Explanation at your level:
When you are very tired, your eyes close. You are 졸다. It happens when you sit on a chair. You do not mean to sleep, but you do!
You use 졸다 when you are tired in class. Your head moves down and up. It is a short sleep. You are not in bed, you are sitting.
졸다 describes the involuntary act of falling asleep while sitting. It is common to say 'I dozed off' in English. Use this when you are in a meeting or on a train and feel very sleepy.
The verb 졸다 implies a lack of alertness. It is often used to describe a struggle between staying awake and falling asleep. It carries a nuance of being slightly unprofessional if done in public.
In advanced contexts, 졸다 can be used to describe a state of mental lethargy. It is not just physical sleep; it can metaphorically refer to a lack of attention. It is a precise term for involuntary, light sleep.
Etymologically, 졸다 reflects the physiological response to exhaustion. It is a core vocabulary item in Korean that captures the human condition of fatigue. It is used in literature to describe characters who are physically defeated by their own exhaustion.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Involuntary short sleep
- Commonly happens while sitting
- Different from intentional sleep
- Used in school/work contexts
졸다 is a quintessential Korean verb that captures that specific moment when you are trying to stay awake but your body decides otherwise. It is not about going to bed for the night; it is about those brief, involuntary naps that happen when you are sitting upright.
You will often see this word used in academic or professional settings. If a student is 졸다 in class, the teacher might wake them up. It implies a struggle against tiredness where the person is fighting to keep their eyes open, but eventually, the heavy eyelids win the battle.
The word 졸다 has deep roots in the Korean language, evolving from older forms that described the physical act of the head dropping forward. Historically, it has always been associated with the nodding motion of the head while sitting.
Unlike the word 자다 (to sleep), which is a general state of rest, 졸다 is strictly tied to the involuntary nature of the action. It is a purely native Korean word, reflecting the cultural observation of how people behave when they are exhausted after a long day of work or study.
You use 졸다 when you want to describe someone who is nodding off. It is very common in casual conversation, especially when talking about school or long meetings. You might hear someone say, 'I was so tired that I started 졸다 during the presentation.'
Common collocations include 수업 시간에 졸다 (dozing off during class) or 버스에서 졸다 (dozing off on the bus). It is a neutral term, but be careful using it in very formal reports; you might prefer to say 'lost focus due to fatigue' in a professional document.
1. 졸음이 쏟아지다: To be overwhelmed by sleepiness. Example: 'The sleepiness poured over me.'
2. 꾸벅꾸벅 졸다: To nod off repeatedly. Example: 'He was nodding off during the lecture.'
3. 졸음과 싸우다: To fight against sleep. Example: 'I am fighting the urge to doze.'
4. 졸음운전: Drowsy driving (a dangerous state). Example: 'Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.'
5. 잠이 덜 깨다: To not be fully awake yet. Example: 'I am still dozing because I haven't woken up fully.'
졸다 is a regular verb. In the present tense, it becomes 존다 (due to the 'ㄹ' dropping rule). The past tense is 졸았다.
Pronunciation-wise, it is pronounced with a sharp 'j' sound followed by a long 'o' vowel. Rhyming words in Korean include 놀다 (to play) and 팔다 (to sell). It is a simple two-syllable word that is easy to master for beginners.
Fun Fact
It is purely native Korean.
Pronunciation Guide
Approximation of Korean sounds.
Approximation of Korean sounds.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'j' sound
- Missing the long 'o'
- Incorrect pitch
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Simple
Simple
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
ㄹ-irregular
졸다 -> 존다
Present tense
졸아요
Past tense
졸았다
Examples by Level
나는 졸아요.
I am dozing.
Present tense.
그는 졸아요.
He is dozing.
Subject + verb.
졸지 마세요.
Do not doze.
Imperative.
나는 버스에서 졸아요.
I doze on the bus.
Location marker.
졸면 안 돼요.
You shouldn't doze.
Prohibition.
그녀가 졸았어요.
She dozed.
Past tense.
우리는 졸아요.
We are dozing.
Plural subject.
졸음이 와요.
Sleepiness is coming.
Noun phrase.
수업 시간에 졸지 마세요.
그는 회의 중에 졸았어요.
너무 피곤해서 졸아요.
지하철에서 졸았어요.
졸면 감기가 걸려요.
그녀는 매일 졸아요.
왜 자꾸 졸아요?
졸지 말고 공부하세요.
오후가 되면 항상 졸게 돼요.
졸음운전은 매우 위험합니다.
영화가 지루해서 졸았어요.
그는 꾸벅꾸벅 졸고 있었어요.
밤을 새워서 계속 졸아요.
졸다가 책상을 쳤어요.
졸지 않으려고 커피를 마셨어요.
졸음이 쏟아져서 참기 힘들었어요.
그는 중요한 발표 중에 졸고 말았다.
졸음과 싸우며 밤늦게까지 일했다.
졸다가 깜짝 놀라 깼다.
졸음이 몰려올 때는 잠시 쉬는 게 좋다.
그는 졸지 않으려고 눈을 크게 떴다.
졸음이 가시지 않아 고생했다.
지루한 강의는 학생들을 졸게 만든다.
졸다가 고개를 떨구는 모습이 보였다.
그는 졸음이 밀려오는 것을 필사적으로 억제했다.
회의 도중 졸고 있는 모습이 포착되었다.
졸음으로 인해 집중력이 완전히 흐트러졌다.
