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졸이다

B1 verb 9 min read

졸이다

jolida

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 졸이다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 졸이다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to worry about the complex emotional meanings of '졸이다'. Instead, focus on its literal meaning in the kitchen. Imagine you are making a simple sauce. You put it on the stove and wait for it to become thicker and smaller in amount. That action is '졸이다'. It is a combination of 'boiling' and 'making it less'. You might see this word in very simple recipes or hear it when someone is teaching you how to make a basic Korean dish like Tteokbokki. Just remember: '졸이다' = 'boil and reduce'. It is different from just 'boiling water' (끓이다).

At the A2 level, you can start to distinguish between '끓이다' (to boil) and '졸이다' (to boil down). You should be able to use '졸이다' in a sentence about cooking, such as '소스를 더 졸이세요' (Boil the sauce down more). You might also encounter the past tense '졸였다'. At this level, you should also be aware that there is another word that sounds the same, '조리다' (to braise), and try to notice the difference in spelling in written recipes. You are starting to see how Korean has specific verbs for different types of cooking processes.

At the B1 level, you should master both the culinary and the emotional meanings of '졸이다'. You should be able to use the idiomatic expression '마음을 졸이다' to describe feeling anxious or nervous. For example, '시험 결과를 기다리며 마음을 졸였어요' (I was anxious while waiting for my exam results). You should also understand the causative structure of the verb and be able to use various endings like '-어서', '-으니까', and '-으면서' with it. This is the level where you transition from just 'cooking' to 'expressing feelings' using this word.

At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of '졸이다' versus its synonyms like '달이다' (to decoct medicine) or '고다' (to boil bones). you should be able to explain the difference between '졸이다' and '조리다' to others. In your writing, you can use '졸이다' to create suspenseful atmospheres. You should also recognize the word in various registers, from informal conversations to more formal news reports or literary texts. You can handle the word in complex grammatical structures, such as '졸이지 않을 수 없었다' (I couldn't help but be anxious).

At the C1 level, you can appreciate the metaphorical depth of '졸이다'. You might use it in creative writing to describe how time or resources are being 'boiled down' to their essence. You understand the historical and cultural context of the word, including its relation to traditional medicine. You can use the word fluently in high-pressure discussions about social issues where the public is '마음을 졸이고 있다'. Your use of the word is indistinguishable from a native speaker, and you never confuse the spelling with '조리다' even in fast writing.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of '졸이다'. You can discuss the etymological roots of the word and its evolution in the Korean language. You might use it in academic contexts to describe chemical reductions or in sophisticated literary analysis to discuss themes of anxiety and concentration in Korean poetry. You are aware of archaic or rare forms related to the root and can use the word with perfect precision in any context, including legal or medical settings where 'reduction' has specific technical implications.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

졸이다 in 30 Seconds

졸이다 primarily means to boil down a liquid to reduce its volume and concentrate its flavor, essential for making sauces and syrups.
It is famously used in the idiom '마음을 졸이다', which means to be extremely anxious, nervous, or in a state of suspense.
In spelling, it must be distinguished from '조리다' (to braise food), as '졸이다' focuses specifically on the reduction of the liquid itself.
Commonly heard in cooking shows for culinary instructions and in dramas to describe characters' intense emotional stress or worry.

The Korean verb 졸이다 is a multifaceted word that primarily describes the process of boiling a liquid until its volume decreases significantly through evaporation. This is a fundamental technique in Korean culinary arts, where the concentration of flavor is paramount. When you are making a sauce, a syrup, or a heavy broth, you are likely to encounter this term. It is distinct from simply boiling (끓이다) because the specific goal of jol-ida is the reduction of the liquid itself to achieve a thicker consistency or a more intense taste profile.

Culinary Context: In the kitchen, this verb is used when a chef wants to thicken a balsamic reduction, a soy-based glaze, or a traditional Korean medicinal decoction. It implies patience and heat control, as boiling too vigorously might burn the sugars, while boiling too slowly won't achieve the desired reduction.

