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B1 verb 9 min read

수축하다

suchukhada
Examples 수축하다 in 30 Seconds
Explanation 수축하다 in your Level:
At the A1 level, you don't need to use '수축하다' often, as it is a bit difficult. Instead, you usually learn '작아지다' (to become small) or '줄어들다' (to shrink). However, you might see this word in very simple science books for children. Think of it like this: when something gets cold, it wants to huddle together and get smaller. That 'getting smaller' in a technical way is '수축하다'. For example, if you have a balloon and you put it in a cold place, the balloon gets smaller. A teacher might say '공기가 수축해요' (The air contracts). At this level, just remember that '수축' means 'getting smaller' because of something like cold weather. It is the opposite of '팽창' (getting bigger/expanding). You can picture a muscle getting tight when you show your strength – that is also '수축'.
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At the A2 level, you can start to use '수축하다' to describe basic physical changes. This word is useful when talking about the weather or simple health topics. For example, you can say '추우면 근육이 수축해요' (When it's cold, muscles contract). This is more precise than saying 'muscles get small'. You might also hear this word in a gym or during a PE class. When you pull a heavy object, your arm muscles '수축' (contract). It's also helpful for basic science. If you heat a metal, it '팽창' (expands), and if you cool it, it '수축' (contracts). Try to remember it as a pair with '팽창하다'. Even though '줄어들다' is more common for daily things like clothes or food, '수축하다' makes you sound more like a student who knows science and health terms.
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At the B1 level, you should be able to use '수축하다' in more specific contexts like biology, physics, and even basic economics. You should understand that this word describes a 'contraction' of volume or length. In a medical context, you might read about how the heart '수축하다' to pump blood. This is a vital part of the circulatory system. In economics, you might hear that the market is '수축' (contracting), meaning there is less buying and selling. You should also be careful not to confuse it with '위축되다' (to be intimidated/shrunk psychologically). While '수축하다' is about physical size, '위축되다' is about how a person feels or how a business feels about the future. At this level, you can use '수축하다' to explain why things happen, such as '기온이 낮아져서 철도가 수축했습니다' (The railroad contracted because the temperature dropped).
At the B2 level, you are expected to use '수축하다' with grammatical precision and in formal settings. You should recognize the difference between '수축하다' (the process) and '수축되다' (the state of being contracted by an external force). You will encounter this word in news reports, academic articles, and professional discussions. For instance, in a discussion about urban planning, you might hear about '도시 수축' (urban contraction), referring to a city's population and infrastructure shrinking. You should also be comfortable with its derivatives, like '수축성' (contractibility) or '수축기' (systole/contraction period). When writing an essay about the environment, you might describe how certain materials '수축' and '팽창' repeatedly, leading to structural damage. Your usage should reflect an understanding that '수축하다' implies a physical or structural reduction that is often measurable or scientifically observable.
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At the C1 level, your understanding of '수축하다' should extend to its abstract and metaphorical applications in literature and high-level social science. You can use it to describe the tightening of social networks or the contraction of a language's influence. You should be able to discuss the nuances between '수축', '응축', and '압축' in a technical debate. For example, you might explain how a poet '응축' (condenses) complex emotions into a single line, whereas a physical object '수축' (contracts) due to pressure. You should also be aware of the historical etymology of the Hanja (收縮) and how it appears in various compound words. In a professional medical or engineering presentation, you would use '수축하다' to describe precise movements or material behaviors, perhaps discussing the '수축률' (contraction rate) of a new polymer under varying thermal conditions. Your speech should demonstrate that you can choose this word over simpler alternatives to provide exact meaning.
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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of '수축하다', including its most obscure technical uses and its role in complex systemic descriptions. You can use it to describe the contraction of the universe in a physics lecture or the contraction of a political sphere in a geopolitical analysis. You understand how the word functions in the 'systole-diastole' (수축-이완) cycle of various systems, not just biological ones. You can analyze the stylistic choice of an author who uses '수축' instead of '위축' to describe a character's soul, perhaps implying a physical, cold tightening rather than mere fear. Your ability to use '수축하다' is indistinguishable from a native speaker with an advanced degree, allowing you to navigate discussions in medicine, engineering, macroeconomics, and philosophy where the concept of 'drawing inward' or 'reducing in scale' is a central theme.
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Examples

