This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Home
Learn
Korean
Vocabulary
급락하다

B1 verb #6,000 most common 10 min read

급락하다

geumnakhada Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 급락하다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 급락하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '급락하다' often, but it is good to recognize it when you hear about the weather or prices. Think of it as 'falling very fast'. For example, if today is 20 degrees and tomorrow is 0 degrees, that is '급락'. You can remember it as 'Suddenly (급) + Drop (락)'. In simple conversations, you might just say '많이 떨어졌어요' (It fell a lot), but '급락했어요' is the more 'grown-up' way to say it in Korean. You might see this word on a news screen at the airport or in a Korean city. Just remember: 급 means fast, and 락 means down.

For A2 learners, '급락하다' is a useful word to describe changes in things you care about, like the price of snacks, clothes, or your grades. While you mostly use '떨어지다' (to fall) for physical things, '급락하다' is for numbers on a screen. If you are describing a graph for a simple Korean class project, you can use this word to show you know more than just basic vocabulary. A good way to practice is by looking at a weather app. If the temperature goes from 15°C to 2°C, you can say '기온이 급락했어요'. It sounds much more professional than saying '추워졌어요' (It became cold).

At the B1 level, you should start using '급락하다' in formal writing and discussions about society or the economy. This is a key word for anyone preparing for the TOPIK II exam or IELTS Task 1 in Korean. It allows you to describe trends with more nuance. Instead of just saying a value 'went down', '급락하다' tells the reader that it happened 'suddenly and sharply'. You should also learn the noun form '급락' and how it pairs with '으로 인해' (due to). For example, '환율 급락으로 인해' (due to the plummeting exchange rate). This structure is very common in intermediate-level reading passages.

B2 learners are expected to use '급락하다' fluently in debates and complex essays. At this level, you should understand the difference between '급락' (sudden drop), '폭락' (crash), and '하락' (general decrease). You should be able to use the word to describe abstract concepts like '지지율' (approval ratings) or '신뢰도' (level of trust). You should also be comfortable using various grammatical connectors like '~함에 따라' (as something happens) or '~하기는커녕' (far from doing something) with '급락하다'. For instance, '지지율이 급락함에 따라 정국이 불안해졌다' (As the approval rating plummeted, the political situation became unstable).

At the C1 level, '급락하다' should be part of your active academic and professional vocabulary. You should be able to discuss the economic implications of a '급락' in various sectors, such as the housing market or the tech industry. You should also recognize its usage in literature or high-level journalism where it might be used to describe a sudden decline in a civilization or a cultural movement. At this stage, you should also be familiar with related Hanja words that share the '락' (落) root, such as '낙하산' (parachute) or '낙방' (failing an exam), to deepen your understanding of the word's core meaning of 'falling'.

For C2 learners, '급락하다' is a tool for precise and evocative expression. You can use it to contrast with subtle '하락' or catastrophic '폭락' to provide a highly detailed analysis of data or social phenomena. You might use it in a speech to emphasize the urgency of a situation, or in a philosophical essay to describe the sudden decline of certain values. You should have a perfect grasp of its collocations and be able to use it in complex causative or passive-like structures without hesitation. Your usage should reflect a deep understanding of the word's weight and the specific 'vibe' of urgency it brings to a sentence.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

급락하다 in 30 Seconds

급락하다 means a sudden and sharp drop in value or number.
It is a formal word often used in news, business, and weather.
The word comes from Hanja: 급 (fast/sudden) + 락 (fall).
It is a key term for describing dramatic changes in academic writing.

The Korean verb 급락하다 (Geup-rak-ha-da) is a sophisticated and essential term for anyone aiming to reach an intermediate or advanced level of Korean proficiency, particularly those focusing on business, economics, or academic writing. Etymologically, it is derived from two Hanja (Chinese characters): 急 (급 - geup) meaning 'sudden' or 'urgent', and 落 (락 - rak) meaning 'to fall' or 'to drop'. When combined with the active verb ending 하다 (ha-da), it literally translates to 'to perform a sudden fall'. This word is not used for a casual or slow decrease; rather, it describes a dramatic, sharp, and often alarming plunge in value, temperature, or statistics.

Financial Context: In the world of finance and stock markets, this is perhaps the most common environment for the word. When the KOSPI index or a specific stock price drops by several percentage points in a single day, news anchors will invariably use the term '주가 급락' (stock price plunge). It implies a sense of volatility and potential panic among investors.
Meteorological Usage: You will frequently hear this word in weather forecasts during the transition between seasons. If a warm autumn day is followed by an overnight freeze due to a cold snap, the meteorologist will report that the '기온이 급락했다' (the temperature plummeted). This usage emphasizes the speed of the change, which might require people to suddenly change their clothing or prepare for frost.
Social and Academic Trends: Beyond numbers and weather, it can describe a sudden loss in popularity, approval ratings, or birth rates. For instance, if a politician's approval rating drops significantly following a scandal, or if the birth rate of a nation falls sharply over a short period, '급락하다' is the precise verb to use to convey the severity of the decline.