Beyond the kitchen, 졸이다 takes on a deeply emotional and metaphorical meaning. It is most famously paired with the word 마음 (heart/mind) to form the expression 마음을 졸이다. This phrase describes a state of extreme anxiety, nervousness, or suspense. Just as a liquid is boiled down and pressurized, the person's heart feels compressed and heated by worry. This is a common way to describe how one feels while waiting for exam results, a doctor's diagnosis, or news about a loved one in danger.

간장을 반으로 졸여서 소스를 만드세요. (Make the sauce by boiling the soy sauce down to half.)

Historically, the term has been used in Korean literature to describe the physical reduction of medicinal herbs. Traditional medicine often requires boiling gallons of water down to a single cup to extract the maximum potency of the ingredients. This physical 'concentration' mirrors the emotional 'concentration' of anxiety. In modern usage, you will see it in recipes, news headlines about suspenseful events, and daily conversations about stress. It is a B1 level word because while the culinary meaning is straightforward, the metaphorical usage requires a deeper understanding of Korean idiomatic expression.

시험 결과를 기다리며 마음을 졸였다. (I was anxious/on pins and needles while waiting for the test results.)

Chemical Process: Technically, this is about the evaporation of water molecules. In Korean, the root '졸-' carries the sense of shrinking or diminishing in volume. This is why it is used for liquids but not for solids that simply shrink from heat (like meat), which use different verbs.

In summary, whether you are a chef watching a pot or a student watching a clock, 졸이다 captures that intense process of reduction—be it of a physical fluid or your own internal peace. It is a word of concentration, intensity, and sometimes, high-stakes emotion.

Using 졸이다 correctly requires identifying whether you are speaking literally about cooking or figuratively about emotions. In both cases, the word functions as a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes an object marked by -을/를. In a culinary context, the object is the liquid (water, sauce, broth). In an emotional context, the object is almost always 마음 (heart) or 가슴 (chest).

Grammar Structure: Cooking: [Liquid] + 을/를 + [Amount] + 까지 + 졸이다. Example: 소스를 반으로 졸이세요 (Boil the sauce down to half).

When you use the verb in the past tense, 졸였다, it implies that the process is finished and the liquid is now concentrated. In the imperative form, 졸이세요 or 졸여라, it is a command found in cookbooks. Note that the spelling is very specific; using '조리다' here would change the meaning to 'braising the food' rather than 'reducing the liquid'.

국물이 너무 많으면 더 졸이세요. (If there is too much soup, boil it down more.)

Grammar Structure: Emotion: 마음을 + 졸이다. This is a set phrase. You cannot easily replace '마음' with other words like '기분' (mood) in this specific structure. It describes a physical sensation of tightness in the chest due to worry.

In complex sentences, 졸이다 often connects with other verbs using -어서/아서 (because/and then). For example, '마음을 졸이며 기다렸다' (I waited while my heart was in my mouth). Here, the -으며 ending indicates that the anxiety and the waiting are happening simultaneously. This is a very common structure in narrative writing and storytelling in Korean.

그는 합격 소식을 기다리며 며칠째 마음을 졸이고 있다. (He has been anxious for several days while waiting for the acceptance news.)

Finally, consider the passive or causative nuances. While 졸이다 itself is technically a causative form of '졸다' (to boil dry/reduce), it is treated as an independent verb in modern Korean. You will rarely hear someone say '물이 졸았다' (the water boiled dry) without implying it happened accidentally, whereas '물을 졸였다' implies a deliberate action by the cook.

If you watch Korean cooking shows, such as those featuring famous chef Baek Jong-won, you will hear 졸이다 constantly. Chefs use it to explain how to develop deep flavors. They might say, '여기서 양념을 바짝 졸여야 맛있어요' (It’s delicious only if you boil the seasoning down completely here). The adverb 바짝 (completely/tightly) is a frequent companion to this verb in culinary contexts, emphasizing the thoroughness of the reduction.

In K-Dramas: In dramas, especially thrillers or romances, characters will use '마음을 졸이다' to describe their tension. A mother might say to her child who came home late, '내가 얼마나 마음을 졸였는지 아니?' (Do you know how anxious I was?). This adds a layer of emotional weight, suggesting that the speaker was suffering while waiting.