수축하다 in 30 Seconds

  • To contract or shrink in size, volume, or length.
  • Commonly used in medical, scientific, and economic contexts.
  • The technical opposite of '팽창하다' (to expand).
  • Used for muscles, blood vessels, metals, and markets.

The Korean verb 수축하다 (suchuk-hada) is a sophisticated Sino-Korean term primarily used to describe the physical or abstract process of becoming smaller, tighter, or drawing together. Rooted in the Hanja characters 收 (su) meaning 'to gather' or 'to collect' and 縮 (chuk) meaning 'to shrink' or 'to shorten', the word carries a clinical and precise nuance that differentiates it from more colloquial terms like '줄어들다' (to decrease/shrink). In daily life, you will encounter this word most frequently in scientific, medical, or economic contexts where a reduction in volume, length, or scale is being observed. For instance, when the temperature drops, materials like metal or plastic tend to contract; in this scenario, a scientist would say the material is '수축하다'.

Scientific Context
Used to describe thermal contraction where molecules lose kinetic energy and move closer together, resulting in a decrease in total volume.
Biological Context
Refers to the shortening of muscle fibers during physical activity or the narrowing of blood vessels (vasoconstriction) in response to cold or stress.

Furthermore, the word is indispensable in the medical field. When discussing the heart's rhythm, the phase where the heart muscle pumps blood out to the body is called the 'systolic phase', and the action itself is described as the heart '수축하다'. If you are at a gym in Korea, a trainer might tell you to feel your muscles '수축' as you lift a weight, emphasizing the conscious tightening of the muscle group. It is not just about getting smaller; it is about the active process of drawing inward.

날씨가 추워지면 우리 몸의 혈관은 열 손실을 막기 위해 수축한다.

Translation: When the weather gets cold, the blood vessels in our bodies contract to prevent heat loss.

In economic terms, '수축하다' describes a period where the market or the economy as a whole is shrinking rather than expanding. This is often used in news reports to discuss a '수축기' (contraction phase) of the business cycle. Unlike '감소하다' which simply means a decrease in numbers, '수축하다' implies a structural or physical pulling inward of the entity in question. It suggests a loss of volume or a tightening of boundaries, making it a very powerful word for describing systemic changes.

Finally, it is important to distinguish '수축하다' from '위축되다'. While both involve shrinking, '위축되다' is often used psychologically to mean feeling intimidated or cowering, or economically to mean a slump in activity due to fear or lack of confidence. '수축하다' remains more grounded in the physical mechanics of shrinking. Whether you are studying physics, medicine, or economics, mastering this word will allow you to describe complex processes with the precision expected of a fluent speaker.

Using 수축하다 correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as an intransitive verb (자동사) in most common contexts, though it can occasionally function transitively in specialized technical descriptions. Most often, you will see it paired with the subject particles -이/가 to describe a natural or mechanical process occurring to an object. For example, '근육이 수축하다' (the muscle contracts) or '금속이 수축하다' (the metal contracts). It is rarely used for people as a whole; you wouldn't say 'I contracted' unless you are talking about a specific body part or a metaphorical economic state.

With Physical Materials
Used when describing how objects change size due to temperature or pressure. Example: 고무줄이 차가운 물에 닿으면 수축합니다 (The rubber band contracts when it touches cold water).
In Medical Instructions
Used to describe involuntary bodily functions. Example: 심장이 수축하면서 피를 내보냅니다 (The heart contracts and sends out blood).

풍선을 냉동실에 넣으면 내부의 공기가 수축하여 풍선이 작아집니다.

