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A1 verb #3,500 most common 10 min read

잃다

ilda Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 잃다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 잃다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners focus on the most basic and literal meaning of '잃다'—the physical loss of everyday objects. This is typically taught alongside common nouns like '지갑' (wallet), '열쇠' (key), and '핸드폰' (cell phone). The primary goal for an A1 student is to be able to report a lost item. Grammar at this level is restricted to simple past tense sentences like '지갑을 잃어버렸어요' (I lost my wallet). Students also learn the important distinction that '잃다' is NOT used for losing a game, which is a common mistake for beginners. The focus is on the 'subject-object-verb' structure and the use of the object particle '-을/를'. Pronunciation is also a key focus, specifically the aspiration of the 'ㄷ' sound after the 'ㅎ' in the stem, making '잃다' sound like [il-ta]. By the end of A1, a student should be able to navigate a 'lost and found' situation using this verb.

At the A2 level, the use of '잃다' expands to include more varied situational contexts and slightly more complex grammar. Learners start using '잃다' with '길' (way/road) to say '길을 잃다' (to get lost), which is a crucial survival phrase for travelers. They also begin to distinguish between the simple '잃다' and the compound '잃어버리다', understanding that the latter is more common in spoken Korean and emphasizes the accidental nature of the loss. A2 students practice using '잃다' in different sentence endings, such as the polite '-아요/어요' and the formal '-습니다'. They also learn to use it in negative imperatives like '잃어버리지 마세요' (Don't lose it). The vocabulary associated with '잃다' grows to include items like '우산' (umbrella), '가방' (bag), and '친구' (losing contact with a friend).

At the B1 level, learners move beyond physical objects and start using '잃다' in abstract and emotional contexts. This includes phrases like '용기를 잃다' (to lose courage), '희망을 잃다' (to lose hope), and '정신을 잃다' (to lose consciousness). The grammar becomes more sophisticated as students use '잃다' with connectors like '-어서/아서' (reason), '-(으)면' (if), and '-(으)니까' (since). For example, '길을 잃어서 지각했어요' (I was late because I lost my way). B1 students are also expected to understand the nuance of '잃다' in news headlines or simple stories, where it might refer to losing a job or losing one's home in a fire. The distinction between '잃다' and its Sino-Korean counterpart '분실하다' (formal loss) is introduced, helping students understand different registers of speech.

The B2 level requires a deeper understanding of '잃다' within the context of Korean society and idiomatic expressions. Learners explore how the verb is used in literature and more complex news reports. They study idioms like '이성을 잃다' (to lose one's reason/sanity) and '초심을 잃다' (to lose one's original intention/beginner's heart). At this stage, students should be able to discuss the social implications of loss, such as '일자리를 잃은 사람들' (people who lost their jobs) and the economic impact of '경쟁력을 잃다' (losing competitiveness). Grammar includes the use of '잃다' in passive-like constructions or as a modifier in complex sentences, such as '잃어버린 물건을 찾는 방법' (ways to find lost items). The focus is on fluency and the ability to choose between '잃다' and more specific synonyms depending on the formality of the situation.

At the C1 level, '잃다' is used in highly nuanced, academic, and philosophical discussions. Learners analyze its use in classical literature or modern social commentary, where it might represent the loss of national identity, the loss of human dignity, or the loss of traditional values. The word is often compared with '상실하다' (to be deprived of/to lose) in legal or psychological contexts. C1 students are expected to use '잃다' in complex rhetorical structures, such as '우리는 무엇을 위해 본질을 잃어가고 있는가?' (What are we losing our essence for?). They also master the subtle differences in tone when '잃다' is used in different registers, from poetic metaphors to dry technical reports. Mastery at this level involves understanding the cultural weight of 'loss' in the Korean mindset, particularly in relation to family and social standing.

At the C2 level, the learner's command of '잃다' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker. They can appreciate the word's use in high-level wordplay, puns, or deep philosophical treatises. They understand the historical evolution of the word and its etymological roots. A C2 learner can discuss the difference between '잃다' and related archaic or highly specialized terms used in law or history. They can write sophisticated essays on topics like '정체성을 잃어가는 현대인' (Modern people losing their identity) with perfect grammatical precision and stylistic flair. At this level, the word '잃다' is not just a verb but a tool for expressing the most profound aspects of the human experience—grief, failure, change, and the passage of time—within the specific framework of the Korean language and culture.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

잃다 in 30 Seconds

'잃다' means to lose an object, person, or abstract state.
It is never used for losing a game (use '지다' instead).
Commonly used as '잃어버리다' for physical objects in daily speech.
Pronounced as [일타] because of the consonant cluster 'ㅀ'.