In the workplace, you might hear it during high-pressure situations. If a team is waiting for a major contract to be signed, a manager might remark on the tense atmosphere. However, it’s more common in personal or narrative contexts than in formal business reports. In news reporting, journalists use it to describe the public's reaction to a developing crisis, such as a hostage situation or a close election race, where the entire nation is '마음을 졸이며' watching the results unfold.

부모님은 자식의 수술 결과를 졸이며 지켜보았다. (The parents watched, their hearts in their mouths, as they waited for the result of their child's surgery.)

Another place you'll find this word is in traditional Korean medicine (한의학). Instructions for brewing herbal tea (한약) always involve '졸이다'. You start with several liters of water and boil it down until only a small, potent amount remains. This process is seen as a way to concentrate the 'gi' (energy) of the herbs. Therefore, the word carries a connotation of patience and the extraction of essence.

Lastly, in sports commentary, when a game is tied in the final minutes, the announcer might say, '팬들의 마음을 졸이게 하는 경기입니다' (This is a game that is making the fans' hearts boil with suspense). This usage highlights the communal experience of tension in a competitive environment.

The most frequent mistake learners (and even native speakers) make is confusing 졸이다 with 조리다. While they sound identical in speech, their meanings and spellings are distinct. 졸이다 refers to the reduction of the liquid itself (making the water disappear). 조리다 refers to the act of cooking food (like fish or tofu) in a seasoned liquid so that the flavors soak into the food. If you are making 'Galbi-jjim' or 'Saengseon-jorim', you are '조리다'-ing the meat or fish. If you are just making the sauce thicker by boiling it, you are '졸이다'-ing the sauce.

Mistake 1: Spelling Confusion: Writing '마음을 조리다' (Incorrect) instead of '마음을 졸이다' (Correct). The emotional metaphor only works with the spelling that means 'to boil down liquid'.

Another mistake is using 졸이다 when you simply mean to boil water (끓이다). If you are making tea or boiling water for ramen, you are 끓이다. You only use 졸이다 if you intend to keep boiling it until the water level goes down significantly. Using the wrong word here might make people think you are trying to make a concentrated syrup out of your ramen water!

Incorrect: 라면 물을 졸였어요. (I boiled the ramen water down - implies you boiled it too long and the water vanished.)

Learners also sometimes struggle with the causative nature of the word. Because 졸이다 is the causative form of '졸다', some try to use '졸다' for emotions. However, you cannot say '내 마음이 존다' to mean 'I am anxious'. You must use the active form: '마음을 졸이다'. The emotion is something you *do* to your heart in this linguistic construction.

Finally, avoid using 졸이다 for non-liquid reductions. If you are shrinking a sweater in the wash or reducing the size of a file on a computer, different verbs like '줄이다' (to reduce/shorten) or '압축하다' (to compress) are required. 졸이다 is strictly for liquids and the specific 'heart-boiling' anxiety.

To master 졸이다, you must understand how it relates to other 'boiling' and 'reducing' verbs in Korean. The most closely related word is 끓이다 (to boil). While 끓이다 is the general term for heating a liquid to its boiling point, 졸이다 is the specific term for continuing that process until the liquid evaporates. If 끓이다 is the start, 졸이다 is the middle and end of the process.

졸이다 vs. 조리다

졸이다: Focus on the liquid (e.g., reducing sauce).
조리다: Focus on the ingredient (e.g., braising fish in sauce).

Another interesting alternative is 달이다. This verb is specifically used for boiling down medicinal herbs or making traditional syrups like 'cho-cheong'. It implies a very slow, low-heat process intended to extract deep medicinal properties. While you could technically use 졸이다 for medicine, 달이다 sounds much more professional and traditional. Similarly, 고다 is used for boiling bones or meat for a very long time to make a thick, milky broth (like Seolleongtang).

한약을 정성껏 달였다. (I carefully boiled down the herbal medicine.)

In terms of the emotional meaning, 애타다 is a strong synonym. '애가 타다' literally means one's intestines are burning, which is a very visceral way to describe extreme worry. While '마음을 졸이다' feels like a constant, pressurized tension, '애타다' feels like a burning, urgent desperation. Another common phrase is 안절부절못하다, which describes the restless behavior caused by anxiety (fidgeting, unable to sit still).

