A2 verb 2 min read

옮기다

To move something from one place to another.

omgida
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use 옮기다 when you move things. For example, you move a chair. It is a very useful word for your daily life in Korea.

At this level, you use it for moving objects like bags or books. You can also use it to say you are moving your house (이사하다 is more common, but 옮기다 works).

You can now use it for abstract things. You can 'move' your focus or 'transfer' data. It is common in office environments when talking about moving files or changing meeting rooms.

Use it to describe the nuance of shifting focus or changing one's stance. It is often used in professional contexts regarding moving assets or resources.

In advanced contexts, it describes the translation of ideas or the migration of cultural elements. It implies a deliberate act of displacement or transformation.

Mastery involves understanding the subtle distinction between '이동하다' (to move/travel) and '옮기다' (to move/transfer). One is about the subject moving itself; the other is about the subject moving an object.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Verb meaning to move or transfer.
  • Used for physical objects and abstract concepts.
  • Transitive verb requiring an object.
  • Very common in daily and professional life.

옮기다 is a versatile Korean verb that essentially means 'to move' or 'to transfer.' Think of it as the action you take when you pick up a book from the table and place it on the shelf.

It is not just for physical objects. You use it when you move your house, transfer a file, or even translate a language. It is a very common word you will hear in daily life.

The word 옮기다 has deep roots in Middle Korean, appearing in texts as '옴기다'. It evolved from the base '옴-', which carries the sense of shifting or transitioning.

Historically, it was used to describe nomadic movements or the migration of people. Over centuries, it expanded to include abstract concepts like moving one's heart or mind, showing how language grows with human experience.

You use 옮기다 when you are the active agent in moving something. If you are moving furniture, you say '가구를 옮기다'.

It is used in both casual and formal settings. In business, you might '사무실을 옮기다' (move the office). In casual settings, you might '자리를 옮기다' (change your seat).

1. 발길을 옮기다: To start walking or head somewhere. 2. 마음을 옮기다: To change one's mind or feelings. 3. 화제를 옮기다: To change the topic of conversation. 4. 짐을 옮기다: To move luggage or cargo. 5. 글을 옮기다: To transcribe or translate text.

옮기다 is a regular verb. It conjugates as 옮기고, 옮기니, and 옮겼다. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually requires an object.

Pronunciation tip: The '옮' sound involves a cluster consonant (ㄹㅁ). When followed by a vowel, the 'ㅁ' shifts to the next syllable, making it sound like '옴기다'.

Fun Fact

It has been used for centuries to describe the migration of people.

Pronunciation Guide

UK om-gi-da

Clear 'o' sound followed by 'm' and 'g' cluster.

US om-gi-da

Consistent with Korean phonetic rules.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing the 'ㄹㅁ' cluster
  • Ignoring the liaison
  • Confusing '옴' with '온'

Rhymes With

남기다 잠기다 감기다 담기다 넘기다

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5

Requires object marker

Speaking 2/5

Common in speech

Listening 1/5

Easy to hear

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

물건 장소 가다

Learn Next

이동하다 이사하다 운반하다

Advanced

전이하다 이전하다

Grammar to Know

Transitive Verbs

을/를 marker usage

Past Tense

옮겼다

Imperative

옮기세요

Examples by Level

1

책상을 옮겨요.

Desk move.

Present polite.

2

의자를 옮기다.

Chair move.

Dictionary form.

3

가방을 옮겨요.

Bag move.

Object marker.

4

여기로 옮기세요.

Here move (polite).

Imperative.

5

짐을 옮겨요.

Luggage move.

Simple verb.

6

그것을 옮기다.

That move.

Pronoun usage.

7

꽃병을 옮겨요.

Vase move.

Object marker.

8

물건을 옮기다.

Things move.

General noun.

1

자리를 옮기다

2

파일을 옮기다

3

침대를 옮기다

4

사무실을 옮기다

5

위치를 옮기다

6

그릇을 옮기다

7

옷을 옮기다

8

신발을 옮기다

1

화제를 옮기다

2

마음을 옮기다

3

발길을 옮기다

4

데이터를 옮기다

5

주소를 옮기다

6

시선을 옮기다

7

본사를 옮기다

8

책을 옮기다

1

사업장을 옮기다

2

거처를 옮기다

3

관심을 옮기다

4

책임을 옮기다

5

뿌리를 옮기다

6

감정을 옮기다

7

생각을 옮기다

8

역할을 옮기다

1

문화를 옮기다

2

가치를 옮기다

3

철학을 옮기다

4

전통을 옮기다

5

기술을 옮기다

6

지식을 옮기다

7

예술을 옮기다

8

역사를 옮기다

1

영혼을 옮기다

2

정신을 옮기다

3

운명을 옮기다

4

세상을 옮기다

5

진리를 옮기다

6

시간을 옮기다

7

공간을 옮기다

8

존재를 옮기다

Common Collocations

자리를 옮기다
짐을 옮기다
파일을 옮기다
화제를 옮기다
사무실을 옮기다
마음을 옮기다
시선을 옮기다
주소를 옮기다
본사를 옮기다
책을 옮기다

Idioms & Expressions

"발길을 옮기다"

To start walking toward a destination.

