Explanation at your level:
You use 털다 when you want to clean dust. If your clothes are dirty, you shake them. It is a simple action verb for cleaning.
Use 털다 to describe removing dirt from objects. For example, you 'shake off' your shoes after walking in the sand. It is a very useful word for daily chores.
In intermediate Korean, you will see 털다 used for emptying containers or pockets. It implies a thorough removal of contents, sometimes used to describe spending all your money.
At this level, you can use 털다 figuratively. You can 'shake off' bad memories or 'empty' your mind. It adds nuance to how you describe emotional states or financial situations.
Advanced users utilize 털다 in complex idiomatic structures. It can describe the total depletion of resources or the act of revealing hidden truths. It is a versatile verb in literary contexts.
Mastery of 털다 involves understanding its role in slang and professional contexts. It can imply a 'clean sweep' or a 'total loss.' Its usage reflects a deep understanding of Korean action-oriented vocabulary.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Used for shaking off dust
- Can mean to empty pockets
- Used figuratively to mean confessing
- Commonly used in daily life
When you hear 털다, think of the action of removing something unwanted by shaking. It is a very common daily verb in Korean.
You use it when you shake off dust from your coat or when you empty your pockets. It is a physical, active word that implies a quick, vigorous movement.
The word 털다 has deep roots in the Korean language, evolving from ancient terms describing the act of shaking or vibrating objects.
Historically, it was tied to the maintenance of household goods like straw mats or traditional bedding. It reflects a culture that valued cleanliness and the manual upkeep of everyday tools.
You will hear 털다 in many contexts. Use it with '먼지' (dust) to say you are dusting, or '주머니' (pocket) to say you are emptying your pockets.
It is generally neutral in tone, though it can sound slightly aggressive if used in the context of 'robbing' someone (털리다/털다).
1. 탈탈 털다: To empty completely. Example: 'I emptied my bank account for this.'
2. 먼지를 털다: To brush off dust. Example: 'Brush the dust off your shoulders.'
3. 털고 일어나다: To shake off a failure and move on. Example: 'He shook off his sadness and stood up.'
4. 속을 털다: To open up one's heart. Example: 'We sat down to talk and he opened his heart.'
5. 싹 다 털다: To clean out everything. Example: 'The thieves cleaned out the store.'
As a verb, 털다 follows standard conjugation rules. In the past tense, it becomes 털었다. In the polite form, it is 텁니다 or 털어요.
Pronunciation is straightforward: 'teol' (like 'tell' but with an 'o' sound) + 'da'. There are no complex irregular patterns to worry about here.
Fun Fact
The word is onomatopoeic in nature, mimicking the sound of shaking.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'tull-dah'
Similar to British pronunciation
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'tall-da'
- Ignoring the 'l' sound
- Adding extra syllables
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Verb conjugation
털다 -> 털어요
Object marker
먼지를 털다
Past tense
털었다
Examples by Level
먼지를 털어요.
Dust + shake off
Object + verb
옷을 털어요.
Clothes + shake off
Simple verb
털어 주세요.
Please shake off
Polite request
신발을 털어요.
Shoes + shake off
Action verb
털고 가세요.
Shake off and go
Sequential action
다 털었어요.
All shaken off
Past tense
먼지 좀 털어.
Shake off some dust
Casual imperative
털지 마세요.
Do not shake off
Negative command
먼지를 털어내다
주머니를 털다
털고 일어났다
다 털어버리자
옷을 털고 입었다
먼지를 털어주었다
탈탈 털어보자
털어낼 것이 많다
지갑을 털어 샀다
과거를 털어버리다
속마음을 털어놓다
먼지를 털어내니 깨끗하다
다 털어먹었다
털고 다시 시작해
털어낼 수 없는 기억
털어내기 힘든 고민
모든 것을 털어놓고 말하다
털어버릴 수 있는 용기
통장을 털어 여행을 갔다
먼지 하나 없이 털다
털어낼수록 더 나온다
마음을 털어내는 시간
털어버리고 싶은 과거
탈탈 털리는 기분
감정을 털어내는 작업
모든 재산을 털어 투자하다
털어놓을 수 없는 비밀
먼지를 털듯 가볍게 넘기다
털어버릴 것은 털어버리자
털어내기 어려운 고통
다 털어내고 빈손으로
털어낼수록 깊어지는 진실
영혼까지 털어버리는 경험
털어놓지 못한 내면의 고백
모든 것을 털어내고 귀향하다
먼지를 털어내는 행위의 철학
털어버릴 수 없는 운명
재산과 마음을 모두 털다
털어내기 위한 몸부림
털어놓음으로써 얻는 평온
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"탈탈 털다"
To empty completely
그는 전 재산을 탈탈 털었다.
