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Vocabulary
좁아지다

A2 verb #4,000 most common 8 min read

좁아지다

jobajida Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 좁아지다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 좁아지다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn how things change. '좁아지다' might be a bit advanced, but you can understand it as 'getting narrow.' Think of a wide road becoming a small path. You use it with simple subjects like 'road' (길) or 'room' (방). The most important thing to remember is the combination of '좁다' (narrow) and '-아지다' (to become). At this stage, just focus on physical objects that you can see getting narrower. For example, 'The road is narrow' is '길이 좁아요,' but 'The road is getting narrow' is '길이 좁아져요.' This helps you describe the world around you more dynamically than just using static adjectives. You will mostly use the present tense or simple past tense. Don't worry about metaphorical meanings yet; just focus on the physical width of things you encounter every day.

At the A2 level, you can start using '좁아지다' to describe more than just roads. You can talk about your room feeling narrow because you bought too much furniture, or an alleyway in a traditional Korean village. This is also the stage where you start learning the metaphorical use of 'options narrowing.' For example, if you are choosing a restaurant and many are closed, your 'choices' (선택) are 'narrowing' (좁아져요). You should practice the past tense '좁아졌어요' to describe changes that have already happened. You can also start using adverbs like '점점' (gradually) or '갑자기' (suddenly) to make your sentences more interesting. For instance, 'The road suddenly became narrow' (길이 갑자기 좁아졌어요). This level is about expanding from simple physical descriptions to basic logical consequences of those changes.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using '좁아지다' in more complex sentence structures. You can use it with connecting particles like '-어서' (because) or '-는데' (but/and). For example, 'The road became narrow, so it was dangerous' (길이 좁아져서 위험했어요). You will also encounter this word in more abstract contexts, such as 'human relationships' (인간관계). A common sentiment for people in their 20s and 30s is that their circle of friends is narrowing as they get busier with work. You can also use it to discuss the 'gap' (격차) between things, like the score in a game or the difference between two opinions. At this stage, you should recognize that '좁아지다' is an intransitive verb and avoid using it with object markers. You are moving towards using the word to express opinions and describe social situations, not just physical environments.

At the B2 level, '좁아지다' becomes a tool for discussing social, economic, and political issues. You will hear it on the news and read it in newspapers. Common phrases include 'the job market is narrowing' (취업 문이 좁아지다) or 'the gap between the rich and the poor is narrowing' (빈부 격차가 좁아지다). You should be able to use it in formal settings using the '-습니다' ending. You can also use it to describe a person's mindset, like 'his perspective is narrowing' (그의 시야가 좁아지고 있다). This level requires you to understand the nuance of the word in professional contexts. For example, in a business meeting, you might say the 'market share' of a competitor is narrowing. You should also be able to distinguish '좁아지다' from more formal synonyms like '축소되다' and know when each is appropriate. You are now using the word to analyze and describe trends.

At the C1 level, you use '좁아지다' with high precision and stylistic variety. you can use it in academic writing or professional reports to describe subtle shifts in data or theoretical frameworks. For example, 'the scope of the research is narrowing' (연구의 범위가 좁아지고 있다). You understand the poetic and literary uses of the word, where a 'narrowing' path might symbolize a character's declining fortunes or a tightening of their moral choices. You can use complex grammatical structures like '-음/기에 따라 좁아지다' (as something happens, it narrows). You are also aware of the social connotations of the word, such as how urban planning affects the 'narrowing' of public spaces. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker's, as you pick up on the subtle emotional cues the word carries in different registers.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of '좁아지다' and all its nuances. You can use it in high-level debates, legal contexts, or sophisticated literature. You might discuss the 'narrowing' of legal interpretations or the 'narrowing' of genetic diversity in a biological study. You can effortlessly switch between the literal, metaphorical, and technical meanings of the word. You also understand how the word interacts with other high-level vocabulary and can use it to create complex, nuanced arguments. For instance, you might analyze how the 'narrowing' of cultural discourse in the digital age impacts social cohesion. Your understanding includes the historical evolution of the word and its roots. At this level, the word is not just a vocabulary item but a precise instrument for expressing complex thoughts about the world's changing dimensions.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

좁아지다 in 30 Seconds

Means 'to become narrow'.
Formed from 좁다 (narrow) + -아지다 (become).
Used for physical spaces like roads and rooms.
Used metaphorically for options, gaps, and relationships.