Translation: If you put a balloon in the freezer, the air inside contracts and the balloon gets smaller.

When conjugating '수축하다', it follows the standard '-하다' verb patterns. In formal writing or presentations, you will use '수축합니다' or '수축한다'. In spoken conversation, '수축해요' is appropriate, though the word itself is somewhat formal, so you might find yourself using more common verbs like '줄어들다' in casual settings. However, if you are explaining *why* something is getting smaller in a logical or scientific way, '수축하다' is the superior choice. It provides a sense of cause-and-effect that '줄어들다' lacks.

One interesting usage is in the passive-like form '수축되다'. While '수축하다' can be used for both the act and the result, '수축되다' is frequently used when the contraction is caused by an external force or condition, emphasizing the subject's passivity. For example, '경제가 외부 요인에 의해 수축되었다' (The economy was contracted by external factors). In most scientific contexts, however, '수축하다' is the standard way to describe the inherent property of a material reacting to its environment.

You are most likely to encounter 수축하다 in environments that require technical precision. If you are watching a Korean documentary about space or deep-sea exploration, the narrator will frequently use this word to describe how objects react to extreme pressure or temperature changes. In the vacuum of space or the crushing depths of the ocean, materials '수축하다' in ways that are vital for engineers to calculate. It is a staple of the 'KBS Documentaries' or science educational programs like 'EBS Science'.

The Doctor's Office
When a doctor explains high blood pressure (고혈압), they will mention '수축기 혈압' (systolic blood pressure). They might say, '심장이 수축할 때의 압력이 높습니다' (The pressure when the heart contracts is high).
The Fitness Center
Personal trainers use this word to guide clients through exercises. They will say things like '근육의 수축을 느끼세요' (Feel the contraction of the muscle) to ensure proper form and engagement.

전문가들은 내년 세계 경제가 더욱 수축할 것으로 전망하고 있습니다.

Translation: Experts are forecasting that the global economy will contract further next year.

In the news, specifically the business section, '수축하다' is used to describe the 'shrinking' of industries or the labor market. If a particular sector is losing workers or investment, the reporter might describe it as a '수축하는 산업' (a contracting industry). This sounds much more professional and data-driven than simply saying the industry is 'getting smaller'. It implies a systematic reduction in scale that is often tied to broader economic cycles.

Lastly, in academic settings, particularly in physics or chemistry lectures at a university level, '수축하다' is the only acceptable term for contraction. Students are expected to use it in lab reports to describe the behavior of gases and solids. If you are reading a textbook on materials science, you will see it paired with its antonym '팽창하다' in almost every chapter discussing thermodynamics. Hearing this word used correctly is a hallmark of a person with a solid educational background or specialized knowledge.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is using 수축하다 in place of the more common verb 줄어들다 (to shrink/decrease). While they are related, '수축하다' is specifically about physical or structural contraction. For example, if your laundry shrinks in the dryer, you should say '옷이 줄어들었어요'. Using '옷이 수축했어요' is technically understandable but sounds like you are reading from a textile engineering manual. It is too formal for a laundry mishap.

Confusion with '위축되다'
Learners often use '수축하다' to describe feeling nervous or shy. However, the correct word for psychological shrinking is '위축되다'. Example: '그는 긴장해서 위축되었다' (He felt intimidated because he was nervous).
Confusion with '단축하다'
'단축하다' means to shorten time or distance. You cannot use '수축하다' for a deadline or a marathon course. Use '시간을 단축하다' (shorten time), not '시간을 수축하다'.

틀린 예: 시험 시간이 수축했다. (X)
옳은 예: 시험 시간이 단축되었다. (O)

Note: Use '단축' for time/distance and '수축' for physical volume.

Another mistake involves the direction of the action. '수축하다' is an inward movement. Some learners confuse it with '압축하다' (to compress). While similar, '압축하다' implies an external force pressing something together, like zipping a file on a computer or compacting trash. '수축하다' is often used for the natural reaction of the material itself, like a cold metal rod getting shorter. Understanding this nuance of 'internal reaction' vs 'external pressure' will help you choose between '수축' and '압축'.

