Explanation at your level:
You use 마르다 when you see a thin person. You also use it when your clothes are dry after washing. It is a very useful word for your daily life in Korea.
At this level, you can use 마르다 to describe the weather or your body. For example, 'The ground is dry' (땅이 말랐다) or 'She is very thin' (그녀는 말랐다).
Intermediate learners should notice how 마르다 changes form. Remember the '르' irregularity: 말라요. It is also used in common phrases like '입이 마르도록 칭찬하다' (to praise someone until one's mouth is dry).
At the upper-intermediate level, you can use 마르다 in more figurative contexts. It describes emotional states like anxiety ('애가 마르다'). It is a great way to add nuance to your descriptions of people and nature.
Advanced learners use 마르다 to understand the connection between physical states and abstract concepts. It appears in literary descriptions of landscapes and psychological states. Mastery involves knowing exactly when to use it versus synonyms like 건조하다.
At the mastery level, you appreciate the etymological depth of 마르다. It connects to the core of Korean environmental consciousness. You can use it in formal writing to describe economic 'drying up' or the metaphorical 'withering' of hopes and dreams.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means thin or dry.
- Follows '르' irregular conjugation.
- Used for people, nature, and objects.
- Very common in daily Korean.
Welcome to the world of 마르다! This is one of those fantastic Korean words that does double duty. You can use it to describe a person who is thin or slender, but you can also use it to describe something that is dry.
Think of it this way: if a plant hasn't had water, it becomes 마르다. If you haven't eaten much and look very slim, you are also 마르다. It’s all about the absence of something—either water or body fat!
The word 마르다 has deep roots in the Korean language, tracing back to Middle Korean. It has historically been used to describe the drying process of nature, such as rivers or fields during a drought.
Over centuries, the semantic field expanded to include human physical appearance. It’s fascinating how language links the concept of 'losing water' to 'losing weight,' reflecting a very natural observation of how living things change when they are deprived of essential resources.
In daily life, you will hear 마르다 constantly. When talking about people, it’s a neutral way to say someone is thin. If you want to be polite, you might say someone is 'slender' (날씬하다), but 마르다 is the direct, descriptive term.
For objects, it is essential for laundry! If your clothes are still wet, they are not 마른 yet. You will often hear people say '빨래가 마르다' (the laundry is drying). It is a very high-frequency word in both casual and formal settings.
1. 입이 마르다: Literally 'mouth is dry,' meaning to talk excessively about something. 2. 애가 마르다: To be extremely anxious or worried. 3. 마른하늘에 날벼락: A bolt from the blue (a sudden, unexpected disaster). 4. 가뭄에 콩 나듯: Rarely (like a bean growing in a dry field). 5. 마른 장작: Dry firewood, often used to describe someone who is very thin.
As an adjective, 마르다 follows the standard conjugation rules for irregular verbs ending in '르'. When you add a vowel-starting suffix, the '르' changes to 'ㄹ라' or 'ㄹ러'.
For example, the present tense is 말라요, not 마르아요. This '르' irregularity is a classic hurdle for Korean learners, so practice your conjugations! The pronunciation is straightforward: ma-reu-da, with a light stress on the first syllable.
Fun Fact
It is one of the few words that perfectly bridges the gap between biological states and physical environments.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'ma' sound, 'reu' is short, 'da' is crisp.
Similar to UK, focus on the 'r' sound being a flap.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'reu' as 'roo'
- Dropping the 'da'
- Not flapping the 'r'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Moderate
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
르 irregular conjugation
마르다 -> 말라요
Subject markers
이/가
Causative verbs
말리다
Examples by Level
그는 말랐어요.
He is thin.
Basic adjective usage.
옷이 말랐어요.
The clothes are dry.
Past tense.
강물이 말랐어요.
The river dried up.
Subject marker usage.
손이 말랐어요.
My hands are dry.
Body part description.
땅이 말랐어요.
The ground is dry.
Nature description.
꽃이 말랐어요.
The flower withered.
State change.
그녀는 말랐네요.
She is thin, I see.
Exclamatory ending.
빨래가 말랐어요.
The laundry is dry.
Common household phrase.
그는 너무 말라서 걱정돼요.
여름이라 강물이 말랐어요.
피부가 말라서 로션을 발랐어요.
마른 나뭇가지를 주웠어요.
그녀는 아주 마른 체형이에요.
비가 안 와서 땅이 말랐어요.
빨래가 아직 안 말랐어요.
입술이 말라서 물을 마셨어요.
그는 입이 마르도록 칭찬했어요.
가뭄으로 논이 다 말랐어요.
너무 긴장해서 애가 말랐어요.
그는 마른 기침을 계속했어요.
마른하늘에 날벼락 같은 소식이에요.
마른 장작처럼 깡마른 사람이에요.
목이 말라서 죽을 것 같아요.
꽃이 말라 죽기 전에 물을 줬어요.
그의 열정은 마르지 않는 샘 같아요.
재정이 말라서 프로젝트가 중단됐어요.
그녀는 마른 몸매를 유지하려고 노력해요.
마른 세수를 하며 잠을 깼어요.
오랜 가뭄에 대지가 말라 갈라졌어요.
그의 눈물은 이미 말랐어요.
마른 잎들이 바람에 날려요.
그는 마른 뼈만 남은 것 같아요.
그의 창의력은 결코 마르지 않습니다.