The Korean verb 좁아지다 (jobajida) is a fascinating compound word that describes the process of narrowing or becoming smaller in width. To understand this word, we must first look at its root: the adjective 좁다 (jopda), which means 'to be narrow.' In Korean grammar, the auxiliary verb structure -아/어지다 (-a/eojida) is added to adjectives to indicate a change in state, effectively turning 'narrow' into 'to become narrow.' This word is essential for A2 learners because it moves beyond static descriptions and allows you to describe dynamic changes in your environment, your social life, or even your thoughts.

Physical Narrowing: The most literal use of 좁아지다 is when describing physical spaces. Imagine driving down a road that starts wide but gradually turns into a small alleyway. You would say the road is 'narrowing.' This applies to paths, rooms, corridors, and even clothing that has shrunk in the wash. It is used to describe anything where the distance between two sides is decreasing.

골목길이 갑자기 좁아져서 운전하기 힘들어요. (The alley suddenly became narrow, so it is hard to drive.)

Abstract and Metaphorical Use: Beyond the physical, 좁아지다 is frequently used in metaphorical contexts. It can describe a narrowing of options (선택의 폭이 좁아지다), a narrowing of one's perspective or mind (마음이 좁아지다), or even the job market becoming more competitive (취업 문이 좁아지다). In these cases, it conveys a sense of restriction or increased difficulty due to limited 'space' or opportunity.

In daily life, you might hear this word when discussing urban development, where sidewalks are narrowed to make room for cars, or in academic settings when discussing a research focus that is becoming more specialized. It is a versatile word that bridges the gap between simple observation and complex analysis. For instance, in a weather report, a meteorologist might say the gap between high and low temperatures is narrowing. In a sports commentary, the lead between two teams might be described as narrowing. The breadth of usage makes it a high-frequency verb in both spoken and written Korean. Understanding its formation helps you recognize other 'change-of-state' verbs like 넓어지다 (to become wide) or 좋아지다 (to become good). This structural pattern is a cornerstone of intermediate Korean proficiency, allowing for more expressive and nuanced communication.

Using 좁아지다 correctly requires an understanding of its conjugation and the typical particles that accompany it. Since it is an intransitive verb (a verb that doesn't take a direct object in the same way 'to narrow something' would), the subject—the thing that is becoming narrow—is usually marked with the subject particles -이/가.

Basic Conjugation: In the present tense, it becomes 좁아져요 (polite) or 좁아진다 (plain). In the past tense, it is 좁아졌어요. For future intentions or observations, you might use 좁아질 거예요. Note that because it describes a process of change, it is often used in the past tense to describe a completed state of narrowing, or in the progressive form (좁아지고 있다) to describe a change happening right now.

길이 점점 좁아지고 있어요. (The road is gradually becoming narrower.)

One of the most common sentence patterns involves the word 폭 (pok), which means 'width' or 'range.' Phrases like 선택의 폭이 좁아지다 (the range of choices is narrowing) are staples of adult conversation. Another common pattern involves the word 입지 (ipji), referring to one's position or standing. If someone says 그의 입지가 좁아졌다, they mean that person's influence or standing in a group has diminished or become precarious.

When describing social relationships, you might say 인간관계가 좁아지다 to express that your circle of friends is shrinking. This is often used by people who have recently started working or moved to a new city and feel they are losing touch with others. In a more technical sense, you might see it in news reports regarding the economy: 빈부 격차가 좁아지다 (the gap between rich and poor is narrowing). Here, it carries a positive connotation of equality. Conversely, 취업의 문이 좁아지다 (the door to employment is narrowing) is a common way to describe a tough job market. By mastering these patterns, you can transition from simple physical descriptions to discussing complex social and economic phenomena.

You will encounter 좁아지다 in a variety of real-world settings, from the mundane to the highly formal. In daily conversation, it's often heard when navigating Korea's many narrow alleyways (골목길). A driver might warn a passenger, '여기부터 길이 좁아져요' (The road gets narrow from here). It's also common in domestic settings, perhaps when a child is outgrowing their clothes or when a room is becoming cluttered with too much furniture.