The Korean verb 잃다 (ilh-da) is a fundamental word that every learner must master early in their journey. At its core, it translates to 'to lose' in English, but its application in Korean is nuanced and specific. Unlike English, where 'lose' can apply to a wide variety of situations—from losing a set of keys to losing a football match—Korean distinguishes between these types of losses using different verbs. The word 잃다 is primarily concerned with the loss of physical possession, the loss of a person (through death or separation), or the loss of abstract concepts like consciousness, courage, or one's way.

Physical Possession: This is the most common usage for beginners. It refers to having something and then no longer having it because you don't know where it is. For example, losing a wallet, a phone, or a book. In these cases, it is often used in the compound form 잃어버리다 to emphasize the completeness or the regret associated with the loss.

저는 어제 길에서 지갑을 잃었어요. (I lost my wallet on the street yesterday.)

Loss of People: In a more somber context, 잃다 is used when someone passes away or when you lose contact with someone significant. It conveys a deep sense of deprivation. For instance, 'losing a parent' or 'losing a friend' uses this verb.

Furthermore, 잃다 extends into the realm of the abstract. You can 'lose your way' (길을 잃다), 'lose consciousness' (정신을 잃다), or 'lose hope' (희망을 잃다). These expressions are very common in literature, news, and daily conversation. Understanding the breadth of 잃다 allows a learner to express not just physical mishaps but also deep emotional states and situational crises. It is a high-frequency verb that appears in CEFR A1 materials but remains relevant all the way through C2 academic discourse, where it might describe losing one's national identity or losing the essence of a philosophical argument.

그는 사고로 기억을 잃었습니다. (He lost his memory due to an accident.)

When using 잃다, the object being lost is marked with the object particle 을/를. The subject is usually the person who experienced the loss. Because the act of losing is often an unintentional event that happened in the past, you will most frequently encounter this verb in its past tense form: 잃었다, 잃어버렸다, or 잃었습니다. In modern spoken Korean, the distinction between 잃다 and 잃어버리다 is subtle, with the latter being much more common in casual conversation to express that something is 'gone for good.' Mastery of this word involves recognizing these patterns and ensuring you don't confuse it with 잊다 (to forget), which is a very common mistake for English speakers due to the similar phonetic profile of the two words in their conjugated forms.

Using 잃다 correctly requires an understanding of Korean sentence structure and the specific particles that accompany transitive verbs. As a transitive verb, 잃다 requires an object—the thing that is being lost. In a standard SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) sentence, the person who loses something is the subject (marked with 이/가 or 은/는), and the item lost is the object (marked with 을/를).

아이들이 숲에서 길을 잃었어요. (The children lost their way in the forest.)

One of the most important grammatical aspects of 잃다 is its conjugation. Because the stem ends in a consonant cluster ㅀ, it follows specific phonological rules. When followed by a vowel-starting suffix like -어, the ㅎ is silent, and the ㄹ carries over to the next syllable, resulting in the pronunciation [이러]. However, when followed by a consonant-starting suffix like -다 or -고, the ㅎ sound combines with the following consonant (if it's a stop consonant like ㄷ, ㄱ, ㅂ), making it aspirated. Thus, 잃다 is pronounced [일타], and 잃고 is pronounced [일코].

Compound Form: 잃어버리다: In daily life, Koreans almost always use 잃어버리다 instead of just 잃다 for physical objects. The auxiliary verb -버리다 adds a nuance of 'completely' or 'unintentionally,' often conveying a sense of regret or finality. If you say '우산을 잃어버렸어요,' it sounds more natural than '우산을 잃었어요,' which can sound a bit literary or abrupt in conversation.

Sentence patterns vary by level. At the A1 level, you will mostly see simple past tense sentences like '저는 가방을 잃었습니다.' At the B1 level, you might see it used in conditional sentences like '물건을 잃지 않으려면 조심하세요' (Be careful if you don't want to lose your things). At the C1 level, it appears in complex passive constructions or metaphorical contexts, such as '이성을 잃은 군중' (a crowd that has lost its reason/sanity). It is also worth noting that 잃다 is frequently used as an adjective-like modifier in the form 잃은, as in '잃은 물건' (lost item).

그는 젊음을 잃고 나서야 건강의 중요성을 깨달았다. (Only after losing his youth did he realize the importance of health.)