Finally, for general reduction of size or quantity, use 줄이다. This is the most versatile verb for 'decreasing' anything—volume, size, speed, or expenses. If you want to say 'reduce the heat' while cooking, you say '불을 줄이다', not '불을 졸이다'. Understanding these boundaries ensures you use the right 'reduction' word for the right situation.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The emotional usage '마음을 졸이다' likely comes from the physical sensation of the chest tightening (shrinking) when one is stressed.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /t͡ɕo.ɾi.da/

US /t͡ʃoʊ.ri.da/

The stress is typically even, but the first syllable '졸' is slightly emphasized in the emotional idiom.

Rhymes With

조리다 (jorida) 꼬리다 (kkorida) 노리다 (norida) 도리다 (dorida) 모리다 (morida) 소리다 (sorida) 요리다 (yorida) 호리다 (horida)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'jo-ri-da' with a long 'o' like in English 'Joe'.
Confusing the 'l/r' sound between syllables.
Failing to distinguish it from '조리다' in speech (they sound the same, context is key).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to read but requires context to distinguish from '조리다'.

Writing 4/5

Spelling is a common trap for both learners and natives.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is simple, but using the idiom naturally takes practice.

Listening 3/5

Must rely on context to distinguish from '조리다' as they sound identical.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

끓이다 물 마음 줄이다

Learn Next

조리다 달이다 고다 초조하다

Advanced

농축 증발 애타다 안절부절못하다

Grammar to Know

Causative Verbs (-이/히/리/기/우/구/추)

졸다 (to boil dry) -> 졸이다 (to make it boil dry/reduce).

Simultaneous Action (-으며/며)

마음을 졸이며 기다렸다.

Reason and Result (-어서/아서)

물을 너무 졸여서 국이 짜졌다.

Noun Modifying Form (-ㄴ/은)

바짝 졸인 소스.

Obligation (-어야 하다)

더 졸여야 합니다.

Examples by Level

물을 졸여요.

I boil the water down.

Present tense polite form.

소스를 졸여요.

I boil the sauce down.

Object marker '를' is used.

더 졸이세요.

Boil it down more.

Honorific imperative form '-으세요'.

조금만 졸여요.

Boil it down just a little.

Adverb '조금만' modifies the verb.

불을 끄고 졸여요.

Turn off the fire and boil it down. (Note: Logic error for A1, should be: 불을 켜고 졸여요)

Sequential action '-고'.

설탕물을 졸여요.

I boil down the sugar water.

Compound noun '설탕물'.

졸이면 맛있어요.

If you boil it down, it's delicious.

Conditional ending '-으면'.

엄마가 졸여요.

Mom is boiling it down.

Subject marker '가'.

국물을 반으로 졸였어요.

I boiled the soup down to half.

Past tense '졸였다'.

너무 많이 졸이지 마세요.

Don't boil it down too much.

Prohibitive form '-지 마세요'.

간장을 졸여서 소스를 만들어요.

Boil down the soy sauce to make a sauce.

Reason/Sequence ending '-어서'.

약불에서 천천히 졸이세요.

Boil it down slowly over low heat.

Manner adverb '천천히'.

이것을 졸여야 해요?

Do I have to boil this down?

Obligation form '-어야 하다'.

졸이기 전에는 짜지 않았어요.

It wasn't salty before boiling it down.

Time clause '-기 전에'.

맛을 위해 국물을 졸입니다.

I boil down the soup for the taste.

Formal polite ending '-습니다'.

어디까지 졸여야 돼요?

How much (to what point) should I boil it down?

Question form with '-어야 되다'.

결과를 기다리며 마음을 졸였어요.

I was anxious while waiting for the results.

Idiomatic expression '마음을 졸이다'.

국물이 졸아들 때까지 기다리세요.

Wait until the soup boils down.

Intransitive '졸아들다' used with '-을 때까지'.

부모님은 내 걱정에 마음을 졸이신다.

My parents are anxious because they worry about me.

Subject honorific '-시-'.

양념을 바짝 졸여야 고기에 맛이 배요.

