When you walk, sometimes you might step on something wet or uneven. If your foot slides unexpectedly, that's what we call 미끄러지다.
Think about walking on ice or a wet floor. If you suddenly slide and almost fall, you have 미끄러지다.
It's like when your shoes don't grip the ground well, and you lose your balance for a moment. This word describes that specific action of slipping.
When you're walking around, sometimes the ground can be a bit tricky, right? That's where the Korean verb 미끄러지다 comes in handy. It means 'to slip' or 'to lose one's footing accidentally'. Imagine walking on ice or a wet floor – that feeling of your feet going out from under you? That's 미끄러지다.
It's not usually something you do on purpose; it's more of an unexpected event. So, if you say 'I slipped,' you'd use 미끄러지다. It's a useful word to know for talking about everyday accidents or when describing cautious actions, like 'Be careful not to slip!'
When you’re talking about movement, 미끄러지다 is a very common and practical verb to know. It specifically means to slip or lose your footing, often unexpectedly. Think of it as a verb that describes an accidental and often momentary loss of balance due to a slippery surface. You might use it if you stepped on ice, a wet floor, or even a banana peel!
It’s distinct from falling (넘어지다), though slipping can certainly lead to a fall. The emphasis of 미끄러지다 is on the act of the foot sliding, rather than the complete descent of the body. Mastering this verb will help you describe everyday mishaps more accurately in Korean conversation.
When we talk about something 'slipping' in English, it can have many meanings. For example, a physical slip on a wet floor, a mistake in a plan, or even a secret slipping out. In Korean, 미끄러지다 (mi-kkeu-reo-ji-da) primarily focuses on the physical act of losing one's footing, often due to a slippery surface.
However, it can also be used in a slightly more figurative sense, like a car's tires slipping on ice. It generally describes an unintended movement where something loses its grip or control. So, while it's mostly about physical slipping, you can extend its meaning to other situations where something slides or loses stability in an unintentional way.
When we talk about something 'slipping' in English, it can mean a few things. You could literally slip on ice, or a plan could 'slip' your mind. The Korean word 미끄러지다 is more focused on the physical act of losing your footing or something sliding unintentionally.
Think of it like this: if you're walking and your foot slides out from under you, that's 미끄러지다. If a car wheel loses traction on a wet road, that's also 미끄러지다. It implies an uncontrolled, often sudden, movement due to a lack of grip or stability. It can also be used for objects, like a plate slipping off a table.
§ What does 미끄러지다 mean?
- DEFINITION
- To slip; to lose one's footing accidentally.
The Korean verb 미끄러지다 (mi-kkeu-reo-ji-da) is a super common and practical word you'll definitely hear and use a lot in everyday Korean. Simply put, it means 'to slip' or 'to lose one's footing by accident'. Think about walking on ice, a wet floor, or stepping on a banana peel – that sudden, uncontrolled movement is exactly what 미끄러지다 describes. It's not about intentionally sliding; it's always about an accidental, often unexpected, loss of balance.
When you learn this verb, it’s important to understand that it usually refers to something unexpected. For example, if you're ice skating and you deliberately slide, that's a different verb. But if you're walking and suddenly your foot goes out from under you, that's 미끄러지다.
§ When do people use 미끄러지다?
Koreans use 미끄러지다 in many daily situations. Here are some common scenarios:
- On slippery surfaces: This is the most straightforward use. Think about rainy days, snowy weather, or just spilled water.
- When an object slips: It can also apply to objects. For instance, if a book 미끄러지다 from your hand.
- Figuratively (less common for A2, but good to know): Occasionally, it can mean 'to fail' or 'to slip up' on a test or opportunity, but stick to the physical meaning for now.
Let's look at some examples to make it clearer. Notice how the sentence structure changes a bit depending on the politeness level and tense, but the core meaning of 미끄러지다 remains.
비가 와서 길이 미끄러웠어요.
(It rained, so the road was slippery.)
Here, 미끄러웠어요 is the past tense form of the descriptive verb (adjective form) 'to be slippery,' which comes from the same root as 미끄러지다.
얼음 위에서 미끄러져서 넘어질 뻔했어요.
(I almost fell because I slipped on the ice.)
In this example, 미끄러져서 uses the '-아서/어서' connective ending to show cause and effect. It means 'because I slipped'.
조심해! 바닥이 미끄러워.
(Be careful! The floor is slippery.)