In the News and Media: News anchors frequently use this word when discussing statistics. You'll hear it in reports about the 'narrowing gap' between political candidates in an election, or the 'narrowing trade surplus.' In these contexts, it sounds professional and precise. It is also a favorite in lifestyle documentaries discussing the 'shrinking' living spaces in modern cities like Seoul.

두 후보 사이의 지지율 격차가 좁아지고 있습니다. (The gap in approval ratings between the two candidates is narrowing.)

In literature and K-dramas, the word often takes on an emotional weight. A character might lament that their 'heart is narrowing' (마음이 좁아지다), meaning they are becoming less tolerant or more selfish due to hardship. Or, a protagonist might feel their 'standing' in a company is narrowing as a rival gains power. This metaphorical usage is key to understanding the subtext of many dramatic scenes. You might also find it in health-related contexts, such as a doctor explaining that a patient's blood vessels are narrowing (혈관이 좁아지다), which is a serious medical condition. From the doctor's office to the evening news, 좁아지다 is a word that helps Koreans describe the changing dimensions of their world.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with 좁아지다 is confusing it with its transitive counterpart, 좁히다 (jophida). While both relate to narrowing, 좁아지다 is used when something narrows by itself or the focus is on the state of change, whereas 좁히다 is used when an agent actively narrows something.

Mistake: Using Object Particles: Incorrect: 길을 좁아졌어요 (Gil-eul jobajyeosseoyo).
Correct: 길이 좁아졌어요 (Gil-i jobajyeosseoyo).
Since 좁아지다 is an intransitive verb describing a change that the subject undergoes, you must use the subject particle -이/가. Using the object particle -을/를 implies that someone is 'narrowing the road,' which requires the verb 좁히다.

간격을 좁히세요 (Narrow the gap) vs 간격이 좁아졌어요 (The gap became narrow).

Another common error is using 작아지다 (to become small) when 좁아지다 is more appropriate. While a room can become 'smaller' (작아지다) if you add furniture, if you are specifically talking about the width or the space to walk, 좁아지다 is more precise. Similarly, for abstract concepts like a 'range' or 'gap,' 좁아지다 is almost always the correct choice. English speakers often default to 'small' because it's a more general term, but in Korean, being specific about the dimension of change (width vs. overall size) is important for natural-sounding speech.

Lastly, learners sometimes forget to conjugate the '-아지다' part correctly in different politeness levels. Remember that '-지다' follows the regular verb conjugation rules. So, '좁아져요' is the standard polite form, and '좁아집니다' is the formal form. Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Korean sound much more authentic and clear.

To truly master 좁아지다, it's helpful to compare it with related words that describe similar concepts of reduction or narrowing. Each has its own specific context and nuance.

좁아지다 vs. 줄어들다: While 좁아지다 specifically refers to width or range, 줄어들다 (jureodeulda) is a more general term meaning 'to decrease' or 'to shrink.' You would use 줄어들다 for the amount of water in a glass, the number of students in a class, or the size of a sweater. You use 좁아지다 when the focus is on the narrowing of a path or a gap.
좁아지다 vs. 축소되다: 축소되다 (chuk sodoeda) is a formal, Sino-Korean word meaning 'to be reduced' or 'to be downsized.' It is often used in business or government contexts, such as 'the budget was reduced' (예산이 축소되었다) or 'the project was downsized.' 좁아지다 is more common in everyday physical descriptions or common metaphors.

시장이 좁아지다 (The market is narrowing/becoming specialized) vs 시장이 축소되다 (The market is shrinking in total size).

Another interesting comparison is with 가늘어지다 (ganeureojida), which means 'to become thin.' This is used for objects like threads, legs, or lines. If a road becomes 'thin' in terms of its physical line on a map, you might use this, but 좁아지다 is the standard for the actual space available. Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the most precise word for the situation. For example, if you want to say your social circle is getting smaller, both 인간관계가 좁아지다 and 인간관계가 줄어들다 are possible, but 좁아지다 sounds more natural as it implies a narrowing of the 'scope' of your social life. By learning these synonyms and their specific domains, you expand your expressive range and avoid repetitive language.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The '-아지다' suffix is one of the most productive ways in Korean to turn a descriptive adjective into a process verb. It literally means 'to reach a state of...'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK t͡ɕo.ba.d͡ʑi.da

US t͡ʃoʊ.bɑ.dʒi.dɑ

The primary stress is on the first syllable '좁' (jop).