You must boil down the seasoning completely for the meat to soak up the flavor.

Adverb '바짝' emphasizing completion.

너무 졸여서 국물이 다 없어졌어요.

I boiled it down so much that the soup is all gone.

Cause and effect '-어서'.

마음을 졸이며 영화를 봤어요.

I watched the movie with a pounding heart (in suspense).

Simultaneous action '-으며'.

시럽이 될 때까지 설탕물을 졸이세요.

Boil the sugar water down until it becomes syrup.

Resultative '-이 될 때까지'.

왜 그렇게 마음을 졸이고 있어?

Why are you so anxious?

Continuous state '-고 있다'.

합격자 발표 명단에 이름이 없을까 봐 마음을 졸였다.

I was anxious for fear that my name wouldn't be on the list of successful candidates.

Fear/Worry structure '-을까 봐'.

소스의 농도를 맞추기 위해 더 졸여야 합니다.

You need to boil it down more to adjust the thickness of the sauce.

Purpose structure '-기 위해'.

그녀는 아이가 무사히 돌아오기만을 마음 졸이며 기다렸다.

She waited anxiously only for her child to return safely.

Focus particle '만을' with '마음 졸이며'.

와인을 졸여서 스테이크 소스를 만들면 풍미가 깊어집니다.

If you reduce wine to make steak sauce, the flavor becomes deeper.

Change of state '-어지다'.

긴박한 경기 상황이 관중들의 마음을 졸이게 했다.

The tense game situation made the spectators anxious.

Causative structure '-게 하다'.

물을 너무 졸이면 음식이 짜질 수 있으니 주의하세요.

Be careful, as boiling down the water too much can make the food salty.

Possibility '-을 수 있다' and reason '-으니'.

그는 빚을 갚지 못할까 봐 매일 마음을 졸이며 살았다.

He lived every day in anxiety, fearing he wouldn't be able to repay the debt.

Life state '졸이며 살았다'.

발사 순간을 지켜보며 연구원들은 모두 마음을 졸였다.

Watching the moment of launch, all the researchers were on pins and needles.

Group subject '연구원들은 모두'.

작가는 독자의 마음을 졸이게 하는 반전의 귀재이다.

The author is a master of plot twists that keep the readers in suspense.

Noun modifying clause '-게 하는'.

전통 방식대로 약재를 졸여서 만든 고약은 효능이 뛰어나다.

Ointments made by boiling down medicinal herbs in the traditional way are highly effective.

Manner '방식대로'.

정부는 경제 위기 타개를 위해 예산을 졸여 짜기로 했다.

The government decided to tighten (reduce) the budget to overcome the economic crisis.

Metaphorical use of '졸여 짜다' (to squeeze/tighten).

그의 연설은 핵심만을 졸여 놓은 듯 명쾌하고 힘이 있었다.

His speech was clear and powerful, as if it had been boiled down to the core essence.

Simile '-은 듯'.

수술실 밖에서 가족들은 1분 1초를 졸이며 버텼다.

Outside the operating room, the family endured every single second with bated breath.

Emphasis on time '1분 1초'.

오랜 시간 공들여 졸인 육수는 깊은 맛의 원천이다.

The broth, carefully boiled down over a long time, is the source of the deep flavor.

Adjectival form '졸인' modifying '육수'.

사건의 실마리가 풀리지 않아 수사팀은 마음을 졸이고 있다.

The investigation team is anxious because the clues to the case remain unsolved.

Reason '-지 않아'.

인생의 경험을 졸여 한 권의 책에 담아냈다.

He distilled (boiled down) his life experiences into a single book.

Metaphorical '담아내다'.

극한의 긴장 속에서 마음을 졸이는 행위는 인간의 본능적 반응이다.

The act of being anxious in extreme tension is a basic human instinctive response.

Nominalized '행위' as subject.

고전 문학에서 '마음을 졸이다'는 표현은 주로 비극적 운명 앞에 선 주인공의 심리를 묘사할 때 쓰인다.

In classical literature, the expression 'to boil one's heart' is mainly used to describe the psychology of a protagonist facing a tragic fate.