Finally, be careful with the subject of the sentence. Since '수축하다' is primarily an intransitive process, the subject should be the thing that is shrinking. Learners sometimes try to use it as a transitive verb to mean 'to shrink something' (like 'I shrunk the balloon'). In that case, you would need to use a causative construction or a different verb like '수축시키다' (to make something contract). Using the plain '수축하다' with an object can sound awkward in many contexts.

To truly master 수축하다, you must see how it sits within a family of related 'shrinking' words. Each has a specific niche in the Korean language. The most common alternative is 줄어들다, which is the all-purpose word for anything that becomes smaller in size, amount, or intensity. While '수축하다' is technical, '줄어들다' is what you'll use for your bank balance, the number of students in a class, or the length of a pencil.

수축하다 vs. 위축되다
'수축하다' is physical/scientific contraction. '위축되다' is psychological or economic 'withering' or 'cowering'. You '수축' a muscle, but your confidence '위축's.
수축하다 vs. 응축하다
'응축하다' (condense) is used specifically for gases turning into liquids or for ideas being distilled into a concentrated form. It implies a change in density or state.

비교:
1. 근육이 수축한다 (Physical contraction)
2. 마음이 위축된다 (Psychological cowering)

Another important word is 압축하다 (compress). Use this when you are forcing something into a smaller space. This is the word used for 'data compression' (데이터 압축) or 'garbage compression'. If the shrinking is happening because you are pushing it, use '압축'. If it is happening because of temperature or a natural muscle reflex, use '수축'. There is also 단축하다 (shorten), which is reserved almost exclusively for time, distance, or processes. You '단축' your commute time, you don't '수축' it.

Lastly, consider 응고하다 (solidify/coagulate). While not a direct synonym for shrinking, it is often discussed alongside '수축' in science because many materials contract as they solidify. However, '응고' specifically refers to the change from liquid to solid. In a high-level discussion, using the right one of these terms will show that you understand the nuances of Korean vocabulary and the scientific principles they describe. For example, '용암이 식으면서 응고되고 수축한다' (The lava solidifies and contracts as it cools).

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Examples by Level

1

날씨가 추우면 몸이 수축해요.

When the weather is cold, the body contracts.

-면 (if/when) + 수축해요 (present polite).

2

풍선이 수축해서 작아졌어요.

The balloon contracted and became small.

-아서 (because/and then) + 작아졌어요 (became small).

3

차가운 물에서 고무가 수축해요.

Rubber contracts in cold water.

-에서 (in/at) + 수축해요 (present polite).

4

근육이 수축하면 힘이 나요.

When muscles contract, you get strength.

근육 (muscle) + -이 (subject particle).

5

추운 곳에서는 공기도 수축해요.

In cold places, even air contracts.

-도 (also/even) + 수축해요.

6

이 장난감은 물에서 수축해요.

This toy contracts in water.

이 (this) + 장난감 (toy).

7

심장이 수축해요.

The heart contracts.

심장 (heart) is the subject.

8

금속은 추우면 수축해요.

Metal contracts if it is cold.

금속 (metal) + -은 (topic particle).

1

운동을 하면 근육이 수축하고 이완됩니다.

When you exercise, muscles contract and relax.

-고 (and) connects '수축하다' and '이완되다'.

2

기온이 내려가면 철길이 조금 수축합니다.

When the temperature goes down, the railroad tracks contract a little.

기온 (temperature) + 내려가면 (if it goes down).

3

혈관이 수축하면 혈압이 올라갈 수 있어요.

If blood vessels contract, blood pressure can go up.

-ㄹ 수 있어요 (can/possibility).

4

플라스틱 병에 뜨거운 물을 넣었다가 식으면 수축해요.

If you put hot water in a plastic bottle and it cools, it contracts.

-었다가 (after doing/and then) + 식으면 (if it cools).