casual"털고 일어나다"
To recover from failure
좌절하지 말고 털고 일어나라.
neutral"속을 털다"
To confide
아무에게도 속을 털지 않았다.
neutral"먼지를 털다"
To clean/start fresh
과거의 먼지를 털어버려.
neutral"싹 다 털다"
To take everything
도둑이 가게를 싹 다 털었다.
slang"털어놓다"
To confess
모든 사실을 털어놓았다.
neutralEasily Confused
similar sound
떨다 is to shiver/shake, 털다 is to remove dust
몸을 떨다 vs 먼지를 털다
both for cleaning
닦다 is to wipe, 털다 is to shake
책상을 닦다 vs 옷을 털다
both for cleaning
씻다 is to wash, 털다 is to shake
손을 씻다 vs 먼지를 털다
both mean empty
비우다 is to empty a space, 털다 is to shake contents out
방을 비우다 vs 주머니를 털다
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Object + 털다
나는 먼지를 털었다.
Subject + Object + 털어내다
그는 슬픔을 털어냈다.
Subject + Object + 털어놓다
그녀는 비밀을 털어놓았다.
Subject + Object + 털어버리다
나는 과거를 털어버렸다.
Subject + Object + 탈탈 털다
그는 지갑을 탈탈 털었다.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
털다 is for shaking, 씻다 is for washing with water.
털다 is for removing dust, 떨다 is for shaking/shivering.
털다 is for loose particles, 지우다 is for stains.
비우다 is for emptying a space, 털다 is for objects.
Ensure correct past tense form.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
See a dusty room and shake it.
When Native Speakers Use It
When cleaning clothes.
Cultural Insight
Used in cleaning traditions.
Grammar Shortcut
Just add -아/어/여 to stems.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'eo' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use for washing.
Did You Know?
It sounds like shaking.
Study Smart
Use with common objects.
Context Matters
Check if it's physical or mental.
Practice
Repeat 10 times.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'TALL' man 'shaking' his coat.
Visual Association
A person shaking a dusty rug.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to say '먼지를 털다' every time you clean.
Word Origin
Korean
Original meaning: To shake or vibrate
Cultural Context
Can imply robbery in slang, so use with context.
Equivalent to 'shake off', 'brush off', or 'empty out'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At home
- 먼지를 털어요
- 이불을 털어요
- 청소해요
At the store
- 지갑을 털었어요
- 다 털어버렸어요
In conversation
- 속을 털어놓아요
- 털고 시작해요
During travel
- 신발을 털어요
- 옷을 털어요
Conversation Starters
"오늘 먼지를 털어본 적 있나요?"
"어떤 고민을 털어놓고 싶나요?"
"과거를 털어버리는 게 쉬울까요?"
"지갑을 탈탈 털어본 적 있나요?"
"이불을 마지막으로 털어본 게 언제인가요?"
Journal Prompts
오늘 털어버리고 싶은 기억에 대해 쓰세요.
누군가에게 속마음을 털어놓은 경험을 쓰세요.
먼지를 털며 느꼈던 기분을 적어보세요.
지갑을 탈탈 털어 무엇을 샀는지 쓰세요.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsIt is neutral.
Yes, to shake off water drops.
No, they have different meanings.
털기.
Yes, in slang.
털어냈어요.
No, it is regular.
When confessing secrets.
Test Yourself
옷에 있는 ___을 털어요.
You shake off dust.
Which means to empty pockets?
털다 means to empty.
털다 can mean to confess a secret.
Yes, '속을 털다' means to confess.
Word
Meaning
Common objects for 털다.
Subject-Object-Verb order.
What is the past tense of 털다?
Past tense is -었다.
You use 털다 to wash dishes.
You use 씻다 for washing.
실패를 ___ 일어났다.
털고 일어나다 is the idiom.
What does '탈탈 털다' mean?
It emphasizes total emptying.
털다 is only used for physical objects.
It has many figurative uses.
Score: /10
Summary
털다 is a versatile verb meaning to shake off dust or empty contents, both physically and metaphorically.
- Used for shaking off dust
- Can mean to empty pockets
- Used figuratively to mean confessing
- Commonly used in daily life
Memory Palace Trick
See a dusty room and shake it.
When Native Speakers Use It
When cleaning clothes.
Cultural Insight
Used in cleaning traditions.
Grammar Shortcut
Just add -아/어/여 to stems.
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Related Phrases
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집에서
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베란다
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