최근 암호화폐 시장의 불안정성으로 인해 비트코인 가격이 하루 만에 20% 급락하며 투자자들에게 큰 충격을 주었습니다.

Translation: Due to the recent instability in the cryptocurrency market, the price of Bitcoin plummeted by 20 percent in a single day, causing a great shock to investors.

Understanding the nuance of '급' is key. This prefix is found in other common words like '급행' (express train) and '급속' (rapid speed). Therefore, whenever you see '급' attached to a verb of movement or change, you should prepare for something happening at a breakneck pace. In IELTS Task 1 terms, this is the equivalent of 'plummeted', 'slumped', or 'dived'. It is much stronger than '하락하다' (to decrease) or '떨어지다' (to fall).

겨울철 북극 진동의 영향으로 내일 아침 기온이 영하 10도까지 급락할 것으로 보입니다.

Translation: Due to the influence of the Arctic oscillation in winter, tomorrow morning's temperature is expected to plummet to minus 10 degrees Celsius.

Visualizing the Word: If you were to draw a line graph representing '급락하다', it would not be a gentle diagonal line pointing downwards. It would be a sharp, nearly vertical drop—resembling a cliff edge. This visual aid helps learners distinguish it from general downward trends.

정부의 새로운 규제 발표 이후 부동산 가격이 급락하기 시작했습니다.

Translation: Real estate prices started to plummet following the government's announcement of new regulations.

Using 급락하다 correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as an intransitive verb. Unlike English where you might say 'The market dropped the prices' (transitive), in Korean, the subject itself is the thing that is dropping. For example, '주가가 급락했다' (The stock price plummeted). If you want to say something caused the drop, you would use a causative structure or a reason-based connecting particle like '~로 인해' (due to) or '~때문에' (because of).

Tense and Aspect: Because '급락하다' describes an event that often happens quickly, it is frequently used in the past tense (급락했다) to report a finished event, or in the future tense with a sense of prediction (급락할 것이다). In news reports, you will often see it in the present progressive or continuous forms to describe an ongoing crisis.

유가 급락으로 인해 많은 에너지 기업들이 경영난에 처해 있습니다.

Translation: Due to the plummeting oil prices, many energy companies are facing management difficulties.

In this example, '급락' is used as a noun (the root of the verb). This is a common way to condense information in news headlines or formal reports. The structure '[Noun] + 급락' (e.g., 주가 급락, 기온 급락) acts as a compound noun meaning 'a sudden plunge in [Noun]'. When you add the particle '으로 인해', it creates a cause-and-effect relationship that is very common in academic and professional Korean.

그 가수의 스캔들이 보도되자마자 그의 인기가 급락했습니다.

Translation: As soon as the singer's scandal was reported, his popularity plummeted.

Comparative Usage: When comparing '급락하다' to its opposite '급등하다' (to skyrocket), the sentence structures remain identical. This symmetry makes it easier for learners to master both terms simultaneously. For example: '수요가 줄어들면 가격이 급락하고, 수요가 늘어나면 가격이 급등합니다.' (When demand decreases, prices plummet; when demand increases, prices skyrocket.)

환율이 급락하면서 수출 기업들의 수익성이 악화되고 있습니다.

Translation: As the exchange rate plummeted, the profitability of exporting companies is deteriorating.

Notice the use of '~면서' (while/as) in the sentence above. This is a very natural way to connect the sudden drop to its immediate consequences. In business presentations, using these connectors along with '급락하다' will make you sound much more like a native speaker who understands the dynamics of cause and effect.

While 급락하다 might sound like a word reserved for economists, it is surprisingly pervasive in daily Korean life, especially given South Korea's high level of interest in the stock market and real estate. You will encounter this word in several specific environments, each with its own flavor of urgency.

News and Media: Turn on any Korean news channel like KBS, MBC, or SBS during the 'Economy' segment. You will see scrolling text at the bottom of the screen with phrases like '코스피 2400선 붕괴, 주가 급락' (KOSPI 2400 level collapses, stock prices plummet). The word is used here to create a sense of breaking news and immediate impact.
Office Conversations: In a Korean office, especially in finance, sales, or planning departments, you might hear colleagues discussing the '매출 급락' (sudden drop in sales). A manager might ask, '왜 이번 달 매출이 이렇게 급락했나요?' (Why did our sales plummet like this this month?). Here, the word carries a tone of serious inquiry and the need for an explanation.

오늘 아침 뉴스에서 반도체 관련 주식이 급락했다는 소식을 들었어요.

