화면 (screen).

눈물이 나서 시야가 흐려졌습니다.

My vision became blurred because I cried.

Formal past tense: -었습니다.

사진이 왜 이렇게 흐려졌을까요?

Why did the photo become so blurry?

-을까요? (wondering/asking).

잉크가 번져서 글자가 흐려졌어요.

The letters became blurry because the ink smudged.

Reason: 번져서 (smudging).

유리창이 김 때문에 흐려졌네요.

The window became foggy/blurry because of the steam.

Noun + 때문에 (because of).

나이가 들면 시력이 흐려집니다.

As you get older, your eyesight becomes blurry.

Process: 나이가 들면 (getting older).

카메라 렌즈가 흐려져서 닦았어요.

The camera lens got blurry, so I wiped it.

Sequence: -어서 (so/and then).

시간이 흐를수록 기억이 흐려져요.

As time passes, memories become blurry.

-(으)ㄹ수록 (the more... the more).

그 말을 듣자 그의 표정이 흐려졌다.

Upon hearing those words, his expression became gloomy.

-자 (as soon as).

술 기운에 정신이 점점 흐려졌습니다.

My mind gradually became clouded due to the alcohol.

Adverb: 점점 (gradually).

안개가 끼어서 산의 모습이 흐려졌어요.

The mountain's appearance became obscured due to the fog.

Noun + 이/가 (subject).

졸음이 쏟아지니 의식이 흐려지기 시작했다.

As I became very sleepy, my consciousness began to fade.

-기 시작하다 (start to).

물에 물감을 풀자 물빛이 흐려졌다.

As I put paint in the water, the color of the water became cloudy.

-자 (as soon as/when).

오래된 영화라 화질이 많이 흐려졌네요.

It's an old movie, so the picture quality has become very blurry.

-라 (because it is).

그의 눈시울이 흐려지며 고개를 떨구었다.

His eyes welled up (became blurry) and he lowered his head.

-며 (while/and).

그는 자신 없는 듯 말끝을 흐려졌다.

He trailed off at the end of his words as if he lacked confidence.

-는 듯 (as if).

정치적 논쟁으로 본질이 흐려지고 있습니다.

The essence (of the issue) is being clouded by political debate.

Progressive: -고 있다.

미세먼지로 인해 도시의 전경이 흐려졌다.

The city view became blurred due to fine dust.

-로 인해 (due to).

과거의 아픈 기억도 결국은 흐려지기 마련이다.

Even painful memories of the past are bound to fade eventually.

-기 마련이다 (is bound to).

약물 기운 때문에 판단력이 흐려질 수 있습니다.

Your judgment can be clouded by the effects of the medication.

-ㄹ 수 있다 (can/possibility).

비가 그치지 않자 사람들의 희망도 흐려졌다.

As the rain didn't stop, people's hope also faded.

-자 (when/as).

경계선이 흐려지면서 구분이 어려워졌다.

As the boundary line became blurred, it became difficult to distinguish.

-면서 (as/while).

그녀는 슬픈 소식에 안색이 금세 흐려졌다.

Her complexion quickly turned gloomy at the sad news.

Adverb: 금세 (quickly).

정보의 홍수 속에서 진실의 가치가 흐려지고 있다.

In the flood of information, the value of truth is becoming blurred.

Metaphorical usage: 가치가 흐려지다.

작가는 의도적으로 인물의 배경을 흐려지게 묘사했다.

The author intentionally described the character's background in a blurred way.

-게 묘사하다 (describe in a way that...).

오랜 세월이 흐르며 비석의 글자가 흐려져 읽기 힘들다.

As many years passed, the letters on the tombstone became blurred and hard to read.

-며 (as/while).

감정이 개입되면 객관적인 시각이 흐려지기 쉽다.

When emotions are involved, it's easy for an objective perspective to be clouded.

-기 쉽다 (easy to).

사건의 핵심이 지엽적인 문제들로 인해 흐려졌다.

The core of the incident was clouded by peripheral issues.

Passive nuance: 핵심이 흐려졌다.

문화적 융합으로 인해 국가 간의 경계가 흐려지고 있다.

Due to cultural fusion, the boundaries between nations are becoming blurred.

-로 인해 (due to).

그의 갑작스러운 태도 변화에 나의 확신이 흐려졌다.

My confidence was clouded by his sudden change in attitude.

Abstract subject: 확신 (confidence).

역사적 사실이 왜곡되면서 본래의 의미가 흐려졌다.

As historical facts were distorted, the original meaning became blurred.

-면서 (as/while).

포스트모더니즘은 장르 간의 경계가 흐려지는 현상을 옹호한다.

Postmodernism advocates the phenomenon where boundaries between genres become blurred.

Academic context: 장르 간의 경계.

죽음의 문턱에서 그는 의식이 흐려지는 것을 느꼈다.