This is a common warning you might hear. Notice the casual '해요체' ending 미끄러워 here.
So, whether you're talking about yourself, someone else, or even an object, 미끄러지다 is the go-to verb when something loses its grip or footing. Practice these examples, and you'll be using it naturally in no time!
§ Understanding 미끄러지다
The Korean verb 미끄러지다 (mi-kkeu-reo-ji-da) means 'to slip' or 'to lose one's footing accidentally'. It's an important verb to know for describing everyday situations where you might, well, slip! Think of icy sidewalks, wet floors, or even losing your grip on something. This verb covers all those scenarios.
§ Basic Sentence Structure with 미끄러지다
Generally, you'll use 미끄러지다 with a subject (the person or thing that slips) and sometimes a location or a reason for slipping. The common particles used with it are ~이/가 for the subject and ~에/에서 for the location.
- DEFINITION
- To slip; to lose one's footing accidentally.
Let's look at some examples:
제가 얼음 위에서 미끄러졌어요. (I slipped on the ice.)
바닥이 젖어서 미끄러질 뻔했어요. (The floor was wet, so I almost slipped.)
§ Using ~아/어서 with Reasons for Slipping
When you want to explain *why* someone slipped, you can use the connective ending ~아/어서 (or ~어서 or ~여서 depending on the preceding verb/adjective stem) to indicate cause or reason. This is a very common way to express 'because' or 'so' in Korean.
- For stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ, add ~아서.
- For stems ending in other vowels, add ~어서.
- For 하다 verbs, use ~해서.
길이 너무 미끄러워서 넘어졌어요. (The road was too slippery, so I fell down.)
In this example, 미끄럽다 (slippery, an adjective) is used, then it's conjugated to 미끄러워서 to explain the reason for falling.
비가 와서 바닥이 미끄러웠어요. (Because it rained, the floor was slippery.)
§ Places Where Slipping Occurs (~에서)
When specifying the location where the slipping happens, use the particle ~에서. This particle indicates the place where an action occurs.
그는 계단에서 미끄러져서 다쳤어요. (He slipped on the stairs and got hurt.)
주방 바닥에서 미끄러지지 않게 조심하세요. (Be careful not to slip on the kitchen floor.)
§ 미끄러지다 in Figurative Speech
미끄러지다 can also be used in a more figurative sense, similar to how 'slip' can mean making a mistake or failing at something in English. It implies an unintended failure or a smooth, unintended movement.
그는 시험에서 미끄러졌다. (He slipped/failed the exam.)
Here, 'slipped' means he failed or didn't do well on the exam. This is a common idiomatic use of the verb.
말이 미끄러져서 실수했어요. (My words slipped out and I made a mistake.)
This translates to 'my words slipped', meaning someone said something unintentionally, leading to a mistake.
§ Common Conjugations of 미끄러지다
Like all Korean verbs, 미끄러지다 conjugates based on tense and politeness level. Here are some common conjugations:
- Present Tense (informal polite): 미끄러져요 (mi-kkeu-reo-jyeo-yo) - I slip, you slip, etc.
- Past Tense (informal polite): 미끄러졌어요 (mi-kkeu-reo-jyeo-sseo-yo) - I slipped, you slipped, etc.
- Future Tense (informal polite): 미끄러질 거예요 (mi-kkeu-reo-jil geo-ye-yo) - I will slip, you will slip, etc.
- Imperative (informal polite): 미끄러지지 마세요 (mi-kkeu-reo-ji-ji ma-se-yo) - Please don't slip.
Mastering 미끄러지다 will greatly improve your ability to describe accidents and unintended movements in Korean. Practice using it in different contexts, both literal and figurative, to become more comfortable with its nuances.
§ Don't confuse it with falling deliberately
The biggest mistake learners make with 미끄러지다 is using it when someone falls on purpose or performs a stunt. Remember, 미끄러지다 specifically means to slip or lose one's footing accidentally. If someone falls intentionally, you'd use a different verb like 넘어지다 (to fall down, usually on purpose or by tripping).
- DEFINITION
- To slip; to lose one's footing accidentally.
Let's look at an example where 미끄러지다 is used correctly:
얼음 위에서 발이 미끄러졌어요. (My foot slipped on the ice.)
Here, the slipping was unintentional. Now, if someone purposefully falls on the ice for fun, you wouldn't use 미끄러지다.