Finally, consider the negative forms. To say 'don't lose,' you use 잃지 마세요. To say 'cannot lose,' you use 잃을 수 없어요. These variations are essential for creating flexible dialogue. Whether you are reporting a lost item at a police station or consoling a friend who has lost a loved one, the grammatical backbone remains the same: the subject experiences the loss of an object or state, expressed through the root 잃-.

The word 잃다 is ubiquitous in Korean society, appearing in settings ranging from the mundane to the tragic. If you are traveling in Korea, one of the most common places you will hear or see this word is in public transportation. Announcements regarding 'lost and found' items use the term 유실물 (yusilmul), but the verb used to describe the act of losing is 잃다. If you lose your subway card, you would go to the office and say, '교통카드를 잃어버렸어요.'

지하철역 분실물 센터에서 잃어버린 물건을 찾으세요. (Find your lost items at the subway station's lost and found center.)

In the news, 잃다 is used with high frequency to report on casualties and economic losses. When a natural disaster occurs, news anchors will report the number of lives lost using the phrase 목숨을 잃다 (to lose one's life). Similarly, in financial reports, you might hear about companies losing their competitive edge (경쟁력을 잃다) or individuals losing their jobs (일자리를 잃다). These contexts are more formal and usually employ the plain 잃다 rather than the compound 잃어버리다.

K-Dramas and Music: If you enjoy Korean pop culture, you will hear this word in almost every ballad. Song lyrics often dwell on 'losing a love' (사랑을 잃다) or 'losing one's smile' (웃음을 잃다). In K-dramas, characters might dramatically shout '정신 차려! 정신을 잃으면 안 돼!' (Wake up! You mustn't lose consciousness!). This emotional weight makes the word a staple of storytelling.

In educational settings, teachers might use 잃다 to encourage students not to lose their focus or their confidence. A common phrase used to motivate someone is '자신감을 잃지 마세요' (Don't lose your self-confidence). Even in sports, while 지다 is used for the outcome of the game, a commentator might say a player 'lost their pace' (페이스를 잃다) or 'lost their balance' (균형을 잃다). This versatility means that as you progress in your Korean studies, you will encounter 잃다 in increasingly sophisticated environments, from casual chats about a lost umbrella to deep discussions about losing one's cultural heritage in a globalized world.

For English speakers learning Korean, the verb 잃다 is a frequent source of confusion. The most common mistake is the 'Lose a Game' error. In English, we use 'lose' for both misplacing a wallet and being defeated in a match. In Korean, these are strictly separated. If you say '축구 시합에서 잃었어요,' a Korean speaker will be very confused, thinking you physically misplaced the entire soccer match. You must use 지다 (ji-da) for defeat.

❌ 어제 축구 시합에서 잃었어요. (Wrong)
✅ 어제 축구 시합에서 졌어요. (Correct)

Another major pitfall is the confusion between 잃다 (ilh-da) and 잊다 (it-da). Because they sound somewhat similar—especially in their conjugated forms 잃어 (ireo) and 잊어 (ijeo)—learners often mix them up. 잃다 means to lose a physical or abstract thing, while 잊다 means to forget information or a memory. If you say '숙제를 잃었어요,' it means you physically lost your homework paper. If you say '숙제를 잊었어요,' it means you forgot that you had homework to do. Be careful with these!

The 'Lost Child' Nuance: When talking about a child who has gone missing, Koreans use '아이를 잃어버리다.' However, if you want to say the child 'is lost' (as in, doesn't know the way), you use '길을 잃다.' Using the wrong one can change the meaning from the parent's perspective of losing the child to the child's perspective of being lost in a location.

Finally, learners often struggle with the choice between 잃다 and 잃어버리다. While they are often interchangeable, 잃다 is broader and more formal, whereas 잃어버리다 is more specific to the accidental loss of physical items. If you use 잃어버리다 when talking about losing a parent, it might sound slightly insensitive or overly focused on the 'accidental' nature rather than the gravity of the loss. For solemn occasions, the simple 잃다 is usually preferred. By paying attention to these distinctions, you can avoid the common 'foreigner' mistakes that often lead to misunderstandings in conversation.

To truly master Korean, you need to know when to use 잃다 and when a synonym might be more appropriate. Korean has a rich vocabulary of 'loss,' and choosing the right word depends on the register (formal vs. informal) and the specific context of the loss.