Passive '쓰인다'.

농축된 소액을 졸여 결정체를 얻는 과정은 정밀한 온도가 요구된다.

The process of boiling down a concentrated liquid to obtain crystals requires precise temperature control.

Technical terminology.

시인은 언어를 졸이고 또 졸여서 한 편의 시를 빚어낸다.

The poet distills (boils down) language again and again to craft a single poem.

Repetition for emphasis '졸이고 또 졸여서'.

국가 부도 위기라는 초유의 사태에 온 국민이 마음을 졸이며 밤을 지새웠다.

In the unprecedented situation of a national default crisis, the entire nation stayed up all night in anxiety.

Idiomatic '밤을 지새우다'.

본 소스는 발사믹 식초를 10분의 1로 졸여 만든 고농축 드레싱입니다.

This sauce is a highly concentrated dressing made by reducing balsamic vinegar to one-tenth of its volume.

Fraction '10분의 1'.

기다림의 미학은 때로 마음을 졸이는 고통 속에서 완성되기도 한다.

The aesthetics of waiting are sometimes completed through the pain of being anxious.

Abstract philosophical statement.

그의 침묵은 상대방의 마음을 졸이게 하여 결국 자백을 받아냈다.

His silence made the other person anxious and eventually elicited a confession.

Causative sequence.

Common Collocations

마음을 졸이다

간장을 졸이다

국물을 졸이다

바짝 졸이다

반으로 졸이다

약불에서 졸이다

가슴을 졸이다

설탕물을 졸이다

졸여 짜다

졸인 육수

Common Phrases

마음을 졸이며

— With one's heart in one's mouth; anxiously.

마음을 졸이며 전화를 기다렸다.

바짝 졸여서

— Boiling it down until almost no liquid remains.

소스를 바짝 졸여서 고기에 발랐다.

졸이지 말고

— Without boiling it down; or 'don't be anxious'.

너무 졸이지 말고 적당히 끓이세요.

졸여 만든

— Made by boiling down/reducing.

이것은 포도주를 졸여 만든 소스입니다.

졸여지다

— To be boiled down (passive nuance).

국물이 너무 졸여져서 짜요.

마음 졸이지 마

— Don't be so anxious.

이제 다 끝났으니 마음 졸이지 마.

반쯤 졸이다

— To boil down to about half.

물을 반쯤 졸인 후에 재료를 넣으세요.

졸여 낸

— Extracted by boiling down.

오랜 시간 졸여 낸 진한 국물입니다.

졸이기 시작하다

— To start boiling down.

지금부터 소스를 졸이기 시작할게요.

졸여질 때까지

— Until it is boiled down.

국물이 졸여질 때까지 불을 끄지 마세요.

Often Confused With

졸이다 vs 조리다

Sounds identical. 조리다 is to braise food; 졸이다 is to reduce liquid or be anxious.

졸이다 vs 줄이다

General reduction of size/volume. 졸이다 is specifically for liquids through boiling.

졸이다 vs 끓이다

General boiling. 졸이다 is the continued boiling to reduce volume.

Idioms & Expressions

"마음을 졸이다"

— To be extremely anxious or nervous about an outcome.

합격 소식을 기다리며 마음을 졸였다.

Common

"가슴을 졸이다"

— A variation of '마음을 졸이다', emphasizing the physical tension in the chest.

그는 가슴을 졸이며 경기를 지켜봤다.

Common

"피를 졸이다"

— An extreme version, suggesting anxiety that 'dries up one's blood' (rare but powerful).

그는 피를 졸이는 심정으로 대답을 기다렸다.

Literary

"숨을 졸이다"

— To hold one's breath in suspense (similar to '숨을 죽이다').

관중들은 숨을 졸이며 마지막 슛을 지켜봤다.

Common

"애를 졸이다"

— To be very worried or anxious (using '애' for intestines/insides).

엄마는 자식 걱정에 애를 졸였다.

Common

"간을 졸이다"

— To be terrified or extremely anxious (using '간' for liver/courage).

그는 간을 졸이며 어두운 길을 걸었다.

Colloquial

"졸여 짜다"

— To tighten a budget or plan extremely strictly.