투자 자금이 말라가는 상황입니다.
그녀의 얼굴에는 마른 웃음만 남았습니다.
그는 마른 수건을 쥐어짜듯 노력했어요.
마른 벼가 고개를 숙이고 있습니다.
시장의 유동성이 말라가고 있습니다.
그는 마른 덤불 속에서 길을 찾았어요.
마른 잉크가 종이 위에 번졌습니다.
그의 문학적 영감은 마르지 않는 원천입니다.
사회적 자본이 말라가는 현상을 분석해야 합니다.
그녀는 마른 장미처럼 시들어 갔습니다.
마른 대지 위로 단비가 내렸습니다.
그의 목소리는 마른 잎이 부딪히는 소리 같았어요.
정치적 담론이 마른 논쟁으로 변질되었습니다.
마른 뼈에 생기가 도는 기적을 보았습니다.
그의 열정은 마른 들판의 불길처럼 번졌습니다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"입이 마르다"
To praise or talk about something repeatedly.
그는 입이 마르도록 자랑했다.
neutral"애가 마르다"
To be very anxious.
시험 결과 때문에 애가 탄다.
neutral"마른하늘에 날벼락"
A bolt from the blue.
갑작스러운 해고는 마른하늘에 날벼락이었다.
neutral"가뭄에 콩 나듯"
Very rarely.
그는 가뭄에 콩 나듯 연락한다.
neutral"마른 수건을 쥐어짜다"
To make an extreme effort.
우리는 마른 수건을 쥐어짜듯 비용을 절감했다.
formal"마른 뼈에 살이 붙다"
To recover strength.
그는 고생 끝에 마른 뼈에 살이 붙었다.
literaryEasily Confused
Both mean thin.
여위다 is only for living things.
그는 여위었다 vs 옷이 말랐다.
Both mean dry.
건조하다 is formal/technical.
공기가 건조하다.
Both mean drying.
시들다 is for plants.
꽃이 시들었다.
Looks similar.
말리다 is the causative verb.
빨래를 말리다.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 이/가 + 마르다
강물이 말랐다.
Subject + 이/가 + 입이 마르다
그는 입이 마르다.
Subject + 가 + 너무 + 마르다
그녀가 너무 말랐다.
Subject + 가 + 애가 마르다
엄마가 애가 탄다.
Object + 를 + 말리다
빨래를 말려요.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
The '르' irregular conjugation requires adding 'ㄹ라'.
Adjectives don't use the 'ㄴ다' ending in present tense.
Use subject marker '이' for states.
건조하다 is for things/climate, not people.
여위다 is only for living beings.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a dry desert.
Native usage
Use it for laundry daily.
Cultural insight
Thinness is often a beauty standard.
Grammar shortcut
Remember the '르' change.
Say it right
Focus on the 'r' sound.
Don't make this mistake
Don't use '건조하다' for people.
Did you know?
It relates to droughts.
Study smart
Use flashcards for conjugations.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'Ma' (mom) hanging clothes that are 'dry' (마르다).
Visual Association
A thin person standing next to a dry tree.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe 3 things in your room using '마르다'.
Word Origin
Native Korean
Original meaning: To lose moisture
Cultural Context
Calling someone '마르다' can be a compliment or a concern, depending on tone.
Direct translation is 'thin' or 'dry'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Laundry
- 빨래가 다 말랐어요
- 햇볕에 말리다
- 건조기 사용
Health
- 너무 말랐어요
- 건강하게 살찌우기
- 마른 체형
Nature
- 강물이 말랐다
- 땅이 갈라지다
- 가뭄 피해
Conversation
- 입이 마르도록 칭찬하다
- 목이 말라요
- 애가 타요
Conversation Starters
"Do you prefer being thin or healthy?"
"How do you dry your clothes?"
"Have you ever been very thirsty?"
"What do you do when you are anxious?"
"Do you like dry weather?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you were very thirsty.
Write about someone you know who is thin.
How do you feel about the weather?
Describe a drought you have seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is for objects too.
Use the '르' irregular rule.
It depends on the context.
말리다.
Yes, for dry weather.
No, it means thin.
It is an adjective.
Yes, like 건조하다.
Test Yourself
빨래가 ___.
The laundry is dry.
Which means thin?
마르다 means thin.
마르다 can describe a river.
Yes, rivers can dry up.
Word
Meaning
Context matters.
He is too thin.
Score: /5
Summary
마르다 is a versatile word for describing thinness in people and dryness in objects or nature.
- Means thin or dry.
- Follows '르' irregular conjugation.
- Used for people, nature, and objects.
- Very common in daily Korean.
Memory Palace
Visualize a dry desert.
Native usage
Use it for laundry daily.
Cultural insight
Thinness is often a beauty standard.
Grammar shortcut
Remember the '르' change.
Example
빨래가 다 말랐어요.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
More general words
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
정도
A2An approximate amount or degree.
위에
A1on top of
절대적
B2Being unconditional, unlimited, or not relative to anything else. It describes something that is certain, total, or supreme without comparison.
절대로
A2Never, absolutely not.
우연적이다
B2To be accidental or coincidental; happening by chance.
우연히
B1By chance, accidentally, or unexpectedly. Often used in TOEFL listening narratives or history passages about accidental discoveries.
데리다
A1To take (a person); to pick up.
따라
A2Along, according to.