졸다가 깨기를 반복하며 밤을 보냈다.
졸음은 인간의 의지로 통제하기 어려운 생리적 현상이다.
졸음이 쏟아지는 눈꺼풀을 억지로 들어 올렸다.
그는 졸음을 쫓기 위해 찬물로 세수를 했다.
졸음이 오면 잠깐이라도 눈을 붙이는 것이 효율적이다.
졸음이라는 생리적 한계에 봉착하여 결국 고개를 떨구고 말았다.
그는 졸음을 견디지 못하고 의자에서 스르르 잠이 들었다.
졸음이 뇌를 지배하는 순간, 모든 사고는 정지했다.
졸음과 사투를 벌이는 그의 모습은 처절하기까지 했다.
졸음이 몰려올 때의 그 나른함은 거부하기 힘든 유혹이다.
졸음은 피로가 누적된 신체가 보내는 가장 확실한 신호이다.
졸음이 쏟아지는 오후의 나른함은 누구에게나 익숙하다.
졸음이 깨고 나니 어느덧 목적지에 도착해 있었다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"졸음이 눈꺼풀을 누르다"
Sleepiness is pressing down on eyelids.
졸음이 눈꺼풀을 눌러서 참기 힘들다.
literary"졸다가 고개를 떨구다"
To drop one's head while dozing.
그는 졸다가 고개를 떨구었다.
neutral"졸음과 씨름하다"
To struggle with sleepiness.
나는 지금 졸음과 씨름 중이다.
neutral"졸음이 달아나다"
Sleepiness disappears.
찬물을 마시니 졸음이 달아났다.
neutral"졸음이 쏟아지다"
To be overcome by sleep.
오후만 되면 졸음이 쏟아진다.
neutral"졸음이 뚝 떨어지다"
To suddenly lose sleepiness.
깜짝 놀라니 졸음이 뚝 떨어졌다.
casualEasily Confused
Both relate to sleep.
Intentional vs Involuntary.
자다 is for bed, 졸다 is for chairs.
Same root.
State vs Action.
졸리다 is 'to be sleepy'.
Both involve unconsciousness.
Fainting vs Dozing.
기절하다 is medical.
Both are rest.
Resting vs Dozing.
쉬다 is general rest.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 에서 + 졸다
나는 버스에서 졸았다.
Subject + 시간에 + 졸다
학생이 수업 시간에 졸았다.
Subject + 꾸벅꾸벅 + 졸다
그는 꾸벅꾸벅 졸았다.
Subject + 졸다가 + 깨다
졸다가 깜짝 깨어났다.
Subject + 졸음을 + 참다
나는 졸음을 참았다.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
자다 is intentional sleep.
You doze because you are bored.
졸리다 is an adjective/state.
ㄹ-irregular conjugation.
기절하다 is fainting.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a classroom.
When Native Speakers Use It
When someone is tired at work.
Cultural Insight
Mentioned in school contexts.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember the ㄹ-drop.
Say It Right
Focus on the long vowel.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse with 자다.
Did You Know?
It's a native word.
Study Smart
Use it in sentences.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Jol-da sounds like 'jolt' - a jolt of energy when you wake up from a doze.
Visual Association
A student in a classroom with a drooping head.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to say 'I dozed off' in Korean today.
Word Origin
Korean
Original meaning: To nod off
Cultural Context
None.
Equivalent to 'doze off' or 'nod off'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At school
- 수업 시간에 졸다
- 졸지 마세요
- 선생님께 혼나다
On transport
- 버스에서 졸다
- 지하철에서 졸다
- 정거장을 지나치다
At work
- 회의 중에 졸다
- 졸음이 쏟아지다
- 커피를 마시다
Studying at night
- 밤을 새우다
- 졸음을 쫓다
- 졸다
Conversation Starters
"Do you often doze off in class?"
"What do you do to fight sleepiness?"
"Have you ever missed your bus stop because you were dozing?"
"Is it common to doze at your work?"
"What is the funniest place you have dozed off?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you couldn't stay awake.
Why do you think people doze off?
Write about a funny dozing incident.
How do you stay alert during long meetings?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, 자다 is intentional sleep, 졸다 is involuntary.
No, it is for short periods.
It can be, depending on the context.
졸았다.
졸려요.
No, fainting is 기절하다.
Yes, animals can doze too.
It is a standard verb.
Test Yourself
수업 시간에 ___.
졸아요 is the correct verb for dozing.
Which means to doze off?
졸다 is the correct term.
졸다 means to sleep for 8 hours.
졸다 is for short, involuntary sleep.
Word
Meaning
Noun vs Verb.
Subject + Location + Verb.
Score: /5
Summary
졸다 is the act of nodding off involuntarily when you are tired.
- Involuntary short sleep
- Commonly happens while sitting
- Different from intentional sleep
- Used in school/work contexts
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a classroom.
When Native Speakers Use It
When someone is tired at work.
Cultural Insight
Mentioned in school contexts.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember the ㄹ-drop.
Example
수업 중에 졸아서 선생님께 혼났어요.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More daily_life words
사고
A2An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally.
주소
A1Address, the details of where a building is located.
오전
A1Morning, A.M.
약속
A1Appointment; Promise
사월
A1April; the fourth month of the year.
밤에
A2during the night; at night
다니다
A1To attend; to commute to.
팔월
A1August; the eighth month of the year.
나쁘게
A2Badly; in an unsatisfactory or improper way.
가방
A1Bag