Translation: I heard on the news this morning that semiconductor-related stocks plummeted.

Interestingly, younger generations also use this word when talking about their '성적' (grades) or '게임 순위' (game rankings). If a student didn't study for a final exam and their rank dropped from 10th to 50th, they might jokingly or sadly say, '내 성적이 급락했어' (My grades plummeted). This usage is slightly more informal but still perfectly understandable.

갑작스러운 한파로 인해 시장의 채소 공급량이 줄어들면서 가격이 급락하기는커녕 오히려 급등하고 있습니다.

Translation: Far from plummeting, vegetable prices are actually skyrocketing as the supply in the market decreases due to the sudden cold wave.

In the sentence above, '급락하기는커녕' (far from plummeting) shows how the word is used in a comparative sense to emphasize an unexpected opposite outcome. This is a great pattern for B2 and C1 learners to practice. You will also see '급락' in academic journals discussing demographics, such as '출산율 급락' (the plummeting birth rate), which is a critical national issue in South Korea today.

While 급락하다 is a straightforward word, English speakers often make mistakes by confusing it with other 'falling' verbs or by using incorrect particles. Because Korean has a very rich vocabulary for describing movement, choosing the right word for 'fall' is crucial for sounding natural.

Mistake 1: Confusing with '하락하다' (Ha-rak-ha-da): '하락하다' simply means 'to go down' or 'to decrease'. It is a neutral term. If a stock price goes down by 0.1%, it is '하락', not '급락'. Using '급락하다' for a small or slow decrease sounds dramatic and incorrect. Only use '급락' when the drop is sharp and fast.
Mistake 2: Confusing with '추락하다' (Chu-rak-ha-da): '추락하다' is used for physical objects falling from a height, like an airplane crashing or a person falling off a building. While it can be used metaphorically for a 'fall from grace', it is rarely used for prices or temperatures. If you say '주가가 추락했다', it sounds like the stock price literally fell out of the sky and crashed into the ground.

Incorrect: 비행기가 하늘에서 급락했습니다.
Correct: 비행기가 하늘에서 추락했습니다.

Explanation: Use '추락하다' for physical objects falling from a height. '급락하다' is for values and statistics.

Another common error is treating '급락하다' as a transitive verb. English speakers might try to say 'The news plummeted the stock price'. In Korean, you cannot say '뉴스가 주가를 급락했다'. Instead, you must say '뉴스 때문에 주가가 급락했다' (The stock price plummeted because of the news) or use the causative '급락시켰다' (The news caused the stock price to plummet).

Incorrect: 경제 위기가 소비를 급락했습니다.
Correct: 경제 위기로 인해 소비가 급락했습니다.

Finally, avoid using '급락하다' for things that cannot be measured numerically. You wouldn't say your 'mood plummeted' (기분이 급락했다) in standard Korean; instead, you would use '기분이 가라앉다' (mood sank) or '기분이 안 좋아지다' (mood became bad). Keep '급락' for things you can put on a chart.

To truly master Korean, you need to know the spectrum of words that describe 'going down'. Depending on the speed, the amount, and the context, you might want to choose a different word than 급락하다. Here is a comparison of the most common alternatives.

폭락하다 (Pok-rak-ha-da): This is even stronger than '급락하다'. The Hanja '폭' (暴) means 'violent' or 'explosive'. '폭락' implies a total crash or a catastrophic collapse. If '급락' is a sharp drop, '폭락' is a disaster. You hear this during financial crises or market crashes.
하락하다 (Ha-rak-ha-da): The most general and neutral term for 'to decrease' or 'to fall' in value. It is the safe choice for any downward movement on a graph. It does not imply speed or severity. It is the direct antonym of '상승하다' (to rise).
감소하다 (Gam-so-ha-da): This means 'to decrease in quantity or number'. While '급락' is often used for prices and rates, '감소' is used for population, sales volume, or the number of students. It is more about the 'amount' than the 'value'.

주가가 급락하는 것과 폭락하는 것은 시장에 미치는 영향의 강도가 다릅니다.

Translation: A plummeting stock price and a crashing stock price have different intensities of impact on the market.

When writing for IELTS Task 1 or a business report, you can vary your vocabulary to avoid repetition. For a sharp drop, use '급락하다' or '폭락하다'. For a steady decline, use '지속적으로 하락하다'. For a slight dip, use '소폭 하락하다'.

인구 감소 문제는 경제 성장의 급락을 초래할 수 있습니다.

Translation: The problem of population decrease can lead to a sharp plunge in economic growth.

In summary, choose '급락하다' when you want to emphasize the speed and severity of a numerical drop. It provides a vivid image that '하락하다' simply cannot convey.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '락' (落) is the same one used in '낙엽' (Nak-yeop), which means 'fallen leaves'. So, '급락' is like a leaf falling extremely fast in a storm.