Rhymes With

좋아지다 (joajida - to become good) 낮아지다 (najajida - to become low) 잦아지다 (jajajida - to become frequent) 작아지다 (jagajida - to become small) 멀어지다 (meoreojida - to become distant) 밝아지다 (balgajida - to become bright) 젊어지다 (jeolmeojida - to become young) 길어지다 (gireojida - to become long)

Common Errors

Pronouncing '좁' as '조' (jo) without the 'p' sound before the next syllable starts.
Over-emphasizing the 'j' in 'ji' making it sound like 'chi'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in text due to the common root '좁'.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct conjugation of -아지다 and proper particle usage.

Speaking 3/5

Pronouncing the 'p' batchim correctly before 'a' can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation makes it easy to hear in natural speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

좁다 (narrow) 넓다 (wide) 길 (road) 방 (room)

Learn Next

좁히다 (to narrow - transitive) 넓어지다 (to become wide) 줄어들다 (to decrease) 늘어나다 (to increase)

Advanced

축소되다 (to be reduced) 위축되다 (to be shrunken/intimidated) 수축하다 (to contract)

Grammar to Know

-아/어지다 (Become)

예뻐지다 (become pretty), 좋아지다 (become good)

-이/가 (Subject particle)

길이 좁아지다 (The road narrows)

-고 있다 (Progressive)

좁아지고 있다 (Is narrowing)

-(으)ㄹ수록 (The more... the more...)

좁아질수록 (The narrower it gets...)

-아서/어서 (Cause/Effect)

좁아져서 (Because it narrowed...)

Examples by Level

길이 좁아져요.

The road is getting narrow.

Present tense of 좁아지다.

방이 좁아졌어요.

The room became narrow.

Past tense of 좁아지다.

입구가 좁아져요.

The entrance is getting narrow.

Subject is 'entrance' (입구).

통로가 좁아졌어요.

The passage became narrow.

Subject is 'passage' (통로).

길이 점점 좁아져요.

The road is gradually getting narrow.

'점점' means gradually.

계단이 좁아져요.

The stairs are getting narrow.

Subject is 'stairs' (계단).

문이 좁아졌어요.

The door became narrow.

Past tense usage.

길이 너무 좁아져요.

The road is getting too narrow.

'너무' means too much.

골목길이 갑자기 좁아졌어요.

The alley suddenly became narrow.

'갑자기' means suddenly.

선택의 폭이 좁아졌어요.

The range of choices narrowed.

Metaphorical use with '폭' (range).

옷이 작아져서 소매가 좁아졌어요.

The clothes became small, so the sleeves became narrow.

Using -아서 for cause and effect.

가구 때문에 방이 좁아졌어요.

The room became narrow because of the furniture.

'때문에' indicates cause.

강 폭이 좁아지고 있어요.

The width of the river is narrowing.

Progressive form -고 있다.

주차 공간이 좁아졌어요.

The parking space became narrow.

Subject is 'parking space'.

신발이 좁아져서 발이 아파요.

The shoes became narrow, so my feet hurt.

Describing physical discomfort.

길이 좁아지니까 조심하세요.

The road is getting narrow, so be careful.

Using -(으)니까 for reason.

나이가 들수록 인간관계가 좁아져요.

As I get older, my social circle narrows.

Metaphorical use for social life.

점수가 좁아져서 긴장돼요.

The score gap is narrowing, so I'm nervous.

'점수' here implies the gap in score.

취업의 문이 점점 좁아지고 있습니다.

The door to employment is gradually narrowing.

Common metaphorical phrase for job markets.

두 사람의 의견 차이가 좁아졌어요.

The difference in opinion between the two narrowed.

'의견 차이' means difference in opinion.

길이 좁아지는 구간이 나옵니다.