잃다 vs. 분실하다 (Bunsilhada): While 잃다 is a native Korean word, 분실하다 is a Sino-Korean word (Hanja: 紛失). 분실하다 is much more formal and is used in official documents, police reports, or news. You would say '지갑을 잃어버렸어요' to a friend, but you would see '분실물' (lost item) on a sign at the airport.
잃다 vs. 상실하다 (Sangsilhada): Another Sino-Korean word, 상실하다 (Hanja: 喪失), is used for the loss of rights, status, or abstract qualities. It is highly formal and academic. For example, '국적을 상실하다' (to lose one's nationality) or '자격 상실' (loss of qualification). 잃다 can also be used here, but 상실하다 sounds more professional.
잃다 vs. 빼앗기다 (Ppaeatgida): If you lost something because someone else took it from you, you shouldn't use 잃다. Instead, use 빼앗기다, which means 'to be robbed' or 'to have something taken away.' 잃다 implies it was your own fault or a neutral accident; 빼앗기다 implies an external actor.

Comparison:
1. 돈을 잃었어요 (I lost money - maybe it fell out of my pocket).
2. 돈을 빼앗겼어요 (I was robbed of my money).

In summary, while 잃다 is your 'go-to' word for most types of loss, being aware of these alternatives will help you sound more like a native speaker. Use 지다 for games, 분실하다 for official business, 상실하다 for legal or abstract contexts, and 빼앗기다 when someone takes something from you. This level of precision is what separates an A1 learner from a C1 expert.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The 'ㅎ' in '잃다' is a remnant of historical phonology where many verbs had a hidden 'h' that only appears when combined with certain suffixes. This is why we have the aspirated 't' in '잃다' [일타].

Pronunciation Guide

UK /iɭ.tʰa/

US /iɭ.tʰa/

The stress is generally on the first syllable '잃'.

Rhymes With

싫다 (sil-ta - to hate) 앓다 (al-ta - to suffer from illness)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'ilda' without aspirating the 't'.
Pronouncing the 'h' sound separately.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'it-da' (잊다).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The word is short and common, but the 'ㅀ' cluster can be tricky for beginners.

Writing 2/5

Remembering the 'ㅀ' spelling is the main challenge.

Speaking 3/5

The [il-ta] pronunciation requires practice to avoid saying [il-da].

Listening 3/5

Can be easily confused with '잊다' [it-da] in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

있다 (to have) 없다 (to not have) 지갑 (wallet) 길 (way)

Learn Next

잊다 (to forget) 지다 (to lose a game) 찾다 (to find) 버리다 (to throw away/auxiliary)

Advanced

상실 (deprivation) 분실 (loss) 유실 (missing)

Grammar to Know

-어 버리다 (Auxiliary Verb)

잃어버렸어요 (I lost it completely/unintentionally).

ㅎ-Aspiration

잃다 -> [일타] (h + d = t).

-지 마세요 (Negative Imperative)

잃지 마세요 (Don't lose it).

-(으)ㄹ까 봐 (Fear/Worry)

잃을까 봐 걱정돼요 (I'm worried I might lose it).

-ㄴ/은 (Noun Modifier)

잃은 물건 (The lost item).

Examples by Level

저는 어제 열쇠를 잃었어요.

I lost my keys yesterday.

The verb is in the past tense '잃었어요'.

지갑을 잃어버리지 마세요.

Don't lose your wallet.

Uses the negative imperative '-지 마세요'.

어디에서 핸드폰을 잃었습니까?

Where did you lose your phone?

Formal question form '-습니까'.

가방을 잃어서 슬퍼요.

I'm sad because I lost my bag.

Uses '-어서' to indicate a reason.

길을 잃었어요. 도와주세요.

I'm lost. Please help me.

'길을 잃다' is a fixed expression for 'to be lost'.

우산을 지하철에 잃고 왔어요.

I left (lost) my umbrella on the subway.

'잃고 오다' implies losing it and coming back without it.

누가 돈을 잃었나요?

Who lost the money?

Uses the questioning ending '-나요'.

제 친구가 강아지를 잃어버렸어요.

My friend lost their puppy.

'잃어버리다' is used for the accidental loss of a pet.

길을 잃으면 경찰서에 가세요.

If you get lost, go to the police station.

Conditional '-(으)면'.

물건을 잃은 사람이 많아요.

There are many people who have lost items.

'잃은' is a past noun modifier.

어제 잃어버린 가방을 찾았어요.

I found the bag I lost yesterday.

Contrast between '잃어버리다' (lose) and '찾다' (find).

아이를 잃어버리지 않게 손을 잡으세요.

Hold hands so you don't lose the child.