Pronunciation Guide

UK ɡɯp.ɾak.ɦa.da

US ɡɯp.ɾak.ɦa.da

In Korean, stress is generally even across syllables, but the first syllable '급' carries a slight emphasis due to the 'p' final consonant.

Rhymes With

하락하다 (Ha-rak-ha-da) 도착하다 (Do-chak-ha-da) 심각하다 (Sim-gak-ha-da) 정착하다 (Jeong-chak-ha-da) 폭락하다 (Pok-rak-ha-da) 몰락하다 (Mol-rak-ha-da) 윤택하다 (Yun-taek-ha-da) 한적하다 (Han-jeok-ha-da)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'rak' as 'lak' with a heavy English 'L'.
Releasing the 'p' in 'geup' too strongly (it should be silent/stopped).
Over-emphasizing the 'h' in 'hada'.
Confusing the vowel 'ɯ' (으) with 'u' (우).
Not connecting 'geup' and 'rak' smoothly.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in news and newspapers; requires Hanja awareness.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of intransitive verb usage and formal particles.

Speaking 3/5

Easy to pronounce but needs the right context to sound natural.

Listening 3/5

Frequently heard in news broadcasts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

떨어지다 (To fall) 내려가다 (To go down) 갑자기 (Suddenly) 가격 (Price) 기온 (Temperature)

Learn Next

급등하다 (To skyrocket) 폭락하다 (To crash) 변동성 (Volatility) 상승세 (Upward trend) 하락세 (Downward trend)

Advanced

급전직하 (Sudden fall) 면치 못하다 (Cannot avoid) 기폭제 (Catalyst) 전조 (Precursor) 수직 낙하 (Vertical fall)

Grammar to Know

Intransitive Verbs (자동사)

주가가 급락했다. (The stock price plummeted.)

Causative Verbs with -시키다

뉴스가 주가를 급락시켰다. (The news caused the stock price to plummet.)

Reason Connectors: -으로 인해

기온 급락으로 인해 감기에 걸렸다. (I caught a cold due to the temperature plummet.)

Simultaneous Action: -면서

환율이 급락하면서 수입 물가가 올랐다. (As the exchange rate plummeted, import prices rose.)

Expected Future: -ㄹ 것으로 예상되다

가격이 급락할 것으로 예상됩니다. (Prices are expected to plummet.)

Examples by Level

어제는 따뜻했는데 오늘 기온이 급락했어요.

It was warm yesterday, but the temperature plummeted today.

급락했어요 is the past tense of 급락하다.

사과 가격이 갑자기 급락했어요.

The price of apples suddenly plummeted.

Subject (사과 가격) + Particle (이) + Verb.

주식 가격이 급락해서 슬퍼요.

I am sad because the stock price plummeted.

~해서 indicates a reason.

내 성적이 급락하면 안 돼요.

My grades must not plummet.

~면 안 돼요 means 'must not'.

비가 와서 기온이 급락할 거예요.

The temperature will plummet because it's raining.

~ㄹ 거예요 is the future tense.

인기가 급락한 가수가 있어요.

There is a singer whose popularity plummeted.

Noun-modifying form: 급락한 + Noun.

비트코인이 급락해서 무서워요.

I am scared because Bitcoin plummeted.

A1 learners often use '무서워요' to express financial fear.

기온 급락을 조심하세요.

Watch out for the sudden drop in temperature.

급락 is used here as a noun.

갑작스러운 뉴스 때문에 주가가 급락했습니다.

The stock price plummeted because of the sudden news.

~때문에 is used for reasons.

겨울이 오면 기온이 급락하기 마련입니다.

It is natural for the temperature to plummet when winter comes.

~기 마련이다 means 'it is bound to'.

그 영화배우의 인기가 하루아침에 급락했어요.

That movie actor's popularity plummeted overnight.

하루아침에 means 'overnight' or 'suddenly'.

수요가 줄어들면 가격이 급락할 수 있습니다.

If demand decreases, prices can plummet.

~ㄹ 수 있다 indicates possibility.

우리는 매출 급락을 막아야 합니다.

We must prevent the plummeting of sales.

급락을 막다 means 'to prevent a plunge'.

시험 기간에 컨디션이 급락해서 걱정이에요.

I'm worried because my physical condition plummeted during the exam period.

Condition (컨디션) can also '급락' metaphorically.

환율이 급락하면 여행 가기 좋아요.

If the exchange rate plummets, it's good for traveling.

Conditional ~면.

기온이 급락할 때 감기를 조심해야 해요.

You should be careful of colds when the temperature plummets.

~ㄹ 때 means 'when'.

