Explanation at your level:
You use 졸이다 when you cook. If you have a pot with soup, you keep the fire on. The water goes away. The soup gets thick. It tastes very good now!
When you make Korean food like 'Jorim', you use 졸이다. You put meat or tofu in a pan with sauce. You cook it until the sauce is almost gone. The food is now covered in a thick, tasty glaze.
In the kitchen, 졸이다 is the process of reducing a liquid. By simmering it, you evaporate the water content. This doesn't just change the texture; it concentrates the saltiness and sweetness of the sauce, making the dish much more flavorful.
Beyond the literal culinary meaning, 졸이다 is frequently used in the figurative sense of 'anxiety'. When you '마음을 졸이다', you are essentially 'boiling down' your emotions until they become a state of high tension and worry. It is a perfect linguistic bridge between the physical and the mental.
The nuance of 졸이다 lies in the control of heat and time. It is not merely boiling; it is a deliberate reduction to achieve a specific viscosity. In professional gastronomy, this is the difference between a thin broth and a rich, coating sauce. Understanding this verb is essential for mastering the 'Jorim' style of Korean cuisine.
Etymologically, the connection between the physical reduction of liquid and the psychological state of 'fretting' is profound. In both instances, there is a sense of 'diminishing'—either the volume of a liquid or the capacity for calm. This duality is a hallmark of the Korean language, where domestic verbs often serve as metaphors for the human condition, reflecting a culture deeply rooted in the hearth and home.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Verb meaning to reduce liquid by boiling.
- Used in both cooking and emotional contexts.
- Commonly confused with '조리다'.
- Essential for Korean braised dishes.
When you hear the word 졸이다, think of the magic of patience in the kitchen! It is all about taking a liquid—like a broth, soy sauce base, or stew—and letting it simmer gently over heat.
As the steam rises and escapes the pot, the liquid level drops, but the flavor stays behind. This makes the remaining sauce much thicker and bolder in taste. It is the secret behind those delicious, sticky glazes you love on Korean braised dishes.
The word 졸이다 has deep roots in traditional Korean culinary practices. Historically, it evolved from the verb '졸다' (to shrink or diminish). In ancient times, when fuel was precious, cooks learned that reducing a sauce was a way to preserve ingredients and create intense flavors without needing expensive spices.
It reflects a culture that values 'slow food.' By reducing the liquid, the cook is essentially concentrating the essence of the ingredients. It is a word that carries the history of home-cooked meals where time was the most important seasoning in the kitchen.
You will mostly hear this word in the context of cooking. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes an object, like '간장을 졸이다' (reduce the soy sauce) or '고기를 졸이다' (braise the meat).
While it is strictly culinary, it is used in both casual home cooking and professional kitchens. In a formal recipe, you might see it as an instruction, while at home, a grandmother might tell you to '졸여서 먹어라' (boil it down and eat it) to make sure the seasoning really sticks to the food.
Interestingly, the root '졸이다' is also used metaphorically in the expression 애를 졸이다 (to be anxious/worried). Just as a sauce gets tight and concentrated, your heart feels 'tight' when you are nervous.
- 애를 졸이다: To be on pins and needles.
- 속을 졸이다: To fret or worry incessantly.
- 마음을 졸이다: To be anxious about an outcome.
- 눈을 졸이다: (Rare) To strain one's eyes while focusing.
- 졸이는 맛: The 'flavor of reduction'—often used to describe the anticipation of a result.
Grammatically, 졸이다 is a standard verb. It conjugates regularly: '졸여요' (present), '졸였다' (past), and '졸이겠다' (future). It is often paired with the particle '-아/어' to show the process, like '졸여서' (by reducing).
Pronunciation-wise, be careful not to confuse it with '조리다' (which is a common misspelling). The '리' sound should be crisp. It rhymes with words like '보리다' (rare) or '도리다'. Focus on the 'o' sound—it is a rounded, deep vowel that mimics the sound of a bubbling pot.
Fun Fact
The link between culinary reduction and emotional anxiety is a unique feature of the Korean language.
Pronunciation Guide
Similar to 'jo-ree-dah'
Similar to 'jo-ree-dah'
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the '리' as '니'
- Gliding over the '졸' sound
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to pronounce
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Object particles
소스를 졸이다
Adverbial phrases
약한 불에 졸이다
Past tense conjugation
졸였다
Examples by Level
소스를 졸여요.
Reduce the sauce.
Simple present tense.
국물을 졸여요.
Reduce the broth.
Direct object.