집으로 발길을 옮겼다.

neutral

"마음을 옮기다"

To change one's affection or opinion.

그는 마음을 다른 곳으로 옮겼다.

neutral

"화제를 옮기다"

To change the subject.

그는 어색해서 화제를 옮겼다.

neutral

"글을 옮기다"

To copy or translate text.

이 글을 한국어로 옮기다.

formal

"뿌리를 옮기다"

To relocate one's life or base.

외국으로 뿌리를 옮기다.

literary

Easily Confused

옮기다 vs 이동하다

Both mean move.

이동하다 is for the subject moving itself.

사람이 이동하다 vs 짐을 옮기다.

옮기다 vs 이사하다

Both relate to location.

이사하다 is only for moving homes.

집을 이사하다.

옮기다 vs 옮겨가다

Similar root.

옮겨가다 implies the direction of moving away.

옆으로 옮겨가다.

옮기다 vs 옮겨오다

Similar root.

옮겨오다 implies moving toward the speaker.

여기로 옮겨오다.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + Object + 을/를 + 옮기다

나는 책상을 옮긴다.

A2

Object + 을/를 + 장소로 + 옮기다

짐을 방으로 옮기세요.

B1

Topic + 을/를 + 다른 곳으로 + 옮기다

화제를 다른 곳으로 옮기다.

B2

Subject + 시선을 + 곳으로 + 옮기다

그는 시선을 창밖으로 옮겼다.

C1

Subject + 마음을 + 사람에게 + 옮기다

그녀는 마음을 그에게 옮겼다.

Word Family

Nouns

이동 movement

Verbs

옮겨지다 to be moved

Related

이전 formal synonym for moving location

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

이전하다 (Formal) 옮기다 (Neutral) 옮겨 (Casual)

Common Mistakes

이동하다 vs 옮기다 → Use 옮기다 for objects
이동하다 is usually intransitive (move oneself), while 옮기다 is transitive (move something).
이사하다 vs 옮기다 → Use 이사하다 for moving house
이사하다 is specific to changing residence.
옮기다 + object marker → Use 을/를
It is a transitive verb, so it needs the object particle.
Mixing up tenses → 옮겼다 (past)
Ensure the past tense is used correctly.
Passive voice → 옮겨지다
Use the passive form when the object is the focus.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Visualize moving your favorite furniture.

💡

Native Usage

Use it for anything you pick up and move.

🌍

Cultural Insight

Moving house is a big event in Korea.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

It always follows an object.

💡

Say It Right

Focus on the 'ㄹㅁ' cluster.

💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't use it for traveling.

💡

Did You Know?

It's an ancient word.

💡

Study Smart

Group it with '이동'.

💡

Office Talk

Use it for meeting rooms.

💡

Verbal Suffixes

Practice -기다 endings.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine 'om' (the sound) 'gida' (getting there).

Visual Association

A person moving a heavy box.

Word Web

이동 이사 장소 위치

Challenge

Move one item on your desk every day and say '옮기다'.

Word Origin

Middle Korean

Original meaning: To shift or transition.

Cultural Context

None.

Directly maps to 'move' or 'transfer'.

Used in many K-dramas regarding moving house or changing jobs.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At home

  • 가구를 옮기다
  • 짐을 옮기다
  • 방을 옮기다

At work

  • 사무실을 옮기다
  • 파일을 옮기다
  • 회의실을 옮기다

In conversation

  • 화제를 옮기다
  • 자리를 옮기다
  • 시선을 옮기다

Moving/Travel

  • 짐을 옮기다
  • 거처를 옮기다
  • 주소를 옮기다

Conversation Starters

"어제 가구를 옮겨 봤어요?"

"자리를 옮기고 싶나요?"

"화제를 다른 곳으로 옮겨 볼까요?"

"파일을 어디로 옮겼어요?"

"사무실을 옮긴 적이 있나요?"

Journal Prompts

내가 오늘 옮긴 물건들에 대해 써보세요.

왜 사람들은 자리를 옮기나요?

가장 최근에 사무실이나 집을 옮긴 경험은?

화제를 옮기는 것이 왜 중요한가요?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, '이사하다' is for moving house, '옮기다' is for objects.

Yes, but usually in specific contexts like moving a patient.

It is neutral.

옮겼다.

Yes, usually.

Yes, like changing topics.

Yes, for moving files.

옮겨 주세요.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

의자를 ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 옮겨요

You move a chair.

multiple choice A2

Which means to change seat?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 자리를 옮기다

Correct collocation.

true false B1

옮기다 is an intransitive verb.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It is transitive.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Luggage move.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Subject-object-verb order.

Score: /5

Related Content

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!