금리 인상 소식에 부동산 시장이 급락하고 있습니다.

The real estate market is plummeting following the news of the interest rate hike.

~에 indicates the cause/stimulus.

그래프를 보면 2020년에 수출량이 급락한 것을 알 수 있습니다.

Looking at the graph, we can see that the export volume plummeted in 2020.

Standard IELTS Task 1 description style.

원자재 가격의 급락으로 인해 생산 비용이 절감되었습니다.

Due to the plummeting price of raw materials, production costs have been reduced.

Noun + 으로 인해 (due to).

대통령의 지지율이 최근 스캔들로 인해 급락했습니다.

The President's approval rating plummeted due to the recent scandal.

Formal usage for political news.

출산율이 급락하면서 국가적인 위기감이 고조되고 있습니다.

As the birth rate plummets, a sense of national crisis is heightening.

~면서 indicates simultaneous actions or states.

주가가 급락하자 투자자들이 패닉에 빠졌습니다.

As soon as the stock price plummeted, investors fell into a panic.

~자 (as soon as) shows an immediate reaction.

기온이 급락할 것으로 예상되니 외출을 삼가시기 바랍니다.

The temperature is expected to plummet, so please refrain from going out.

~ㄹ 것으로 예상되다 (it is expected that...).

신제품 출시 이후 경쟁사의 점유율이 급락했습니다.

After the launch of the new product, the competitor's market share plummeted.

Business context usage.

세계 경제의 불확실성이 커지면서 안전 자산 선호도가 급락했습니다.

As uncertainty in the global economy grows, the preference for safe assets has plummeted.

Abstract concept usage (선호도).

기술주 중심의 나스닥 지수가 어제 장 마감 직전에 급락했습니다.

The tech-heavy NASDAQ index plummeted yesterday just before the market closed.

Specific financial terminology.

정부의 강력한 규제책이 발표되자마자 투기 수요가 급락했습니다.

Speculative demand plummeted as soon as the government's strong regulatory measures were announced.

~자마자 (as soon as).

소비자 신뢰 지수가 급락한 것은 경기 침체의 전조일 수 있습니다.

The plummeting consumer confidence index could be a precursor to an economic recession.

Noun clause as a subject (급락한 것).

유가가 급락함에 따라 관련 업계의 희비가 엇갈리고 있습니다.

As oil prices plummet, the fortunes of related industries are diverging.

~함에 따라 (in accordance with / as...).

비트코인 가격이 급락하면서 '패닉 셀' 현상이 나타나고 있습니다.

As Bitcoin prices plummet, the 'panic sell' phenomenon is appearing.

Describing social/market phenomena.

철강 가격의 급락은 건설 경기의 둔화를 의미합니다.

The plummeting of steel prices signifies a slowdown in the construction industry.

Economic analysis usage.

기온이 급락하는 한파 속에서도 시장 상인들은 활기찼습니다.

Even amidst the cold wave where temperatures plummeted, the market vendors were energetic.

Contrastive usage with '~음에도 불구하고/속에서도'.

중앙은행의 갑작스러운 금리 동결은 시장의 기대치를 급락시켰습니다.

The central bank's sudden interest rate freeze caused market expectations to plummet.

Causative form: 급락시키다.

전통적인 가치관의 붕괴로 인해 결혼에 대한 긍정적 인식이 급락하고 있습니다.

Due to the collapse of traditional values, the positive perception of marriage is plummeting.

Sociological analysis.

해당 기업의 회계 부정 의혹이 제기되자 기업 가치가 급락을 면치 못했습니다.

When allegations of accounting fraud were raised against the company, its corporate value could not escape a plummet.

~을 면치 못하다 (could not avoid/escape).

지정학적 리스크가 고조되면서 해당 지역의 통화 가치가 급락했습니다.

As geopolitical risks heightened, the currency value of the region plummeted.

High-level international relations context.

기술적 분석에 따르면, 지지선이 무너질 경우 주가가 급락할 가능성이 큽니다.

According to technical analysis, if the support level breaks, there is a high possibility the stock price will plummet.

Professional investment terminology.

공급 과잉으로 인해 메모리 반도체 가격이 급락하며 업계의 수익성이 악화되었습니다.

Due to oversupply, memory semiconductor prices plummeted, deteriorating the industry's profitability.

Complex cause-and-effect sentence structure.

문화적 영향력이 급락한 국가들은 소프트 파워 경쟁에서 뒤처지게 됩니다.

Countries whose cultural influence has plummeted fall behind in the soft power competition.

Abstract power dynamics usage.

기온 급락에 따른 전력 수요 급증에 대비해 비상 발전기를 가동했습니다.

Emergency generators were operated in preparation for the surge in power demand following the temperature plummet.

Public administration/utility context.

