Explanation at your level:
You use 갈증나다 when you want water. If you are hot or tired, you can say this to your friend. It is a very basic and useful word for your daily life.
When you exercise or walk under the sun, you will feel this. Use it to explain why you need to buy a drink at a convenience store. It is a simple state-of-being adjective.
You can use this to describe physical needs after eating spicy food or doing sports. It is often used with adverbs like '너무' (too/very) or '조금' (a little) to describe the intensity of your thirst.
Beyond physical thirst, you might hear this used metaphorically. For example, '지적 갈증' describes a strong desire for knowledge, similar to how one craves water. It adds nuance to your descriptions.
In advanced contexts, this word can describe a deep, persistent longing or craving for something missing in life. It elevates the conversation from simple biology to emotional or intellectual states of being.
Mastery involves understanding the subtle distinction between physical dehydration and abstract yearning. Literary usage often employs this to emphasize a character's internal emptiness or intense desire for a goal.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to be thirsty.
- Used in daily life.
- Can be physical or metaphorical.
- Very common in Korean.
갈증나다 is a very common Korean adjective used to describe the feeling of being thirsty. When you break it down, 갈증 means 'thirst' and 나다 means 'to come out' or 'to arise'.
Think of it as your body's way of signaling that it's time for a drink. It is a daily necessity word that you will use constantly when living in Korea or talking with Korean friends about your physical state.
The word is rooted in Sino-Korean characters. 갈 (渴) stands for 'thirst' and 증 (症) refers to a 'symptom' or 'condition'.
Historically, this term was used in medical contexts to describe the symptom of thirst, but it evolved over centuries into common parlance. It reflects the traditional focus on body balance in East Asian culture, where understanding your internal 'symptoms' was considered essential for health.
You use this word in casual and semi-formal settings. You might say it to a friend after a long run or to a waiter when you are very thirsty.
Commonly, it is paired with 너무 (very) to express extreme thirst: 너무 갈증나요. It is a versatile adjective that fits perfectly into any conversation about exercise, hot weather, or spicy food.
1. 갈증을 해소하다: To quench one's thirst. Example: 시원한 물로 갈증을 해소했어요.
2. 갈증이 나다: To feel thirsty. Example: 운동 후에 갈증이 나요.
3. 지적 갈증: Intellectual thirst/curiosity. Example: 그는 지적 갈증이 많다.
4. 갈증을 느끼다: To feel a sense of thirst. Example: 더운 날씨에 갈증을 느낍니다.
5. 갈증이 심하다: To be extremely thirsty. Example: 너무 매운 걸 먹어서 갈증이 심해요.
As an adjective, it conjugates with -아/어/여요 to become 갈증나요. It does not take a direct object particle because it is a descriptive state.
Pronunciation is straightforward: [gal-jeung-na-da]. Pay attention to the 'ng' sound in 'jeung' to sound more natural. It rhymes loosely with words ending in '-da' like '간다' or '온다'.
Fun Fact
It combines classical Chinese roots with Korean grammar.
Pronunciation Guide
Similar to Korean pronunciation.
Standard Korean phonetic pronunciation.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'ng' as 'n'
- Dropping the 'l' sound
- Stressing the wrong syllable
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
-아/어/여요
갈증나요
Noun + -이/가
갈증이 나다
Adjective conjugation
갈증나다
Examples by Level
물 주세요. 갈증나요.
Water please. I am thirsty.
Simple state statement.
갈증나요.
I am thirsty.
Basic adjective usage.
너무 갈증나요.
I am very thirsty.
Adverb + Adjective.
갈증나서 물 마셔요.
I am thirsty, so I drink water.
Conjunction -서.
갈증나요, 선생님.
I am thirsty, teacher.
Polite address.
갈증나세요?
Are you thirsty?
Question form.
지금 갈증나요.
I am thirsty now.
Time marker.
조금 갈증나요.
I am a little thirsty.
Modifier usage.
운동 후에 갈증나요.
날씨가 더워서 갈증나요.
매운 음식을 먹어서 갈증나요.
갈증나서 주스를 마셨어요.
갈증나면 물을 마시세요.
많이 갈증나요?
갈증나지 않아요.
갈증나서 힘들어요.
갈증을 해소하기 위해 물을 마셨다.
등산 후에 갈증이 심하게 났다.
갈증이 나면 참지 말고 마셔라.
지적 갈증을 느끼는 학생이다.
갈증을 느끼는 것은 자연스러운 일이다.
갈증이 가시지 않는다.
갈증 때문에 집중이 안 된다.
갈증 해소에 좋은 음료를 찾는다.
그는 성공에 대한 갈증이 대단하다.
지식에 대한 갈증은 끝이 없다.
갈증을 해소해 줄 시원한 답변이 필요하다.
그의 갈증은 단순한 목마름이 아니었다.
갈증이 극에 달했다.
갈증을 참으며 경기를 마쳤다.
갈증을 달래려 물을 찾았다.
갈증이 나는 듯한 느낌을 받았다.
그는 예술적 갈증을 채우기 위해 여행을 떠났다.
내면의 갈증을 해소할 방법을 찾고 있다.
그의 갈증은 단순한 욕구를 넘어선 것이었다.
지적 갈증을 채워주는 강의였다.