졸여서 맛있어요.
It is tasty because it was reduced.
Cause and effect.
불을 줄이고 졸여요.
Lower the heat and reduce.
Imperative.
많이 졸였어요.
I reduced it a lot.
Past tense.
조금만 졸여요.
Reduce it just a little.
Modifier.
졸이는 중이에요.
I am currently reducing it.
Progressive.
다 졸였어요.
I finished reducing it.
Completion.
간장을 졸여서 맛있는 소스를 만들어요.
생선을 졸이면 더 맛있습니다.
두부를 간장 양념에 졸여 보세요.
시간이 걸리지만 졸여야 맛있어요.
국물이 다 졸을 때까지 기다려요.
감자를 졸여서 반찬을 만들었어요.
너무 많이 졸이지 마세요.
졸이는 동안 냄새가 아주 좋아요.
양념이 고기에 잘 배도록 약한 불에서 졸이세요.
졸이는 과정에서 맛이 훨씬 깊어집니다.
이 요리는 국물을 자작하게 졸이는 게 핵심이에요.
졸여진 소스가 재료에 윤기를 더해줍니다.
너무 오래 졸이면 소스가 탈 수 있어요.
어머니는 항상 정성스럽게 생선을 졸여 주셨어요.
졸이는 시간을 조절하는 것이 중요합니다.
졸여진 소스에 밥을 비벼 먹으면 최고예요.
그는 결과를 기다리며 마음을 졸였습니다.
시험 합격 발표를 앞두고 애를 졸이는 중이다.
졸이는 맛이 일품인 갈치조림을 주문했다.
소스가 적당히 졸여져서 풍미가 살아있다.
그녀는 매 순간 속을 졸이며 그를 지켜보았다.
졸이는 동안 재료가 으깨지지 않게 조심하세요.
이 레시피는 마지막에 센 불로 빠르게 졸이는 것이 비결이다.
졸이는 과정이 길수록 맛이 진해진다.
그는 불안감에 마음을 졸이며 밤을 지새웠다.
재료의 본연의 맛을 살리기 위해 국물을 자작하게 졸여내는 기술이 필요하다.
졸이는 시간과 불 조절은 요리의 완성도를 결정짓는 변수다.
그녀는 초조함에 속을 졸이면서도 겉으로는 태연한 척했다.
졸여진 소스의 농도가 요리의 품격을 좌우한다.
오랜 시간 정성껏 졸인 보양식은 깊은 맛을 낸다.
졸이는 과정에서 수분이 증발하며 감칠맛이 응축된다.
긴장된 상황 속에서 모두가 마음을 졸이며 결과를 기다렸다.
그는 운명의 갈림길에서 애를 졸이며 최후의 결단을 내렸다.
전통 방식대로 장시간 졸여낸 조림 요리는 현대의 요리와는 차원이 다른 깊이를 지닌다.
졸이는 행위는 단순한 조리법을 넘어, 기다림의 미학을 실천하는 과정이라 할 수 있다.
그녀의 마음을 졸이게 했던 지난 시간들이 이제는 추억으로 남았다.
졸여진 소스의 끈적한 질감은 요리의 완성도를 증명하는 지표가 된다.
수많은 시행착오 끝에 그는 완벽하게 졸여진 소스의 황금 비율을 찾아냈다.
졸이는 과정에서 발생하는 향기는 주방을 따뜻한 온기로 가득 채운다.
그는 자신의 운명을 졸이는 듯한 초조함 속에서 한 걸음씩 나아갔다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"마음을 졸이다"
To be very anxious or nervous.
시험 결과 때문에 마음을 졸이고 있다.
neutral"애를 졸이다"
To fret or worry deeply.
부모님은 자식 걱정에 늘 애를 졸이신다.
neutral"속을 졸이다"
To suffer from anxiety internally.
말도 못 하고 속만 졸였다.
casual"졸이는 맛"
The suspense or anticipation of a result.
이게 바로 기다리는 졸이는 맛이지.
casual"눈을 졸이다"
To focus intensely (rare/poetic).
그는 목표를 향해 눈을 졸였다.
literary"졸여 먹다"
To cook something down completely (often used in sarcasm).
다 졸여 먹어라!
casualEasily Confused
Phonetically similar.
One is a misspelling, one is the correct verb.
졸이다 is correct.
Both involve heat.
끓이다 is boiling; 졸이다 is reducing.
찌개를 끓이다 vs 소스를 졸이다.
Similar spelling.
졸리다 means to be sleepy.
나는 졸리다.