포스트모더니즘의 대두와 함께 절대적 진리에 대한 신뢰가 급락하기 시작했습니다.

With the rise of postmodernism, the trust in absolute truth began to plummet.

Philosophical/Historical context.

역사학자들은 로마 제국의 국력이 급락하게 된 결정적 계기를 분석하고 있습니다.

Historians are analyzing the decisive moment that led to the plummeting of the Roman Empire's national power.

Academic historical analysis.

디지털 혁명은 아날로그 매체의 시장 점유율을 급락시키는 기폭제가 되었습니다.

The digital revolution became the catalyst that caused the market share of analog media to plummet.

Using '기폭제' (catalyst) with '급락시키다'.

인간의 존엄성이 급락하는 디스토피아적 미래를 경고하는 소설들이 늘고 있습니다.

There is an increasing number of novels warning of a dystopian future where human dignity plummets.

Literary/Thematic usage.

외환 보유고의 급락은 국가 부도 위기의 전조로 해석될 수 있습니다.

A plummeting of foreign exchange reserves can be interpreted as a precursor to a national default crisis.

Macroeconomic theory usage.

생태계의 다양성이 급락함에 따라 인류의 생존마저 위협받고 있는 실정입니다.

As the diversity of the ecosystem plummets, even the survival of humanity is being threatened.

Environmental science context.

권위주의 정권의 몰락과 함께 그들의 이데올로기적 매력은 급락을 면치 못했습니다.

With the fall of the authoritarian regime, their ideological appeal could not avoid plummeting.

Political science analysis.

기술 혁신의 속도가 예상보다 빠를 때, 기존 기술의 가치는 급락하게 마련입니다.

When the speed of technological innovation is faster than expected, the value of existing technology is bound to plummet.

Advanced logical deduction structure.

Synonyms

폭락하다 급감하다 수직 하락하다

Antonyms

급등하다 폭등하다

Common Collocations

주가가 급락하다

기온이 급락하다

지지율이 급락하다

가격이 급락하다

인기가 급락하다

매출이 급락하다

환율이 급락하다

출산율이 급락하다

수익성이 급락하다

성적이 급락하다

Common Phrases

급락세

— A downward trend characterized by sharp drops. Used as a noun.

주식 시장이 급락세를 보이고 있습니다.

급락을 면치 못하다

— To not be able to avoid a sharp drop. A formal idiomatic expression.

그 회사의 주가는 급락을 면치 못했습니다.

급락주의보

— A 'sharp drop' warning. Often used in weather or finance.

기상청에서 기온 급락주의보를 발령했습니다.

급락 반전

— A reversal from a rise to a sharp drop.

상승하던 주가가 급락 반전했습니다.

급락 마감

— The market closing with a sharp drop.

오늘 코스피는 급락 마감했습니다.

급락 폭

— The range or amount of the sharp drop.

이번 급락 폭은 예상보다 컸습니다.

급락 원인

— The cause of the sharp drop.

전문가들이 주가 급락 원인을 분석하고 있습니다.

급락 우려

— Concerns about a potential sharp drop.

시장에는 가격 급락 우려가 확산되고 있습니다.

급락 이후

— After the sharp drop.

급락 이후 시장은 안정을 되찾았습니다.

급락을 거듭하다

— To drop sharply repeatedly.

가격이 며칠째 급락을 거듭하고 있습니다.

Often Confused With

급락하다 vs 하락하다

하락하다 is a general decrease, while 급락하다 is a sudden and sharp one.

급락하다 vs 추락하다

추락하다 is for physical objects falling or a fall in status; 급락하다 is for values/numbers.

급락하다 vs 폭락하다

폭락하다 is even more severe than 급락하다, usually implying a crash.

Idioms & Expressions

"곤두박질치다"

— To take a nosedive or fall headlong. It is a more vivid and slightly less formal way to say 급락하다.

경제 지표가 곤두박질치고 있습니다.

Neutral/Vivid

"바닥을 치다"

— To hit rock bottom. Often used after a 급락.

주가가 급락하더니 결국 바닥을 쳤습니다.

Neutral

"날개 없이 추락하다"

— To fall without wings. Used for a rapid and unstoppable decline in status or value.

그의 명성이 날개 없이 추락하고 있다.

Literary

"수직 낙하하다"

— To drop vertically. Emphasizes the steepness of the fall.

매출이 수직 낙하하고 있습니다.

Formal/Vivid

"천당에서 지옥으로"

— From heaven to hell. Used when a sudden drop (급락) happens after a high point.

주가가 급락하면서 기분이 천당에서 지옥으로 바뀌었습니다.

Informal

"끝 모를 추락"

— An endless fall. Used when a 급락 doesn't seem to stop.

경제 위기로 끝 모를 추락이 이어지고 있습니다.