'-지 않게' means 'so that (something) doesn't happen'.

비행기에서 짐을 잃을까 봐 걱정돼요.

I'm worried I might lose my luggage on the plane.

'-(으)ㄹ까 봐' expresses worry about a future possibility.

그는 사고로 한쪽 눈을 잃었습니다.

He lost one eye in an accident.

Formal past tense used for serious physical loss.

우리는 산속에서 방향을 잃었어요.

We lost our sense of direction in the mountains.

'방향을 잃다' means to lose direction.

비밀번호를 잃어버려서 로그인이 안 돼요.

I can't log in because I lost (forgot) my password.

Note: In this context, '잊어버리다' (forgot) is more common, but '잃어버리다' is sometimes used for physical records of passwords.

실패했다고 해서 희망을 잃지 마세요.

Don't lose hope just because you failed.

'-다고 해서' means 'just because'.

그는 갑자기 정신을 잃고 쓰러졌어요.

He suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed.

'정신을 잃다' is the standard phrase for fainting.

부모님을 일찍 잃은 아이들은 용감해요.

Children who lost their parents early are brave.

'잃다' used for the death of family members.

회사가 경쟁력을 잃어서 문을 닫았어요.

The company closed because it lost its competitiveness.

Abstract loss in a business context.

자신감을 잃으면 아무것도 할 수 없어요.

If you lose your confidence, you can't do anything.

Abstract loss of an emotional state.

그 영화는 대중의 관심을 잃고 말았습니다.

That movie ended up losing the public's interest.

'-고 말다' indicates an unfortunate end result.

전쟁으로 많은 사람이 집을 잃었습니다.

Many people lost their homes due to the war.

Formal reporting of significant loss.

그는 사랑을 잃고 슬픔에 빠졌어요.

He lost his love and fell into sadness.

Poetic/emotional use of '잃다'.

이성을 잃고 화를 내는 것은 좋지 않아요.

It's not good to lose your reason and get angry.

'이성을 잃다' means to lose one's cool or sanity.

그는 도박으로 전 재산을 잃고 말았다.

He ended up losing his entire fortune through gambling.

'전 재산' (entire fortune) highlights the scale of loss.

전통을 잃은 민족에게 미래는 없다.

There is no future for a nation that has lost its traditions.

National/Cultural loss used in a proverb-like sentence.

그는 사고 이후 삶의 의욕을 잃었습니다.

He lost his will to live after the accident.

'삶의 의욕' (will to live) is a high-level abstract object.

작가는 글을 쓰는 목적을 잃어버린 듯했다.

The writer seemed to have lost the purpose of writing.

'-ㄴ 듯하다' means 'it seems like'.

우리는 숲에서 길을 잃었지만 결국 길을 찾았다.

We lost our way in the forest but eventually found the path.

Contrast between '잃다' and '찾다' in a narrative.

그는 젊은 나이에 시력을 잃는 시련을 겪었다.

He went through the ordeal of losing his eyesight at a young age.

'시력을 잃다' is the medical/formal term for going blind.

정치인은 민심을 잃으면 자리를 지키기 어렵다.

If a politician loses public support, it's hard to keep their position.

'민심' (public sentiment/support) as an object.

현대 사회에서 인간은 점차 인간성을 잃어가고 있다.

In modern society, humans are gradually losing their humanity.

'-어 가다' indicates a continuing process.

그의 연설은 논리적 일관성을 잃어 설득력이 없었다.

His speech lost logical consistency and lacked persuasiveness.

'일관성을 잃다' (to lose consistency) is an academic phrase.

식민지 시대에 많은 이들이 모국어를 잃어야 했다.

During the colonial era, many had to lose their mother tongue.

Historical context of forced loss.

그는 권력의 맛을 본 후 초심을 잃고 타락했다.

After tasting power, he lost his original intentions and became corrupt.

'초심을 잃다' is a common idiomatic expression for changing for the worse.

예술이 상업성에 물들면 본질을 잃기 쉽다.

When art is tainted by commercialism, it's easy to lose its essence.

'본질을 잃다' (to lose essence).

과학의 발전이 때로는 윤리적 방향을 잃기도 한다.

The development of science sometimes loses its ethical direction.

'-기도 한다' means 'sometimes does'.

그는 큰 충격을 받고 한동안 언어 능력을 잃었다.

He received a great shock and lost his language ability for a while.

'언어 능력을 잃다' (to lose the ability to speak/aphasia).

도시화로 인해 우리는 고향의 정겨움을 잃었다.