A section where the road narrows is coming up.

'구간' means section or zone.

인터넷 때문에 세상이 좁아진 것 같아요.

It feels like the world has narrowed (become smaller) because of the internet.

Metaphorical use for global connectivity.

예산이 줄어서 활동 범위가 좁아졌어요.

The budget decreased, so the scope of activities narrowed.

'활동 범위' means scope of activities.

생각이 좁아지지 않도록 노력해야 해요.

I must try not to let my thinking become narrow.

Negative form -지 않도록.

빈부 격차가 좁아지길 바랍니다.

I hope the gap between the rich and the poor narrows.

Formal wish using -길 바랍니다.

시장의 입지가 좁아지면 위험합니다.

It's dangerous if our standing in the market narrows.

'입지' refers to market standing/position.

기술의 발전으로 국가 간의 거리가 좁아졌다.

The distance between countries has narrowed due to technology.

Metaphorical 'distance'.

그의 편협한 태도로 인해 시야가 좁아졌다.

His perspective narrowed due to his narrow-minded attitude.

'시야' means field of vision/perspective.

수요가 줄어들면서 선택지가 좁아지고 있다.

As demand decreases, options are narrowing.

-면서 indicates simultaneous action.

도시 개발로 인해 녹지 공간이 좁아졌습니다.

Green spaces have narrowed due to urban development.

Formal 'due to' (로 인해).

양측의 입장 차이가 좁아질 기미가 보이지 않는다.

There is no sign that the difference in positions will narrow.

'기미가 보이지 않는다' means no sign of.

전문 분야가 좁아질수록 깊이는 깊어집니다.

The narrower the field of specialization, the deeper the depth.

-(으)ㄹ수록 structure.

학문적 논의의 범위가 지나치게 좁아지고 있다.

The scope of academic discussion is becoming excessively narrow.

Formal academic tone.

현대 사회에서 개인의 사적 공간이 점차 좁아지고 있다.

In modern society, individual private space is gradually narrowing.

Sociological context.

법적 해석의 폭이 좁아지면서 판결이 엄격해졌다.

As the range of legal interpretation narrowed, judgments became stricter.

Legal context.

유전적 다양성이 좁아지면 멸종 위기에 처할 수 있다.

If genetic diversity narrows, species can face extinction.

Scientific context.

정치적 갈등으로 인해 대화의 통로가 좁아졌다.

The channels of dialogue have narrowed due to political conflict.

Metaphorical 'channels of dialogue'.

예술적 표현의 장이 좁아지는 것에 대해 우려가 크다.

There is great concern about the narrowing field of artistic expression.

Abstract 'field' (장).

기술적 한계로 인해 연구 방향이 좁아질 수밖에 없었다.

The research direction had no choice but to narrow due to technical limitations.

-을 수밖에 없다 (no choice but to).

정보의 홍수 속에서 오히려 진실을 보는 눈은 좁아지고 있다.

In the flood of information, the eye for truth is actually narrowing.

Paradoxical observation.

거대 담론의 쇠퇴와 함께 철학적 사유의 지평이 좁아졌다.

With the decline of grand narratives, the horizon of philosophical thought has narrowed.

High-level philosophical terminology.

시장 독과점 현상으로 인해 중소기업의 설 자리가 좁아지고 있다.

Due to market monopolies, the space for small businesses to stand is narrowing.

Economic idiom '설 자리' (place to stand).

언어적 다양성의 상실은 인류의 사고 체계를 좁아지게 만든다.

The loss of linguistic diversity causes the human thought system to narrow.

Causative '-게 만들다'.

외교적 고립으로 인해 국가의 선택권이 극도로 좁아진 상태다.

Due to diplomatic isolation, the nation's options have become extremely narrowed.

Political analysis.

뉴런의 연결성이 약화되면서 인지적 유연성이 좁아질 수 있다.

As neuronal connectivity weakens, cognitive flexibility may narrow.

Medical/Biological high-level context.

도시화의 가속화는 야생 동물의 서식지를 좁아지게 하는 주범이다.

The acceleration of urbanization is the main culprit in narrowing wildlife habitats.

Environmental science context.

형식 논리에 치중하다 보면 본질을 꿰뚫는 통찰력이 좁아지기 쉽다.