At the threshold of death, he felt his consciousness fading.

-는 것을 느끼다 (feel something happening).

기술의 발달은 공적 영역과 사적 영역의 구분을 흐려지게 만든다.

The development of technology makes the distinction between public and private spheres blurred.

-게 만들다 (make something become...).

언어의 모호성은 때로 소통의 명확성을 흐려지게 한다.

The ambiguity of language sometimes clouds the clarity of communication.

-게 하다 (cause to).

그의 필치는 노년에 접어들며 다소 흐려진 경향이 있다.

His brushwork tended to become somewhat blurred as he entered his later years.

-ㄴ 경향이 있다 (tend to).

사회적 합의가 결여된 상태에서 법의 집행 기준이 흐려졌다.

In a state lacking social consensus, the standards for law enforcement became blurred.

Complex subject: 집행 기준 (enforcement standards).

인간의 욕망은 종종 도덕적 판단을 흐려지게 하는 요인이 된다.

Human desire often becomes a factor that clouds moral judgment.

-는 요인이 된다 (become a factor that...).

기억의 파편들이 섞이며 사건의 전말이 흐려지기 시작했다.

As fragments of memory mixed, the full account of the incident began to blur.

Literary subject: 사건의 전말 (full account).

Common Collocations

하늘이 흐려지다

기억이 흐려지다

시야가 흐려지다

표정이 흐려지다

정신이 흐려지다

말끝이 흐려지다

눈시울이 흐려지다

경계가 흐려지다

판단력이 흐려지다

화면이 흐려지다

Common Phrases

점차 흐려지다

— To gradually become cloudy. Used in weather forecasts.

내일은 전국이 점차 흐려지겠습니다.

갑자기 흐려지다

— To suddenly become cloudy or blurry.

갑자기 앞이 흐려져서 깜짝 놀랐어요.

눈앞이 흐려지다

— One's vision becomes blurry, often due to tears or fainting.

너무 슬퍼서 눈앞이 흐려졌어요.

의식이 흐려지다

— To lose consciousness or become less aware.

환자가 의식이 흐려지고 있어요.

안색이 흐려지다

— One's complexion becomes dark or gloomy.

그 소식을 듣자마자 그의 안색이 흐려졌다.

초점이 흐려지다

— To lose focus, either in a camera or in a discussion.

이야기의 초점이 흐려지고 있어요.

글씨가 흐려지다

— Handwriting or printed text becomes faint or blurry.

잉크가 부족해서 글씨가 흐려졌다.

기분이 흐려지다

— One's mood becomes somber or depressed.

날씨가 안 좋으니 기분도 흐려지네요.

기준이 흐려지다

— Standards or criteria become vague.

심사 기준이 흐려지면 안 됩니다.

색깔이 흐려지다

— Colors become faded or less vivid.

햇빛 때문에 옷의 색깔이 흐려졌다.

Often Confused With

흐려지다 vs 흐리다

흐리다 is the state (It is cloudy), while 흐려지다 is the change (It is becoming cloudy).

흐려지다 vs 어두워지다

어두워지다 is about lack of light (getting dark), while 흐려지다 is about lack of clarity (getting cloudy/blurry).

흐려지다 vs 탁해지다

탁해지다 is usually for physical pollution in water or air, while 흐려지다 is broader.

Idioms & Expressions

"말끝을 흐리다"

— To trail off at the end of a sentence; to speak unclearly because of lack of confidence or to hide something.

그는 대답하기 곤란한지 말끝을 흐렸다.

Neutral

"눈시울이 흐려지다"

— To have one's eyes fill with tears (literally 'the edge of the eyelids become blurry').

이별의 순간에 모두의 눈시울이 흐려졌다.

Literary

"미꾸라지 한 마리가 온 웅덩이를 흐린다"

— One bad apple spoils the whole bunch (literally 'one loach makes the whole pond muddy'). While it uses '흐리다', it's the root of '흐려지다'.

그 사람 한 명 때문에 분위기가 다 흐려졌어.

Informal

"정신이 흐려지다"

— To be confused or not in one's right mind.

나이가 드니 정신이 흐려지는 것 같아 걱정이다.

Neutral

"판단력이 흐려지다"

— To lose the ability to judge things clearly.

사랑에 빠지면 판단력이 흐려지기 마련이다.

Neutral

"초점을 흐리다"

— To distract from the main point or to confuse the issue.

상대방은 질문의 초점을 흐리려고 노력했다.

Formal

"물을 흐리다"

— To spoil the atmosphere or reputation of a group.

그의 무례한 행동이 모임의 물을 흐려 놓았다.

Informal

"시야를 흐리다"

— To block or obscure one's view, or metaphorically, to prevent someone from seeing the truth.

편견은 우리의 시야를 흐리게 만든다.