Formal/Journalistic

"급전직하"

— A sudden and rapid fall (Sino-Korean idiom).

상황이 급전직하로 악화되었습니다.

Formal/Academic

"미끄럼틀을 타다"

— To go down a slide. Metaphor for a rapid decline.

성적이 미끄럼틀을 타고 있어요.

Informal/Child-friendly

"폭포수처럼 떨어지다"

— To fall like a waterfall. Visual metaphor for a sharp drop.

기온이 폭포수처럼 떨어졌습니다.

Vivid

"찬물을 끼얹다"

— To throw cold water on. Used when a sudden drop (급락) ruins a good mood or trend.

주가 급락이 시장 분위기에 찬물을 끼얹었습니다.

Neutral

Easily Confused

급락하다 vs 하락하다

Both mean to go down.

하락하다 is neutral and can be slow. 급락하다 is always fast and sharp.

물가는 하락했지만, 주가는 급락했다.

급락하다 vs 감소하다

Both describe a decrease.

감소하다 is about quantity/amount. 급락하다 is about value/rate/speed.

인구는 감소하고, 출산율은 급락하고 있다.

급락하다 vs 추락하다

Both imply a 'fall'.

추락하다 is physical (airplane) or metaphorical (fame). 급락하다 is statistical.

비행기는 추락했고, 항공사 주가는 급락했다.

급락하다 vs 몰락하다

Both imply a negative decline.

몰락하다 is for the total ruin of a family, empire, or group. 급락하다 is for data.

가문이 몰락하자 그들의 사회적 지위가 급락했다.

급락하다 vs 저하되다

Both mean to be lowered.

저하되다 is for quality, efficiency, or function. 급락하다 is for numerical values.

집중력이 저하되어 성적이 급락했다.

Sentence Patterns

[Noun]이/가 급락했어요.

기온이 급락했어요.

[Noun]의 [Noun]이/가 급락하고 있습니다.

사과의 가격이 급락하고 있습니다.

[Reason] 때문에 [Noun]이/가 급락했습니다.

뉴스 때문에 주가가 급락했습니다.

[Noun] 급락으로 인해 [Result].

기온 급락으로 인해 길이 얼었습니다.

[Noun]이/가 급락함에 따라 [Result].

수요가 급락함에 따라 생산을 중단했습니다.

[Noun]이/가 급락을 면치 못하다.

그 가수의 인기는 급락을 면치 못했습니다.

[Noun]이/가 급락할 것으로 예상되다.

내일 기온이 급락할 것으로 예상됩니다.

[Noun]의 급락은 [Noun]의 전조이다.

매출의 급락은 경영 위기의 전조이다.

Word Family

Nouns

급락 (Geup-rak) - A sudden plunge/drop.

Verbs

급락하다 (Geup-rak-ha-da) - To plummet/plunge.

급락시키다 (Geup-rak-si-ki-da) - To cause to plummet.

하락 (Decrease)

추락 (Fall/Crash)

폭락 (Crash/Collapse)

급등 (Skyrocket)

상승 (Rise)

How to Use It

frequency

High in news and business; Medium in daily life.

Common Mistakes

비행기가 급락했다. → 비행기가 추락했다.
Use '추락하다' for physical objects falling from a height. '급락하다' is for values.
뉴스가 주가를 급락했다. → 뉴스가 주가를 급락시켰다.
급락하다 is intransitive. To say 'caused to drop', use the causative '급락시키다'.
기분이 급락했어요. → 기분이 안 좋아졌어요.
'급락하다' is for numerical data, not usually for emotions.
가격이 조금 급락했어요. → 가격이 조금 하락했어요.
'급락' means a LARGE drop. '조금' (a little) contradicts the meaning of '급'.
급락하는 비를 조심하세요. → 폭우를 조심하세요.
'급락하다' is not used for rain falling. Use '폭우' (heavy rain) or '비가 쏟아지다'.

Tips

Learn the opposite

Always learn '급락하다' (plummet) and '급등하다' (skyrocket) together. They are the two most important verbs for describing dramatic changes in statistics.

Use with particles

Remember that '급락하다' is intransitive. Use '이/가' for the subject. If you want to use '을/를', use '급락시키다'.

IELTS Task 1

If you are taking an exam in Korean that requires describing graphs, '급락하다' is your best friend for describing a sharp downward trend.

News keywords

When you hear '급' at the start of a verb in a news report, pay attention! It almost always means something is happening fast or urgently.

Economic sensitivity

Koreans are very sensitive to economic '급락'. Using this word shows you understand the weight of the situation.

Know the slang

On the internet, you will see '떡락'. It's good to know, but don't use it in your Korean class or at work!

The '락' root

The character '락' (落) always means falling. Look for it in other words like '낙하산' (parachute) or '하락' (decrease).