5

눈의 동공은 밝은 곳에서 수축합니다.

The pupils of the eyes contract in bright places.

동공 (pupil) + -은 (topic particle).

6

추위 때문에 피부가 수축해서 소름이 돋았어요.

Because of the cold, the skin contracted and I got goosebumps.

때문에 (because of) + -아서 (reason).

7

이 천은 뜨거운 물에 빨면 수축할 거예요.

This fabric will contract if you wash it in hot water.

-ㄹ 거예요 (future tense).

8

심장이 강하게 수축하면서 피를 보냅니다.

The heart contracts strongly and sends blood.

-면서 (while doing/at the same time).

1

기체는 온도가 낮아짐에 따라 부피가 수축한다.

Gases contract in volume as the temperature lowers.

-함에 따라 (according to/as something happens).

2

근육을 수축시킨 상태에서 3초 동안 멈추세요.

Hold for 3 seconds with the muscles in a contracted state.

수축시킨 (causative: made to contract) + 상태 (state).

3

경제 불황으로 인해 내수 시장이 수축하고 있다.

Due to the economic recession, the domestic market is contracting.

-로 인해 (due to) + -고 있다 (progressive).

4

추운 날씨에 노출되면 말초 혈관이 수축하기 쉽다.

When exposed to cold weather, peripheral blood vessels tend to contract easily.

-기 쉽다 (easy to/likely to).

5

심장 수축기 혈압이 정상 범위보다 높게 나왔습니다.

Your systolic blood pressure came out higher than the normal range.

수축기 (systole/contraction period) + 혈압 (blood pressure).

6

콘크리트가 건조되면서 미세하게 수축할 수 있습니다.

As concrete dries, it can contract slightly.

-으면서 (while/as) + 미세하게 (minutely).

7

폐가 수축하고 팽창하면서 호흡이 이루어집니다.

Breathing occurs as the lungs contract and expand.

이루어집니다 (is achieved/takes place).

8

이 합성 소재는 열을 가하면 오히려 수축하는 성질이 있다.

This synthetic material has the property of contracting when heat is applied.

성질 (property/nature) + -이 있다 (has).

1

금속의 열수축 현상을 방지하기 위해 이음매를 설치한다.

Expansion joints are installed to prevent the thermal contraction of metal.

열수축 (thermal contraction) + 현상 (phenomenon).

2

강도 높은 운동은 근육 섬유의 급격한 수축을 유발한다.

High-intensity exercise causes rapid contraction of muscle fibers.

유발하다 (to cause/trigger).

3

인구 감소로 인해 지방 도시들이 점차 수축하고 있다.

Local cities are gradually contracting due to population decline.

점차 (gradually) + 수축하고 있다.

4

혈관 수축제는 출혈을 멈추게 하는 데 효과적이다.

Vasoconstrictors are effective in stopping bleeding.

수축제 (contractant/constrictor) + -는 데 (in doing something).

5

우주는 팽창을 멈추고 언젠가 다시 수축할지도 모른다.

The universe might stop expanding and contract again someday.

-ㄹ지도 모른다 (might/may).

6

심한 스트레스는 위장의 수축을 방해하여 소화 불량을 일으킨다.

Severe stress interferes with stomach contraction, causing indigestion.

방해하여 (interfering and...) + 일으킨다 (causes).

7

이 고무 패킹은 시간이 지나면 수축하여 틈이 생길 수 있다.

This rubber packing may contract over time, creating a gap.

시간이 지나면 (as time passes) + 생길 수 있다.

8

실험 결과, 해당 물질은 영하 50도에서 2% 수축했다.

As a result of the experiment, the substance contracted by 2% at -50 degrees.

해당 (corresponding/the said) + -에서 (at).

1

통화량의 급격한 수축은 심각한 경제 공황을 초래할 수 있다.

A rapid contraction of the money supply can lead to a serious economic depression.

통화량 (money supply) + 초래하다 (to bring about/cause).