§ Using it for things that don't literally slip
미끄러지다 generally refers to a physical act of slipping. While English might use "slip" in a more metaphorical sense (e.g., "time slipped away"), Korean tends to be more direct. For abstract concepts or non-physical items, you'll need different verbs.
§ Incorrect verb endings and particles
As with many Korean verbs, learners sometimes struggle with attaching the correct verb endings and particles to 미끄러지다. It's a regular verb, so it follows standard conjugation rules. Pay attention to:
- **Past tense:** 미끄러졌어요 (slipped)
- **Present progressive:** 미끄러지고 있어요 (is slipping)
- **Connecting clauses:** 미끄러져서 (because it slipped...)
바닥이 젖어서 미끄러졌어요. (The floor was wet, so I slipped.)
Here, 미끄러져서 connects the reason (wet floor) to the result (slipping).
§ Not using it for objects that slide
While 미끄러지다 implies a loss of footing, it can also be used for objects that slide smoothly and unintentionally. For example, if a plate slides off a table:
접시가 테이블에서 미끄러져서 깨졌어요. (The plate slipped from the table and broke.)
However, if an object is simply being pushed or pulled across a surface, you might use a different verb like 밀다 (to push) or 끌다 (to pull). The key is the 'unintentional' or 'smooth, frictionless movement' aspect of 미끄러지다.
§ Definition of 미다
- Korean Word
- 미다 (mi-kkeu-reo-ji-da)
- Word Type
- Verb
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- To slip; to lose one's footing accidentally.
When you use 미다, you're talking about an unexpected loss of balance, usually on a slippery surface. Think of it as accidentally sliding or losing your grip.
§ Examples of 미다 in Sentences
빌길에서 미까 배가 져서 넣어집니다. (I slipped on the icy road and fell.)
바닥이 젂어서 미다 배가 져서 답어집니다. (The floor was wet, so I slipped and almost fell.)
산의 내려막길에서 돌에 미까 배가 져서 답어집니다. (Going down the mountain path, I slipped on a rock and almost fell.)
§ Similar Words and When to Use Them
Korean has a few words that can be similar to 미다, but they each have their own nuances. Let's break them down so you know exactly when to use which one.
너지다 (neo-ji-da) - To fall down; to collapse: This word is more general. While you might fall because you slipped, 너지다 simply means to fall or collapse from an upright position for any reason. It doesn't necessarily imply a slippery surface.
아이가 너집니다. (The child fell down.)
You would use 너지다 if someone tripped over something, or just lost their balance and fell, without any specific mention of a slippery surface. If you want to be specific about the slipping action causing the fall, then 미다 is better.
과로지다 (gwa-reo-ji-da) - To trip; to stumble: This word specifically refers to tripping over something or stumbling. It implies an obstacle or uneven ground rather than a slippery surface.
돌에 과로 거지다. (I tripped on a rock.)
If you're talking about a situation where someone's foot caught on something, use 과로지다. If the ground itself was slick, then 미다 is your word.
얽들다 (eop-deul-li-da) - To fall prone; to prostrate oneself: This word describes falling forward onto your stomach, often intentionally or in a very submissive way. It's not about an accidental slip or trip.
닥도마에 얽들니다. (He fell prone to the ground.)
You wouldn't use 얽들다 to describe someone accidentally slipping. It carries a different meaning entirely, usually involving a deliberate action or a specific way of falling.
In summary, while all these words involve some form of falling or losing balance, 미다 is specifically for those moments when you lose your footing due to a slippery surface. Keep practicing these distinctions, and you'll be using them like a pro in no time!
How Formal Is It?
"빙판길에 발이 미끄러지셨습니다. (Your foot slipped on the icy road.)"
"바닥이 젖어서 미끄러졌어요. (The floor was wet, so I slipped.)"
"어제 계단에서 미끄러졌어. (I slipped on the stairs yesterday.)"
"바나나 껍질 밟고 꽈당! (Stepped on a banana peel and 'splat'!)"
"이번 시험 망해서 완전히 미끄러졌네. (I completely messed up this exam, I slipped up badly.)"
Examples by Level
바닥이 미끄러워요. 조심하세요!
The floor is slippery. Be careful!
아이가 눈 위에서 미끄러졌어요.
The child slipped on the snow.
비가 와서 길이 미끄러웠어요.
It rained, so the road was slippery.
얼음 때문에 미끄러질 뻔했어요.
