병들다

병들다 is a powerful Korean verb that describes the process of becoming sick or diseased. It is composed of 병 (disease/illness) and 들다 (to enter/to get into). When you say someone or something is '병들다', you are describing a transition from a healthy state to a state of illness.

It is not just for physical colds or flu; it is often used for mental health or even abstract concepts like a 'corrupt society'. Think of it as a slow decay or a creeping illness that takes over. It carries a slightly heavier emotional weight than just saying 'to be sick' (아프다).

The word 병들다 traces its roots back to Middle Korean. The component 병 comes from the Sino-Korean character 病, which represents sickness. The auxiliary verb 들다 is used here to indicate the 'onset' or 'entry' of a state.

Historically, this word has been used in literature to describe not only physical ailments but also the 'sickness' of the soul or the decline of a kingdom. It evolved from simple medical usage to a more poetic and metaphorical term that captures the fragility of life and systems.

You use 병들다 when talking about long-term or serious conditions. While 아프다 is casual and temporary (like a headache), 병들다 feels deeper and more permanent.

Common collocations include 마음이 병들다 (to have a sick heart/mind) or 사회가 병들다 (society is decaying). It is used in formal writing, news reports, and deep emotional conversations. It is rarely used for minor, passing illnesses.

1. 마음이 병들다: To suffer from emotional distress or trauma. Example: '그는 오랜 외로움에 마음이 병들었다.'

2. 병든 사회: A corrupt or dysfunctional society. Example: '우리는 병든 사회를 고치기 위해 노력해야 한다.'

3. 병들고 지치다: To be sick and exhausted. Example: '그들은 병들고 지친 몸을 이끌고 돌아왔다.'

4. 몸도 마음도 병들다: To be completely drained physically and mentally. Example: '과도한 업무로 몸도 마음도 병들고 말았다.'

5. 병든 닭처럼: Like a sick chicken (meaning listless or lethargic). Example: '그는 오늘 하루 종일 병든 닭처럼 앉아 있었다.'

Grammatically, 병들다 is an intransitive verb. It conjugates like other 'ㄹ' irregular verbs. For example, in the present tense, it becomes 병든다 (not 병들는다).

Pronunciation: The 'ㄹ' sound is followed by 'ㄷ', which causes a tense sound change. It sounds like [병뜰다]. It rhymes with words like 들다, 물들다, and 시들다, which all share the suffix 들다.