Due to urbanization, we lost the warmth of our hometowns.

'정겨움을 잃다' (to lose the feeling of warmth/affection).

존재의 근원을 잃은 자의 방황은 끝이 없다.

The wandering of one who has lost the root of their existence is endless.

Philosophical usage of '잃다'.

그의 문체는 세월이 흐르면서 특유의 날카로움을 잃었다.

His writing style lost its characteristic sharpness as the years passed.

Literary criticism context.

국가는 주권을 잃었을 때 비로소 그 가치를 깨닫는다.

A nation only realizes its value when it has lost its sovereignty.

'주권을 잃다' (to lose sovereignty).

순수성을 잃은 비판은 공허한 메아리에 불과하다.

Criticism that has lost its purity is nothing more than an empty echo.

Metaphorical usage in social commentary.

인간이 자연과의 유대감을 잃을 때 재앙은 시작된다.

Disaster begins when humans lose their bond with nature.

'유대감을 잃다' (to lose a sense of bonding/connection).

그는 평생을 바친 연구가 부정당하자 삶의 균형을 잃었다.

When his lifelong research was denied, he lost the balance of his life.

'균형을 잃다' used for mental/existential balance.

권력에 눈이 멀어 도덕적 잣대를 잃는 것은 비극이다.

It is a tragedy to be blinded by power and lose one's moral yardstick.

'도덕적 잣대를 잃다' (to lose a moral compass).

기억을 잃는다는 것은 자신의 역사를 잃는 것과 같다.

To lose one's memory is the same as losing one's own history.

Existential comparison using '잃다'.

Common Collocations

길을 잃다

지갑을 잃다

정신을 잃다

용기를 잃다

일자리를 잃다

목숨을 잃다

희망을 잃다

균형을 잃다

이성을 잃다

초심을 잃다

Common Phrases

잃어버린 물건

— A lost item. Used to describe something that is missing.

잃어버린 물건을 찾으러 왔어요.

길을 잃은 아이

— A lost child. Used for children who can't find their parents.

길을 잃은 아이를 도와주었어요.

정신을 잃을 뻔하다

— To almost lose consciousness or to be extremely shocked.

너무 놀라서 정신을 잃을 뻔했어요.

전부 잃다

— To lose everything. Often used in stories or gambling contexts.

그는 하룻밤 만에 전부 잃었다.

기억을 잃다

— To lose one's memory (amnesia).

드라마 주인공이 기억을 잃었어요.

사랑을 잃다

— To lose a lover or to be heartbroken.

사랑을 잃은 후 노래를 만들었다.

건강을 잃다

— To lose one's health.

돈보다 건강을 잃는 것이 더 무섭다.

웃음을 잃다

— To lose one's smile/happiness.

그녀는 슬픈 일을 겪고 웃음을 잃었다.

방향을 잃다

— To lose direction (literally or metaphorically).

배가 바다에서 방향을 잃었다.

신뢰를 잃다

— To lose trust.

거짓말을 하면 친구의 신뢰를 잃는다.

Often Confused With

잃다 vs 잊다

Means 'to forget'. 잃다 is for losing things/people.

잃다 vs 지다

Means 'to lose a game'. 잃다 is for losing possessions.

잃다 vs 버리다

Means 'to throw away'. Often used with 잃다 as '잃어버리다'.

Idioms & Expressions

"정신을 잃다"

— To faint or lose consciousness.

뜨거운 날씨 때문에 정신을 잃고 쓰러졌다.

Common

"이성을 잃다"

— To lose one's cool or act irrationally due to anger or shock.

그는 이성을 잃고 소리를 질렀다.

Common

"초심을 잃다"

— To forget one's original humble intentions after becoming successful.

그 가수는 인기를 얻더니 초심을 잃었다.

Common

"넋을 잃다"

— To be spaced out or mesmerized by something beautiful or shocking.

아름다운 풍경을 보고 넋을 잃었다.

Literary

"길을 잃다"

— To be lost or to lose one's life's purpose.

졸업 후에 무엇을 할지 몰라 길을 잃은 기분이다.

Common

"목숨을 잃다"

— A formal way to say someone died in an accident or war.

수천 명의 병사들이 전장에서 목숨을 잃었다.

Formal

"빛을 잃다"

— To lose its shine or to become less important/impressive.

그의 명성은 추문으로 인해 빛을 잃었다.

Literary

"뿌리를 잃다"

— To lose one's heritage or identity.

해외에서 자란 아이들은 뿌리를 잃기 쉽다.