이번 프로젝트는 예산을 졸여 짜야 합니다.

Business

"마음 졸이는 소리"

— Words or sounds that make someone anxious.

그런 마음 졸이는 소리는 하지 마세요.

Common

"졸인 듯한"

— Concentrated or distilled (referring to thoughts or speech).

그의 말은 지혜를 졸인 듯한 깊이가 있었다.

Literary

"마음 졸임"

— The state of being anxious (noun form).

오랜 마음 졸임 끝에 좋은 소식을 들었다.

Common

Easily Confused

졸이다 vs 조리다

Identical pronunciation.

졸이다 is about the liquid (evaporation), 조리다 is about the food (soaking in flavor).

생선을 조리다 vs. 간장을 졸이다.

졸이다 vs 줄이다

Similar meaning (reduce).

줄이다 is general (size, sound, speed), 졸이다 is specific to boiling liquid.

속도를 줄이다 vs. 국물을 졸이다.

졸이다 vs 달이다

Both involve boiling down.

달이다 is for extracting essence (medicine/herbs), 졸이다 is for reducing volume (sauces).

한약을 달이다 vs. 소스를 졸이다.

졸이다 vs 끓이다

Both involve boiling.

끓이다 is the act of heating to boiling point, 졸이다 is the act of boiling until it reduces.

라면 물을 끓이다 vs. 시럽을 졸이다.

졸이다 vs 고다

Both involve long boiling.

고다 is specifically for extracting fat/collagen from bones/meat over a long time.

사골을 고다 vs. 소스를 졸이다.

Sentence Patterns

[Object]을/를 졸여요.

물을 졸여요.

[Object]을/를 [Amount]까지 졸이세요.

소스를 반까지 졸이세요.

마음을 졸이며 [Action].

마음을 졸이며 기다려요.

[Reason] 때문에 마음을 졸였어요.

시험 때문에 마음을 졸였어요.

[Object]을/를 바짝 졸여야 [Result].

양념을 바짝 졸여야 맛있어요.

[Action]할까 봐 마음을 졸이다.

늦을까 봐 마음을 졸였다.

[Object]을/를 졸여 만든 [Noun].

포도주를 졸여 만든 드레싱.

[Abstract Noun]을/를 졸여 내다.

인생의 지혜를 졸여 내다.

Word Family

Nouns

졸임 (reduction/anxiety)

조림 (braised dish - related root)

Verbs

졸다 (to boil dry - intransitive)

졸아들다 (to shrink/reduce by boiling)

졸여지다 (to be boiled down)

끓이다 (boil)

달이다 (decoct)

고다 (boil bones)

줄이다 (reduce)

태우다 (burn)

How to Use It

frequency

High in culinary and narrative contexts.

Common Mistakes

마음을 조리다 → 마음을 졸이다
The idiom for anxiety always uses the 'reduction' spelling.
소스를 줄이다 → 소스를 졸이다
While '줄이다' (reduce) is understandable, '졸이다' is the specific culinary term for boiling down.
불을 졸이다 → 불을 줄이다
You reduce the flame (heat) using '줄이다', not '졸이다'.
한약을 졸이다 → 한약을 달이다
While not strictly wrong, '달이다' is the proper term for medicinal decoctions.
마음이 졸이다 → 마음을 졸이다
'졸이다' is transitive. You boil *your heart*, your heart doesn't just boil itself in this idiom.

Tips

The 'ㄹ' Rule

Remember the 'ㄹ' in '졸이다' stands for 'Liquid Reduction'. If you are boiling water away, use the one with 'ㄹ'.

Cookbook Language

When you see '국물이 자작해질 때까지 졸이세요', it means boil it until only a little liquid remains covering the bottom.

Heart Tension

Use '마음을 졸이다' for high-stakes situations like waiting for a baby's birth or a big game's final score.

Causative Nuance

Since it's a causative verb, it implies an agent (you) is doing the boiling. '물이 졸았다' means the water boiled away (perhaps by accident).

Synonym Check

Use '달이다' for herbal tea and '졸이다' for balsamic glaze to sound more sophisticated.