갈증을 느끼는 것은 성장의 신호다.
갈증이 나지 않을 만큼 충분히 마셨다.
갈증을 해소하는 과정은 고통스러웠다.
그의 갈증은 결국 해소되지 못했다.
시대적 갈증을 반영하는 소설이다.
그는 갈증을 동력으로 삼아 전진했다.
갈증은 인간의 가장 근원적인 욕구 중 하나다.
갈증을 해소하려는 인간의 본능은 강렬하다.
그의 갈증은 철학적 질문으로 이어졌다.
갈증을 느끼지 않는 삶은 무미건조하다.
갈증을 달래는 것은 생존의 필수 조건이다.
그의 갈증은 마침내 끝을 보았다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"목이 타다"
To be extremely thirsty.
너무 더워서 목이 타요.
casual"갈증을 해소하다"
To quench thirst.
시원한 물로 갈증을 해소해요.
neutral"지적 갈증"
Intellectual curiosity.
그는 지적 갈증이 많아요.
formal"갈증을 달래다"
To soothe thirst.
조금만 마시고 갈증을 달랬어요.
neutral"갈증이 극에 달하다"
Thirst is at its peak.
갈증이 극에 달해서 쓰러질 뻔했어요.
formal"갈증이 가시다"
Thirst goes away.
물 마시니 갈증이 가셨어요.
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean thirsty.
목마르다 is more physical/throat-focused.
목이 말라요 vs 갈증나요.
Both are physical needs.
One is hunger, one is thirst.
배고파요 vs 갈증나요.
Noun vs Adjective.
갈증 is the noun, 갈증나다 is the adjective.
갈증이 있다 vs 갈증나요.
Both mean extreme thirst.
목이 타다 is more idiomatic/intense.
목이 타요 vs 갈증나요.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 갈증나요
저 갈증나요.
너무 + 갈증나요
너무 갈증나요.
갈증을 해소하다
갈증을 해소해요.
지적 갈증을 느끼다
지적 갈증을 느껴요.
갈증이 극에 달하다
갈증이 극에 달했어요.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
You don't 'eat' thirst, you 'have' it.
Thirst is the state, not the object of drinking.
It needs the 'na-da' suffix to function as a verb/adjective.
Redundant; just say 목이 마르다 or 갈증나다.
You cannot 'dry' thirst.
Tips
The Gulp Trick
Remember Gulping = 갈증.
Summer Usage
Use it often in summer.
K-Drama
Listen for it in sports scenes.
Adjective Rule
It functions as a descriptive state.
Ng Sound
Focus on the nasal 'ng'.
Don't eat thirst
Never use '먹다' with thirst.
Sino-Korean
It has ancient roots.
Flashcards
Pair it with '물'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Gal-jeung sounds like 'Gulp-ing'. Gulping water when thirsty!
Visual Association
A dry desert landscape turning into a cool oasis.
Word Web
Challenge
Say '갈증나요' every time you drink water today.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: 渴 (thirsty) + 症 (symptom)
Cultural Context
None, very neutral.
Directly maps to 'to be thirsty'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
After exercise
- 운동 후 갈증나요
- 물 좀 주세요
- 너무 목말라요
Hot weather
- 날씨가 더워서 갈증나요
- 시원한 게 필요해요
- 갈증이 심해요
Eating spicy food
- 매워서 갈증나요
- 물 한 잔 주세요
- 입이 타요
Studying/Learning
- 지적 갈증을 느낍니다
- 더 배우고 싶어요
- 갈증이 납니다
Conversation Starters
"오늘 날씨가 더운데 갈증 안 나세요?"
"운동 후에 갈증나지 않아요?"
"지적 갈증을 채우기 위해 무엇을 하시나요?"
"갈증을 해소하는 최고의 방법은 무엇인가요?"
"매운 음식을 먹고 갈증난 적 있나요?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you were very thirsty.
What do you do to quench your thirst?
Do you have any intellectual 'thirst'?
How do you feel after a long run?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, they are synonyms.
No, use 배고프다 for hunger.
It is neutral.
갈증나지 않아요.
Yes, 갈증났어요.
Usually not, use '욕심' instead.
Only if talking about health or metaphorically.
너무 갈증나요.
Test Yourself
운동 후에 ___.
Exercise makes you thirsty.
Which means 'to quench thirst'?
해소하다 means to resolve/quench.
갈증나다 is a verb.
It is technically an adjective in Korean grammar.
Word
Meaning
Vocabulary matching.
Subject + adverb + verb.
Score: /5
Summary
갈증나다 is the essential way to express your need for water in Korean.
- Means to be thirsty.
- Used in daily life.
- Can be physical or metaphorical.
- Very common in Korean.
The Gulp Trick
Remember Gulping = 갈증.
Summer Usage
Use it often in summer.
K-Drama
Listen for it in sports scenes.
Adjective Rule
It functions as a descriptive state.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
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드라이어
A2Hair dryer; an electrical device for drying hair.
면도기
A2Razor; a tool with a sharp blade, used for shaving.
허기지다
B1To be hungry; feeling a need to eat food.
관절
B1A point where two or more bones meet.
육체
B2Body, physique, or physical form.
린스
A2Conditioner; a liquid applied to hair after shampooing.