Academic

"중심을 잃다"

— To lose one's physical balance or mental stability.

갑작스러운 소식에 그는 삶의 중심을 잃었다.

Common

"색을 잃다"

— To fade or to lose vitality.

오래된 사진은 이제 색을 잃었다.

Literary

Easily Confused

잃다 vs 잊다

Sound similar and both involve 'no longer having' something (a memory vs an object).

잊다 is for mental information (names, dates). 잃다 is for physical or existential loss.

전화번호를 잊었어요 (I forgot the number). vs 핸드폰을 잃었어요 (I lost the phone).

잃다 vs 지다

English uses 'lose' for both.

지다 is only for defeat in games/competitions.

경기에서 졌어요 (I lost the game).

잃다 vs 놓치다

Both involve losing something.

놓치다 is specifically failing to catch or keep a grip on something (a bus, a ball, a chance).

버스를 놓쳤어요 (I missed the bus).

잃다 vs 없어지다

The result is the same (it's gone).

없어지다 focuses on the object disappearing. 잃다 focuses on the person's experience of losing it.

가방이 없어졌어요 (The bag is gone/disappeared).

잃다 vs 분실하다

Same meaning.

분실하다 is much more formal and usually used in writing or official contexts.

분실물을 신고하세요 (Report the lost item).

Sentence Patterns

[Object]을/를 잃어버렸어요.

지갑을 잃어버렸어요.

[Object]을/를 잃지 마세요.

열쇠를 잃지 마세요.

길을 잃었어요.

서울역에서 길을 잃었어요.

[Abstract]을/를 잃지 마세요.

용기를 잃지 마세요.

[Object]을/를 잃어서 [Result].

돈을 잃어서 배고파요.

[Person]을/를 잃고 슬픔에 빠지다.

친구를 잃고 슬픔에 빠졌어요.

[Concept]의 본질을 잃다.

예술의 본질을 잃었다.

[Existence]의 근원을 잃다.

존재의 근원을 잃은 삶.

Word Family

Nouns

분실 (loss)

상실 (deprivation)

유실 (drifting away/loss)

Verbs

잃어버리다 (to lose completely)

잃어버려지다 (to be lost - passive)

Adjectives

잃은 (lost - as a modifier)

잊다 (to forget)

지다 (to lose a game)

없어지다 (to disappear)

찾다 (to find)

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in daily life, news, and literature.

Common Mistakes

축구 시합에서 잃었어요. → 축구 시합에서 졌어요.
'잃다' is only for possessions or abstract states, not for losing a competition. Use '지다'.
전화번호를 잃어버렸어요. → 전화번호를 잊어버렸어요.
If you can't remember the number, use '잊다' (to forget). If you lost the paper the number was on, '잃다' is okay.
살을 잃고 싶어요. → 살을 빼고 싶어요.
'To lose weight' is '살을 빼다' or '살이 빠지다'. '잃다' is never used for weight.
길을 잊었어요. → 길을 잃었어요.
'길을 잊다' means you forgot which way to go (memory). '길을 잃다' means you are currently lost (situational).
그는 사고로 정신을 잊었다. → 그는 사고로 정신을 잃었다.
'정신을 잃다' is the fixed expression for losing consciousness. '정신을 잊다' is not a standard phrase.

Tips

The Compound Form

Always use '잃어버리다' when you want to sound more natural in daily conversation about losing your keys, phone, or bag. The simple '잃다' can sound a bit too formal or literary in these cases.

Watch the Aspirated T

Don't forget that 잃다 sounds like 'il-ta'. If you say 'il-da', people might not understand you immediately. Practice the breathy 't' sound.

Losing People

When someone loses a loved one, '잃다' is the appropriate verb to use to show empathy. For example, '가족을 잃은 슬픔' (the sadness of losing family).

Don't confuse with 잊다

Create a mental link: 잃다 (Lose) has an 'L' (ㄹ). 잊다 (Forget) has a 'J/Z' (ㅈ). This will help you keep them separate in your mind.

Losing a Game

Repeat after me: '경기에서 졌어요' (I lost the game). Never say '경기에서 잃었어요'.

Object Particles

Always ensure you use '을' or '를' with the object being lost. '지갑을 잃었어요' is the standard structure.

Getting Lost

Memorize '길을 잃었어요' (I'm lost). It is a vital phrase if you are traveling in Korea and find yourself without GPS.

Abstract Loss

In books, look for '잃다' paired with words like '영혼' (soul) or '빛' (light) for poetic effect.