If one focuses too much on formal logic, insight into the essence is liable to narrow.

-기 쉽다 (easy to/liable to).

권력의 중앙집중화는 민주적 의사결정의 폭을 좁아지게 한다.

The centralization of power narrows the scope of democratic decision-making.

Political science context.

Common Collocations

길이 좁아지다

선택의 폭이 좁아지다

격차가 좁아지다

인간관계가 좁아지다

입지가 좁아지다

취업 문이 좁아지다

시야가 좁아지다

간격이 좁아지다

범위가 좁아지다

혈관이 좁아지다

Common Phrases

점점 좁아지다

— To gradually become narrow. Used for slow changes.

길이 점점 좁아지고 있어요.

갑자기 좁아지다

— To suddenly become narrow. Used for abrupt changes.

골목이 갑자기 좁아져서 놀랐어요.

눈에 띄게 좁아지다

— To narrow noticeably. Used when the change is obvious.

격차가 눈에 띄게 좁아졌어요.

심하게 좁아지다

— To narrow severely. Used for extreme cases.

통로가 심하게 좁아져서 지나갈 수 없어요.

상당히 좁아지다

— To narrow considerably. Used in formal or semi-formal contexts.

선택지가 상당히 좁아진 상황입니다.

다시 좁아지다

— To narrow again. Used for recurring changes.

넓어졌던 길이 다시 좁아져요.

극도로 좁아지다

— To narrow extremely. Used for critical situations.

입지가 극도로 좁아졌습니다.

조금씩 좁아지다

— To narrow bit by bit. Similar to 'gradually'.

간격이 조금씩 좁아지고 있습니다.

급격히 좁아지다

— To narrow rapidly. Used for fast-paced changes.

취업 문이 급격히 좁아졌어요.

비정상적으로 좁아지다

— To narrow abnormally. Often used in medical or technical contexts.

혈관이 비정상적으로 좁아졌습니다.

Often Confused With

좁아지다 vs 좁히다

좁히다 is transitive (to narrow something), 좁아지다 is intransitive (to become narrow).

좁아지다 vs 작아지다

작아지다 means to become small in overall size, 좁아지다 is specifically about width.

좁아지다 vs 줄어들다

줄어들다 is for quantity or total volume, 좁아지다 is for width or range.

Idioms & Expressions

"취업 문이 좁아지다"

— Literal: The door to employment narrows. Meaning: It is becoming harder to find a job.

경기가 안 좋아서 취업 문이 좁아졌어요.

Common

"입지가 좁아지다"

— Literal: One's standing narrows. Meaning: To lose influence or have less room to act.

새로운 팀장이 오면서 그의 입지가 좁아졌다.

Professional

"마음이 좁아지다"

— Literal: One's heart narrows. Meaning: To become petty, intolerant, or selfish.

여유가 없으면 마음이 좁아지기 마련이다.

Daily

"선택의 폭이 좁아지다"

— Literal: The width of choice narrows. Meaning: To have fewer options available.

시간이 없어서 선택의 폭이 좁아졌어요.

Common

"설 자리가 좁아지다"

— Literal: The place to stand narrows. Meaning: To lose one's role or position in society/work.

AI 때문에 사람이 설 자리가 좁아지고 있다.

Social

"시야가 좁아지다"

— Literal: One's field of vision narrows. Meaning: To become short-sighted or lose the big picture.

당장 눈앞의 이익만 쫓으면 시야가 좁아진다.

Psychological

"어깨가 좁아지다"

— Literal: Shoulders become narrow. Meaning: To lose confidence or feel small/ashamed. (Note: different from physical small shoulders).

실패를 하니 어깨가 좁아지는 기분이다.

Metaphorical

"속이 좁아지다"

— Literal: One's inside narrows. Meaning: Similar to '마음이 좁아지다', becoming petty or easily offended.

나이가 들면서 오히려 속이 좁아지는 것 같아.

Informal

"활동 반경이 좁아지다"

— Literal: The radius of activity narrows. Meaning: To go out less or have a more limited lifestyle.

겨울에는 추워서 활동 반경이 좁아져요.