Both mean to boil down.
달이다 is for medicine/tea.
약을 달이다.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Object + 를/을 + 졸이다
나는 소스를 졸인다.
Subject + 마음을 + 졸이다
그는 마음을 졸인다.
Adverb + 졸이다
천천히 졸이세요.
Object + 를/을 + 자작하게 + 졸이다
국물을 자작하게 졸이세요.
Time + 동안 + 졸이다
10분 동안 졸이세요.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Many native speakers confuse the spelling; '졸이다' is the correct form for reducing liquid.
졸이다 is specifically for reducing/thickening, not just boiling.
졸이다 requires liquid.
In scientific or highly formal contexts, '농축하다' is preferred.
조리하다 is the general term for cooking; 졸이다 is a specific technique.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a pot shrinking as you count down.
When Native Speakers Use It
When talking about making 'Jorim' dishes.
Cultural Insight
Jorim is a staple of the Korean side-dish culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use it with a liquid object.
Say It Right
Keep the 'o' sound round.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse it with '조리다'.
Did You Know?
It links cooking to anxiety.
Study Smart
Learn it alongside '조림' dishes.
Context Matters
Check if the speaker is talking about food or feelings.
Verb Conjugation
It follows regular rules.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a pot 'sobbing' (so-ri-da) until it shrinks!
Visual Association
A pot of sauce slowly bubbling down to a thick, dark glaze.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to make a simple soy-sauce braised tofu dish this week.
Word Origin
Korean
Original meaning: To shrink or diminish.
Cultural Context
None.
The concept of 'reduction' in French cooking is very similar to '졸이다'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At home in the kitchen
- 소스를 졸이다
- 불을 줄이다
- 간이 배다
Waiting for results
- 마음을 졸이다
- 결과를 기다리다
- 초조하다
Reading a recipe
- 약한 불에서
- 자작하게
- 윤기가 날 때까지
Discussing food
- 조림 요리
- 깊은 맛
- 양념이 잘 배다
Conversation Starters
"Do you like 'Jorim' dishes?"
"What is your favorite way to reduce a sauce?"
"Have you ever felt so nervous that you were '마음을 졸이다'?"
"How do you make your sauce thick?"
"Do you prefer spicy or sweet braised dishes?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a dish you made by reducing the sauce.
Write about a time you were very anxious (마음을 졸이다).
Explain the difference between boiling and reducing to a friend.
What is the best 'Jorim' dish you have ever tasted?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is a common misspelling of '졸이다'.
No, you use it for sauces or broths.
No, it is used for emotions too.
Boiling is heating; reducing is concentrating.
Until the desired thickness is reached.
It is common in daily life.
Only the metaphorical sense (anxiety).
No, if it burns, it's '타다'.
Test Yourself
간장을 ___.
졸이다 is the verb for reducing sauce.
What does '졸이다' mean in cooking?
It refers to reducing liquid by boiling.
'마음을 졸이다' means to be very relaxed.
It means to be very anxious.
Word
Meaning
Matching verbs to English equivalents.
Correct structure: 약한 불에서 소스를 졸이세요.
Which is the correct spelling?
졸이다 is the standard form.
The etymology of '졸이다' is linked to 'diminishing'.
Yes, it comes from the concept of shrinking.
결과를 기다리며 ___을 졸였다.
The idiom is '마음을 졸이다'.
Which dish is made by '졸이다'?
Jorim is the dish made by reducing.
Correct: 졸여진 소스는 깊은 맛이 난다.
Score: /10
Summary
졸이다 is the art of patience—whether you are thickening a sauce or waiting for news!
- Verb meaning to reduce liquid by boiling.
- Used in both cooking and emotional contexts.
- Commonly confused with '조리다'.
- Essential for Korean braised dishes.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a pot shrinking as you count down.
When Native Speakers Use It
When talking about making 'Jorim' dishes.
Cultural Insight
Jorim is a staple of the Korean side-dish culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use it with a liquid object.
Example
소스가 좀 더 졸아들어야 해요.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More cooking words
콩나물
A1Bean sprouts.
쌉쌀하다
A1To be slightly bitter.
버터
A1Butter.
치즈
A1Cheese.
쫄깃하다
A1To be chewy; to be springy.
조리하다
A1To cook or prepare food.
식용유
A1Cooking oil, used for frying, stir-frying, or baking.
바삭하다
A1To be crispy; to be crunchy.
도마
A1Cutting board.
깊게
A2Deeply; to a great depth, used for deep-frying.