Neutral

"기억의 저편으로 흐려지다"

— To fade into the distance of one's memory.

그 일은 이제 기억의 저편으로 흐려졌다.

Poetic

"경계가 흐려지다"

— When two distinct things start to overlap or become indistinguishable.

낮과 밤의 경계가 흐려질 때까지 일했다.

Neutral

Easily Confused

흐려지다 vs 뿌예지다

Both mean getting blurry.

뿌예지다 specifically implies a white, foggy, or dusty blur (like 'white out'), while 흐려지다 is general.

미세먼지로 하늘이 뿌예졌다.

흐려지다 vs 희미해지다

Both describe fading clarity.

희미해지다 is often used for things disappearing or becoming faint (light, sound), while 흐려지다 is about becoming 'cloudy'.

등대 불빛이 희미해졌다.

흐려지다 vs 침침하다

Both relate to poor vision.

침침하다 is an adjective for the feeling of tired, dim eyes, while 흐려지다 is the verb for the vision actually losing focus.

눈이 침침해서 안 보여요.

흐려지다 vs 번지다

Both result in blurriness.

번지다 means to smudge or spread (like ink or fire), which causes things to '흐려지다'.

잉크가 번져서 글씨가 흐려졌다.

흐려지다 vs 망가지다

Used when things go wrong.

If a screen '망가지다' (breaks), the picture might '흐려지다'. One is the cause, the other is the symptom.

카메라가 망가져서 사진이 흐려졌다.

Sentence Patterns

하늘이 [흐려져요].

하늘이 흐려져요.

[시야]가 흐려졌어요.

시야가 흐려졌어요.

[기억]이 점점 흐려진다.

기억이 점점 흐려진다.

[말끝]을 흐려지게 하다.

그는 말끝을 흐려지게 했다.

[경계]가 흐려지고 있다.

현실과 가상의 경계가 흐려지고 있다.

흐려지기 [전에] ...

흐려지기 전에 빨리 갑시다.

흐려지[더니] ...

날씨가 흐려지더니 결국 비가 오네요.

[의식]이 흐려지는 것을 느끼다.

그는 의식이 흐려지는 것을 느꼈다.

Word Family

Nouns

흐림 Cloudiness (weather report term)

흐릿함 Vagueness; blurriness

Verbs

흐리다 To make cloudy/blurry (transitive) or to be cloudy (adjective)

흐릿하다 To be vague/faint/dim

Adjectives

흐린 Cloudy; blurry (modifier form)

안개 (fog)

구름 (cloud)

시력 (eyesight)

기억 (memory)

날씨 (weather)

How to Use It

frequency

High, especially in daily weather contexts and emotional descriptions.

Common Mistakes

날씨를 흐려져요. → 날씨가 흐려져요.
'흐려지다' is an intransitive verb. It does not take an object. Use the subject particle '이/가'.
눈이 어두워졌어요 (meaning blurry). → 눈이 흐려졌어요.
'어두워지다' means it actually got dark. If you can't see clearly, use '흐려지다'.
기억을 흐려졌어요. → 기억이 흐려졌어요.
Again, the memory is the subject that changed, not an object you acted upon.
Using '흐려지다' for dirty water only. → Using '탁해지다' for dirty water.
While '흐려지다' works, '탁해지다' is more specific for pollution or sediment.
Confusing '흐리다' and '흐려지다'. → Use '흐리다' for state, '흐려지다' for change.
'오늘 날씨가 흐려요' (Today is cloudy) vs '오후에 흐려졌어요' (It became cloudy in the afternoon).

Tips

The -어지다 pattern

Learn this word alongside '좋아지다' (get better) and '커지다' (get bigger) to master the 'become' structure.

Weather reporting

If you hear '흐려지겠습니다' on the news, take an umbrella. It almost always implies rain is coming.

Eyesight

Use this word when your eyes are tired from looking at a phone. '눈이 흐려져요'.

Fading memories

This is a more poetic way to say you are forgetting something naturally over time.

Speaking habits

Avoid '말끝을 흐리는' habit in interviews, as it makes you look unconfident in Korean culture.

Artistic use

Use it to describe watercolor techniques where colors bleed and become less distinct.

Vs. 어두워지다

Remember: '흐려지다' is about clarity, '어두워지다' is about light.

Descriptive writing

Use '표정이 흐려지다' to show a character's reaction to bad news without using the word 'sad'.

News keywords

Listen for '차차' (gradually) or '점차' which often precede '흐려지다' in formal contexts.

Antonym practice

Always practice '흐려지다' with its opposite '맑아지다' to remember both.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Heu-ryeo' sounding like 'Hurry up!' Imagine you need to 'Hurry up' and go home because the sky is '흐려지다' (getting cloudy).