2

작가는 인간 소외의 문제를 수축된 문체로 날카롭게 묘사했다.

The author sharply depicted the problem of human alienation with a contracted literary style.

수축된 (contracted/compressed) + 문체 (literary style).

3

분자 간 인력이 강해질수록 물질은 더 쉽게 수축하는 경향이 있다.

The stronger the intermolecular force, the more easily the substance tends to contract.

-ㄹ수록 (the more... the more...) + 경향이 있다 (tend to).

4

이 수술은 레이저를 이용해 늘어진 조직을 수축시키는 방식입니다.

This surgery involves using a laser to contract sagging tissue.

수축시키는 (making something contract) + 방식 (method).

5

자궁의 수축과 이완은 분만 과정에서 가장 중요한 역할을 한다.

The contraction and relaxation of the uterus play the most important role in the labor process.

분만 (childbirth) + 역할 (role).

6

반도체 제조 공정에서 웨이퍼의 미세한 수축은 불량의 원인이 된다.

Minute contraction of the wafer in the semiconductor manufacturing process causes defects.

불량 (defect/failure) + -의 원인이 된다.

7

사회적 유대감의 수축은 현대 사회의 고독 문제를 심화시킨다.

The contraction of social bonds intensifies the problem of loneliness in modern society.

유대감 (sense of bonding) + 심화시킨다 (intensifies).

8

극저온 상태에서 초전도체의 부피 변화와 수축률을 측정했다.

The volume change and contraction rate of the superconductor were measured at cryogenic temperatures.

초전도체 (superconductor) + 측정했다 (measured).

1

거시경제적 관점에서 소비 수축은 생산 감소로 이어지는 악순환을 낳는다.

From a macroeconomic perspective, a contraction in consumption creates a vicious cycle leading to a decrease in production.

악순환 (vicious cycle) + 낳는다 (gives birth to/results in).

2

언어적 의미의 수축 현상은 특정 단어의 지칭 범위가 좁아지는 것을 뜻한다.

The phenomenon of semantic contraction refers to the narrowing of the referential range of a specific word.

지칭 범위 (range of reference) + -는 것을 뜻한다 (means that...).

3

심장 근육의 수축력 저하는 심부전의 핵심 기전 중 하나로 꼽힌다.

The decrease in the contractile force of the heart muscle is considered one of the key mechanisms of heart failure.

기전 (mechanism) + -로 꼽힌다 (is counted/considered as).

4

도시의 물리적 수축에 대응하기 위해 '스마트 축소' 전략이 논의되고 있다.

To respond to the physical contraction of cities, 'smart shrinkage' strategies are being discussed.

대응하기 위해 (in order to respond) + 논의되고 있다 (is being discussed).

5

우주의 밀도가 임계치를 넘으면 대수축(Big Crunch)이 일어날 것이라는 가설이 있다.

There is a hypothesis that a Big Crunch will occur if the density of the universe exceeds a threshold.

임계치 (threshold) + 가설 (hypothesis).

6

고분자 화합물의 중합 과정에서 발생하는 수축 응력을 계산해야 한다.

The shrinkage stress occurring during the polymerization process of high molecular compounds must be calculated.

중합 (polymerization) + 응력 (stress).

7

역사적으로 제국의 영토 수축은 내부 분열과 외부 침입의 복합적 결과였다.

Historically, the contraction of an empire's territory was the complex result of internal division and external invasion.

복합적 (complex/composite) + 결과 (result).

8

냉각 속도가 불균일할 경우 주물 내부에서 수축 공공이 형성될 위험이 크다.

If the cooling rate is non-uniform, there is a high risk of shrinkage cavities forming inside the casting.

불균일할 경우 (in case it is non-uniform) + 공공 (void/cavity).

Synonyms

축소되다 줄어들다 오그라들다

Common Collocations

근육이 수축하다
혈관이 수축하다
경제가 수축하다
부피가 수축하다
심장이 수축하다
열에 의해 수축하다
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