News Reports

When watching the news, you will hear '목숨을 잃다' frequently. This is the standard way to report deaths in accidents.

Losing Face

'체면을 잃다' is a key cultural concept. It means to lose one's dignity or reputation in front of others.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the 'L' in 'Lose'. The Korean word starts with an 'I' sound but has a strong 'L' (ㄹ) in the bottom. Imagine an 'L' shaped hook losing its catch.

Visual Association

Visualize a person looking at an empty pocket where their wallet used to be, with a '?' bubble above their head.

Word Web

지갑 (wallet) 길 (road) 정신 (mind) 희망 (hope) 목숨 (life) 열쇠 (key) 핸드폰 (phone) 기억 (memory)

Challenge

Try to name three things you lost this year in Korean using the sentence '저는 올해 [object]을/를 잃어버렸어요.'

Word Origin

'잃다' is a native Korean word (Pure Korean) that has been used since Middle Korean (15th century) in the form '일다'.

Original meaning: The original meaning was consistent with today: to lose something one possessed or to lose a path.

Koreanic

Cultural Context

When using '잃다' for people, it implies death or deep separation. Use with empathy.

English speakers often use 'lose' for games, which is the biggest hurdle when learning '잃다'.

'잃어버린 시간을 찾아서' (In Search of Lost Time - Proust) '정신을 잃다' is a common trope in K-Dramas during dramatic accidents.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Subway Station

지갑을 잃어버렸어요.
분실물 센터가 어디예요?
언제 잃으셨어요?
가방을 지하철에 두고 내렸어요.

In the Mountains/Hiking

길을 잃었어요.
지도가 없어요.
방향을 모르겠어요.
도와주세요!

At a Hospital

갑자기 정신을 잃었어요.
기억이 안 나요.
어디가 아프세요?
사고가 났어요.

Encouraging a Friend

희망을 잃지 마.
너라면 할 수 있어.
자신감을 가져.
다시 시작하면 돼.

Reporting an Accident

사람들이 목숨을 잃었어요.
피해가 커요.
어떻게 이런 일이 생겼나요?
도움이 필요해요.

Conversation Starters

"최근에 무엇을 잃어버린 적이 있나요? (Have you lost anything recently?)"

"길을 잃었을 때 어떻게 했어요? (What did you do when you got lost?)"

"물건을 잘 잃어버리는 편인가요? (Do you tend to lose things often?)"

"정신을 잃을 만큼 놀란 적이 있나요? (Have you ever been so shocked you almost fainted?)"

"초심을 잃지 않기 위해 무엇을 하나요? (What do you do to not lose your original intentions?)"

Journal Prompts

내가 가장 소중하게 생각하는 물건을 잃어버린다면? (What if I lost my most precious possession?)

길을 잃었지만 새로운 곳을 발견했던 경험. (An experience where I got lost but found a new place.)

희망을 잃었을 때 나를 도와준 것들. (Things that helped me when I lost hope.)

'잃다'와 '얻다'의 차이에 대한 나의 생각. (My thoughts on the difference between 'losing' and 'gaining'.)

인간이 절대로 잃어서는 안 되는 것. (Something humans must never lose.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you must use '지다'. '잃다' is for physical objects or abstract concepts like hope. Using '잃다' for a game sounds like you physically misplaced the game.

'잃어버리다' is a compound verb that emphasizes that the loss was accidental and complete. It is much more common in spoken Korean for physical items like keys or wallets.

Yes, it is a common and respectful way to say someone lost a family member. For example, '아버지를 잃었어요' means my father passed away.

It is pronounced [일타]. The 'ㅎ' and 'ㄷ' combine to make a 'ㅌ' sound.

No, 'to forget' is '잊다'. They are often confused because they sound similar when conjugated (잃어 vs 잊어).

It means to lose consciousness or to faint. It can also be used figuratively to mean being extremely shocked.

'상실하다' is a very formal word used for losing rights, qualities, or in academic/legal contexts. For example, '국적을 상실하다' (to lose nationality).

It follows the 'ㅎ' cluster rules. When followed by a vowel, 'ㅎ' is silent (잃어 -> [이러]). When followed by 'ㄷ, ㄱ, ㅈ', those consonants become aspirated (잃다 -> [일타], 잃고 -> [일코]).

No, for losing weight, Koreans say '살이 빠지다' (weight falls off) or '살을 빼다' (to take weight off).

'유실물' is a formal noun meaning 'lost item', often seen in subway stations or airports.