Vivid descriptions

Use '급락하다' instead of '많이 떨어지다' to make your Korean sound more professional and precise.

Measurable things only

Try to only use this word for things you can put on a chart, like prices, temperatures, or percentages.

Express Train Fall

Think of an express train (급행) falling (락) off a cliff. That is '급락'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the word 'GEUP' as 'Gulp' (like swallowing in fear) and 'RAK' as 'Rock' falling. You 'Gulp' because a 'Rock' is falling fast! GEUP-RAK!

Visual Association

Imagine a red line on a stock market screen that suddenly bends 90 degrees downward like a cliff.

Word Web

주가 (Stock price) 기온 (Temperature) 지지율 (Approval rating) 급등 (Opposite: rise) 폭락 (Stronger drop) 하락 (Neutral drop) 경제 (Economy) 패닉 (Panic)

Challenge

Try to find a news headline today that uses the word '급락' or '급락하다' and translate the whole sentence into English.

Word Origin

Derived from the Hanja characters 急 (급) and 落 (락). '급' denotes speed, urgency, or suddenness. '락' denotes falling, dropping, or declining.

Original meaning: To fall urgently or suddenly.

Sino-Korean (Hanja-eo).

Cultural Context

Avoid using this word to describe personal tragedies (like a death) or physical accidents (like a fall) unless you are talking about statistical data related to them.

In English, we have many words like 'plummet', 'plunge', 'nosedive', and 'slump'. '급락하다' is the most direct equivalent to 'plummet' in a formal context.

Economic news headlines during the 2008 global financial crisis. Weather reports during the 'Cold Snap' (한파) of 2021 in Seoul. Discussions about the 'Birth Rate Cliff' (인구 절벽) in Korean documentaries.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Stock Market News

주가가 급락하다
코스피 지수 급락
패닉 셀 유도
급락 마감

Weather Forecast

기온이 급락하다
한파 주의보
영하권으로 급락
추위 대비

Business Meetings

매출 급락 원인
점유율 급락
대책 마련
수익성 급락

Political Analysis

지지율 급락
민심 이반
신뢰도 급락
여론 조사 결과

Academic Writing

출산율 급락
인구 감소
경제 성장률 급락
통계적 유의성

Conversation Starters

"요즘 주식 시장이 안 좋아서 제 주식도 급락했어요. 어떻게 하면 좋을까요?"

"내일부터 기온이 급락한다는데, 두꺼운 옷을 꺼내야겠어요."

"정치인의 지지율이 왜 이렇게 갑자기 급락했을까요?"

"새로운 경쟁 제품이 나오면 기존 제품의 가격이 급락할까요?"

"성적이 급락했을 때 부모님께 어떻게 말씀드리는 게 좋을까요?"

Journal Prompts

최근에 자신의 삶에서 무언가가 급락했던 경험이 있나요? (예: 성적, 기분, 열정)

만약 내일 당장 비트코인 가격이 급락한다면 당신은 어떻게 행동하시겠습니까?

한국의 출산율이 급락하는 이유에 대해 자신의 생각을 적어보세요.

기온이 급락하는 겨울날을 좋아하는지, 아니면 싫어하는지 이유와 함께 써보세요.

한 기업의 이미지가 급락했을 때, 그 기업이 다시 일어설 수 있는 방법은 무엇일까요?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should use '넘어지다' (to trip/fall over) or '떨어지다' (to fall from a height) for a person. '급락하다' is reserved for numbers and values like prices or temperatures.

Yes, but mostly when discussing things like the weather ('기온이 급락했어') or money/stocks. In very casual settings, people might use the slang '떡락' instead.

'급락' means a sudden, sharp drop. '폭락' is even stronger, meaning an explosive or catastrophic crash. Think of '급락' as a steep hill and '폭락' as a vertical cliff.

It is grammatically possible but sounds unnatural. For mood, Koreans usually say '기분이 안 좋아졌다' or '기분이 가라앉았다' (mood sank). Keep '급락' for measurable data.

You should use the causative form: '정부가 가격을 급락시켰다'. Or you can say '정부 때문에 가격이 급락했다'.

Yes, it is. '급' (急) means sudden/urgent and '락' (落) means fall. Knowing these Hanja helps you understand many other related words.

The direct opposite is '급등하다' (to skyrocket/soar). You will often see these two words appearing together in financial news.

Yes, you can. If your rank or score dropped significantly and suddenly, '성적이 급락했다' is a very common and descriptive way to express it.

Both are correct, but '급락하다' is more common as a verb. '급락을 하다' emphasizes the action of the drop occurring.

Absolutely. It is a very common word in the reading and writing sections of TOPIK II (Intermediate/Advanced), especially in questions involving graphs and charts.