Daily

"숨통이 좁아지다"

— Literal: The windpipe narrows. Meaning: To be under extreme pressure or feeling suffocated by a situation.

빚 때문에 숨통이 좁아지는 기분이다.

Strong Metaphor

Easily Confused

좁아지다 vs 좁히다

Both share the root '좁'.

좁히다 requires an agent and an object (e.g., I narrow the gap). 좁아지다 describes a state change (e.g., The gap narrows).

우리는 의견 차이를 좁혔다 (We narrowed the difference). vs 차이가 좁아졌다 (The difference narrowed).

좁아지다 vs 작아지다

Both describe reduction.

작아지다 is 3D or overall size. 좁아지다 is 1D or 2D width.

풍선이 작아졌다 (The balloon got small). vs 길이 좁아졌다 (The road got narrow).

좁아지다 vs 가늘어지다

Both describe getting 'thinner'.

가늘어지다 is for long, thin objects like string or legs. 좁아지다 is for spaces or gaps.

다리가 가늘어졌다 (Legs got thin). vs 통로가 좁아졌다 (The passage got narrow).

좁아지다 vs 낮아지다

Both are state-change verbs.

낮아지다 is about height (becoming low). 좁아지다 is about width.

온도가 낮아졌다 (Temperature got low). vs 폭이 좁아졌다 (Width got narrow).

좁아지다 vs 짧아지다

Both are state-change verbs.

짧아지다 is about length (becoming short). 좁아지다 is about width.

머리가 짧아졌다 (Hair got short). vs 길이 좁아졌다 (The road got narrow).

Sentence Patterns

N이/가 좁아져요.

길이 좁아져요.

N이/가 점점 좁아져요.

통로가 점점 좁아져요.

V-아서/어서 N이/가 좁아졌어요.

가구가 많아서 방이 좁아졌어요.

N의 폭이 좁아지다.

선택의 폭이 좁아졌어요.

N 간의 격차가 좁아지다.

빈부 격차가 좁아지고 있습니다.

N이/가 좁아질 기미가 보이다.

차이가 좁아질 기미가 보여요.

N의 범위가 지나치게 좁아지다.

논의의 범위가 지나치게 좁아지고 있다.

N이/가 좁아짐에 따라...

입지가 좁아짐에 따라 위기감이 커졌다.

Word Family

Nouns

좁음 (narrowness)

좁히기 (narrowing - the act)

Verbs

좁히다 (to narrow something - transitive)

Adjectives

좁다 (narrow)

넓어지다 (to become wide)

작아지다 (to become small)

줄어들다 (to decrease)

축소 (reduction)

폭 (width)

How to Use It

frequency

High, especially in news and daily navigation.

Common Mistakes

길을 좁아졌어요. → 길이 좁아졌어요.
좁아지다 is an intransitive verb and takes the subject particle -이/가, not the object particle -을/를.
방이 좁아해요. → 방이 좁아졌어요.
-아하다 is for emotions (like 좋아하다). For state changes, use -아지다.
격차가 좁아졌어요 (meaning quantity reduced). → 격차가 줄어들었어요.
While '격차가 좁아지다' is correct for a gap narrowing, if you mean a total amount decreased, '줄어들다' is better.
좁아지는 길을 좁혔어요. → 길이 좁아졌어요.
Don't double up the meaning. Use either the transitive or intransitive form.
폭이 좁아진 옷. → 작아진 옷.
For clothes that are generally too small, '작아지다' is more natural than '좁아지다'.

Tips

Driving Tip

When driving in Korea, look for signs that say '도로 좁아짐' (Road narrowing). It's a vital safety word.

The -아지다 Pattern

Mastering 좁아지다 helps you learn a whole category of verbs like 좋아지다, 멀어지다, and 많아지다.

Social Nuance

Saying '인간관계가 좁아지다' is a common way to talk about the loneliness of adult life in Korea.

Metaphorical Power

Use '선택의 폭이 좁아지다' in business or personal discussions to sound more sophisticated.

Writing Clarity

When writing about data, use '격차가 좁아지다' to describe converging trends.

Listen for Adverbs

Words like '급격히' (rapidly) often come before 좁아지다 in news reports.