Context is King

Since it sounds like '조리다', pay attention to whether the speaker is talking about the sauce or the fish.

Jolt vs Jol

A Jolt of anxiety = 졸이다. A pot of Jelly reduction = 졸이다.

Somatic Emotions

Koreans feel emotions in the 'ma-eum' (heart/mind). '졸이다' is one of many verbs that describe feelings as physical processes.

Not for Heat

To 'reduce the heat', use '불을 줄이다', not '불을 졸이다'.

Metaphorical Squeeze

In business, '예산을 졸여 짜다' means to squeeze a budget very tightly.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of JOLT. When you are anxious, you feel a JOLT in your heart, which is '졸이다' (jol-ida). Or think of a pot of JELLY boiling down to a 'JOL'.

Visual Association

Imagine a pot of red sauce on a stove getting smaller and thicker. Now imagine a heart inside that pot being squeezed by the reduction.

Word Web

Cooking Sauce Boil Reduction Anxiety Heart Suspense Concentration

Challenge

Try to use '졸이다' in a sentence that includes both a kitchen ingredient and an emotion.

Word Origin

Derived from the Middle Korean verb '졸다' (jol-da), which meant to shrink or decrease in volume due to heat or drying.

Original meaning: To cause something to shrink or decrease.

Koreanic.

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but when using it for anxiety, it implies a genuine, often painful stress.

The English equivalent is 'to boil down' or 'to reduce' in cooking, and 'to be on pins and needles' or 'to have one's heart in one's mouth' for emotions.

Baek Jong-won's recipes (frequent use) K-Drama 'Misaeng' (anxiety in the workplace) Traditional Hanbang (medicine) brewing guides

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Cooking a sauce

소스를 졸이다
반으로 졸이다
바짝 졸이다
약불에서 졸이다

Waiting for results

마음을 졸이다
결과를 졸이며 기다리다
가슴을 졸이다

Traditional medicine

한약을 졸이다
진하게 졸이다
약재를 졸여 내다

Suspenseful movie/game

숨을 졸이다
마음 졸이는 경기
긴장하며 졸이다

Budgeting

예산을 졸여 짜다
지출을 졸이다

Conversation Starters

"요리할 때 소스를 얼마나 졸여야 맛있을까요?"

"최근에 마음을 졸였던 일이 있었나요?"

"시험 결과를 기다릴 때 어떻게 마음을 졸이지 않을 수 있을까요?"

"간장 조림을 할 때 국물을 얼마나 졸이시나요?"

"영화 보면서 마음 졸였던 적이 언제인가요?"

Journal Prompts

오늘 내가 무언가를 위해 마음을 졸였던 순간에 대해 써보세요.

자신만의 특별한 소스를 졸여 만드는 비법이 있다면 공유해 보세요.

인생에서 가장 마음을 졸였던 경험과 그 결과는 어땠나요?

무언가를 '졸인다'는 것은 기다림의 과정입니다. 기다림에 대해 어떻게 생각하시나요?

한국 요리 중에서 '졸이는' 과정이 가장 중요한 음식은 무엇이라고 생각하나요?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

졸이다 refers to reducing the liquid itself through boiling. 조리다 refers to cooking ingredients like fish or tofu in a sauce until the sauce is absorbed. They sound the same, so spelling is crucial.

No, you should use 끓이다. 졸이다 implies you want the water to evaporate and decrease in volume, which you don't usually want for coffee.

It is an idiom meaning to be very anxious, nervous, or in suspense. It's like your heart is being 'boiled down' by stress.

Yes, especially in recipes or in literature to describe a character's emotional state. In news, it describes public anxiety.

You can say '마음 졸이지 마세요' (Ma-eum jol-i-ji ma-se-yo).

No, for clothes shrinking in the wash, you use '줄어들다' (to shrink) or '줄이다' (to make smaller).

The past tense is 졸였다 (jol-yeot-da).

졸이다 is transitive (it takes an object like '물을' or '마음을'). The intransitive version is 졸다.

The culinary meaning is A2, but the idiomatic and metaphorical uses in various tenses and contexts make it a B1 level word.

No, you should use '압축하다' (to compress) or '줄이다' (to reduce).