Visual Association

Imagine a camera lens getting steam on it. The clear image becomes '흐려지다'.

Word Web

Weather Eyesight Memory Judgment Water Air Photos Mood

Challenge

Try to use '흐려지다' in three different ways today: once for the weather, once for your vision, and once for a memory.

Word Origin

Derived from the native Korean adjective '흐리다' (heurida), which means 'to be cloudy' or 'to be dim.'

Original meaning: The root '흐르-' historically relates to the flow of water or the movement of clouds, implying a state that is not fixed or clear.

Native Korean origin.

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but when describing a person's '정신이 흐려지다' (mind/consciousness becoming cloudy), be careful as it can imply dementia or severe intoxication.

English speakers often say 'it's getting cloudy,' but '흐려지다' is used much more broadly for vision and memory than 'cloudy' is in English (where we'd prefer 'blurry' or 'fading').

Many K-pop ballads use '기억이 흐려져' (memories fade) in their lyrics. Weather forecasts on KBS/MBC/SBS always use '흐려지겠습니다'. Korean ophthalmology ads often ask '시야가 흐려지십니까?' (Is your vision becoming blurry?)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Talking about the weather

날씨가 흐려져요.
비가 오려고 흐려지나 봐요.
내일은 흐려질까요?
오후에 흐려진대요.

At the eye doctor

시야가 흐려졌어요.
갑자기 앞이 흐려져요.
글씨가 흐려져서 안 보여요.
밤이 되면 더 흐려져요.

Recalling the past

기억이 흐려졌어요.
그때 일이 흐려지네요.
추억이 흐려지지 않았으면 좋겠어요.
얼굴이 흐려져서 생각이 안 나요.

Describing someone's mood

표정이 갑자기 흐려졌어.
안색이 흐려지는 걸 봤어.
왜 그렇게 안색이 흐려졌니?
기분이 흐려지는 소식이야.

Talking about technology

화면이 흐려졌어요.
사진이 흐려져서 다시 찍어야 해요.
동영상 화질이 흐려졌어.
렌즈 때문에 흐려진 것 같아.

Conversation Starters

"오늘 오후에 날씨가 흐려진다고 하는데 우산 챙기셨어요? (They say it'll get cloudy this afternoon; did you bring an umbrella?)"

"요즘 눈이 자꾸 흐려지는데 안과에 가봐야 할까요? (My vision keeps getting blurry lately; should I go to the eye doctor?)"

"시간이 지나면 옛날 기억이 흐려지는 게 아쉬워요. (It's a pity that old memories fade as time passes, isn't it?)"

"갑자기 하늘이 흐려지네요. 곧 비가 올 것 같지 않아요? (The sky is suddenly getting cloudy. Don't you think it'll rain soon?)"

"술을 마시면 왜 판단력이 흐려질까요? (Why does our judgment get clouded when we drink?)"

Journal Prompts

오늘 날씨가 어떻게 흐려졌는지, 그리고 그게 당신의 기분에 어떤 영향을 주었는지 써보세요. (Write about how the weather got cloudy today and how it affected your mood.)

가장 잊고 싶지 않지만 조금씩 흐려지는 기억에 대해 써보세요. (Write about a memory you never want to forget but is slowly fading.)

최근에 시야나 정신이 흐려졌던 경험이 있나요? (Have you had an experience recently where your vision or mind became clouded?)

사람들 사이의 경계가 흐려지는 것이 좋은 점과 나쁜 점은 무엇일까요? (What are the pros and cons of boundaries between people becoming blurred?)

어떤 소식을 들었을 때 표정이 흐려졌나요? 그 이유는 무엇인가요? (When did your expression turn gloomy upon hearing some news? What was the reason?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Not directly. You can use it for their '표정' (expression) or '안색' (complexion) to mean they look gloomy, but not to describe their character.

Yes, if clear water becomes cloudy or muddy, you can say '물이 흐려졌다', though '탁해졌다' is more common for pollution.

'날씨가 흐리다' means the weather is currently cloudy. '날씨가 흐려지다' means the weather is in the process of becoming cloudy.

You can use '흐리게 하다' (to make blurry) or '흐리다' as a transitive verb in some contexts.

Usually, '희미해지다' is preferred for sounds, but you might hear '흐려지다' if the sound becomes muffled or indistinct.

Yes, especially in sad songs about breakup where '기억' (memory) or '모습' (appearance) of a lover is '흐려진다' (fading away).

It means to not finish a sentence clearly, often because the person is shy, lying, or unsure. It's like mumbling the end of a sentence.

Yes, '사진이 흐려졌어요' is perfect for a photo that came out out of focus or has faded over time.

No, it is an intransitive verb of change. The '-어지다' ending often looks like passive, but here it indicates a change in state.

Yes, '판단력을 흐려지게 하다' is a very common and natural expression.