Build Your Family

Learn 좁다, 좁히다, and 좁아지다 together to understand the full range of the root.

Urban Context

Understand that '좁아지다' often refers to the encroaching urban sprawl in Korean cities.

Mindset Tip

If you feel '시야가 좁아지다', it's a sign you need to take a break and look at the bigger picture.

Fun Mnemonic

A 'Job' (좁) is 'Narrow' to get into. The 'Job-a-jida' is the process of that door closing.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Jop' (좁) as a 'Job' that is getting hard to get. The 'door' to the 'Job' is becoming 'narrow' (좁아지다).

Visual Association

Imagine a funnel. The top is wide (넓다), but as you go down, it becomes narrow (좁아지다).

Word Web

Roads Choices Gaps Alleys Relationships Mindset Employment Budgets

Challenge

Try to describe three things in your life that have 'narrowed' recently—one physical, one social, and one professional.

Word Origin

Derived from the Middle Korean adjective '좁다' (to be narrow).

Original meaning: Physical narrowness of a space or object.

Koreanic

Cultural Context

When using '마음이 좁아지다' to describe someone, be careful as it is an insult to their character.

In English, we often use 'shrink' or 'get smaller' for abstract things, but Korean specifically uses 'narrow' (좁아지다) for ranges and opportunities.

Many Korean news headlines use '취업 문 좁아지다' during economic downturns. The song '골목길' (Alleyway) by Shin Hae-chul evokes the feeling of narrow paths.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Driving/Navigation

길이 좁아져요 (The road is narrowing)
골목이 좁아져요 (The alley is narrowing)

Social Life

인간관계가 좁아지다 (Social circle narrows)
친구 사이가 좁아지다 (Friendship circle narrows)

Business/Economy

격차가 좁아지다 (The gap is narrowing)
시장이 좁아지다 (The market is narrowing)

Psychology

마음이 좁아지다 (To become narrow-minded)
시야가 좁아지다 (Perspective narrows)

Physical Space

방이 좁아지다 (Room gets narrow/cramped)
간격이 좁아지다 (Interval/gap narrows)

Conversation Starters

"요즘 취업 문이 좁아진 것 같지 않아요? (Don't you think the job market has narrowed lately?)"

"나이가 들면 왜 인간관계가 좁아질까요? (Why do you think social circles narrow as we age?)"

"이 길은 왜 이렇게 갑자기 좁아져요? (Why does this road suddenly get so narrow?)"

"두 사람의 의견 차이가 좁아졌나요? (Has the difference in opinion between the two narrowed?)"

"방에 가구가 너무 많아서 좁아졌어요. (The room became narrow because there's too much furniture.)"

Journal Prompts

최근에 내 선택의 폭이 좁아졌다고 느낀 적이 있나요? (Have you felt your options narrowing recently?)

나이가 들면서 인간관계가 좁아지는 것에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요? (What do you think about social circles narrowing with age?)

마음이 좁아지지 않기 위해 어떤 노력을 하나요? (What efforts do you make to avoid becoming narrow-minded?)

우리 사회에서 어떤 격차가 좁아져야 한다고 생각합니까? (What gaps do you think should be narrowed in our society?)

공간이 좁아졌을 때 느끼는 감정은 무엇인가요? (What emotions do you feel when a space becomes narrow?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, if you specifically mean the sleeves or the waist became narrow. However, '작아지다' (to become small) is more common for clothes that no longer fit.

Not necessarily. '격차가 좁아지다' (the gap is narrowing) is often positive, implying equality or a close competition.

좁아지다 is 'to become narrow' (active state change). 좁혀지다 is 'to be narrowed' (passive). Often they are interchangeable in the context of 'gaps,' but 좁혀지다 implies an outside force caused it.

You would say '도로가 협소해지고 있습니다' or '도로 폭이 좁아지고 있습니다.'

Yes, '마음이 좁아지다' means to become narrow-minded or petty.

Use -이 or -가 for the subject that is narrowing.

Yes, it conjugates regularly like other verbs ending in -지다.

No, you must use '좁히다' for that: '내가 길을 좁혔다.'

넓어지다 (to become wide).

It implies a *change* towards being narrow. It might have been wide before.