I almost slipped because of the ice.
넘어져서 무릎이 아파요.
I fell and my knee hurts. (Implies slipping leading to falling)
미끄러지지 않게 천천히 걸으세요.
Walk slowly so you don't slip.
컵을 잡으려다가 손이 미끄러졌어요.
My hand slipped while trying to grab the cup.
신발이 낡아서 잘 미끄러져요.
My shoes are old, so they slip easily.
바나나 껍질을 밟고 미끄러졌어요.
I slipped on a banana peel.
A common use case, often followed by '넘어지다' (to fall).
길이 얼어서 미끄러울 수 있어요. 조심하세요.
The road is icy, so it might be slippery. Be careful.
'미끄럽다' (slippery) is the adjective form.
비가 와서 바닥이 미끄러웠어요.
Because it rained, the floor was slippery.
Connects to a reason (비가 와서).
아기가 처음 걷다가 미끄러졌어요.
The baby slipped while learning to walk for the first time.
Describes an accidental action of a subject.
스키를 타다가 자주 미끄러져요.
I often slip while skiing.
Can be used for activities where slipping is common.
계단에서 미끄러지지 않게 조심하세요.
Be careful not to slip on the stairs.
Used with a negative imperative to advise caution.
바닥이 젖어 있어서 미끄러질 뻔했어요.
The floor was wet, so I almost slipped.
'-ㄹ 뻔하다' means 'almost happened'.
이 신발은 비 오는 날에 미끄러지지 않아요.
These shoes don't slip on rainy days.
Used in a negative context to indicate stability.
바나나 껍질을 밟고 미끄러졌어요.
I slipped on a banana peel.
길이 얼어서 미끄러울 수 있으니 조심하세요.
The road is icy, so be careful as you might slip.
아이가 물웅덩이에서 미끄러져 넘어졌어요.
The child slipped in a puddle and fell.
계단에서 미끄러지지 않게 손잡이를 잡으세요.
Hold the handrail so you don't slip on the stairs.
빗길 운전은 미끄러지기 쉬우니 천천히 가세요.
Driving on a wet road is easy to slip, so go slowly.
비누가 많아서 바닥이 미끄러웠어요.
There was a lot of soap, so the floor was slippery.
산에서 미끄러져서 다리를 다쳤어요.
I slipped in the mountains and hurt my leg.
새 신발은 바닥이 미끄러워서 조심해야 해요.
New shoes have slippery soles, so you need to be careful.
바닥이 젖어서 미끄러지지 않게 조심하세요.
The floor is wet, so be careful not to slip.
Here, '-지 않게' means 'so that one does not' or 'to prevent one from'.
얼음 위에서 걷다가 미끄러질 뻔했어요.
I almost slipped while walking on the ice.
'-ㄹ 뻔하다' means 'to almost do something'.
갑자기 발을 헛디뎌서 계단에서 미끄러졌어요.
I missed a step and slipped on the stairs.
'헛디디다' means 'to miss one's footing' or 'to stumble'.
새 신발은 바닥이 미끄러워서 조심해야 해요.
My new shoes have slippery soles, so I need to be careful.
The adjective '미끄럽다' (to be slippery) is related to '미끄러지다'.
넘어지지 않으려고 손잡이를 꽉 잡았는데도 미끄러졌어요.
Even though I held onto the handrail tightly not to fall, I slipped.
'-려고' indicates intention, and '-는데도' means 'even though' or 'despite'.
눈길에 차가 미끄러져서 사고가 날 뻔했어요.
The car skidded on the snowy road, and I almost had an accident.
This shows '미끄러지다' can also be used for vehicles skidding.
스키를 타다가 자주 미끄러지지만, 그래도 재미있어요.
I often slip while skiing, but it's still fun.
'-지만' means 'but' or 'although'.
비 오는 날에는 자전거 타다가 미끄러질 위험이 커요.
On rainy days, there's a higher risk of slipping while riding a bicycle.
'-ㄹ 위험이 크다' means 'there is a high risk of'.
바나나 껍질을 밟고 미끄러질 뻔했어요.
I almost slipped on a banana peel.
빙판길에 미끄러지지 않도록 조심해야 해요.
You need to be careful not to slip on icy roads.
비가 와서 바닥이 미끄러웠지만 다행히 넘어지진 않았어요.
The floor was slippery because of the rain, but fortunately, I didn't fall.
그는 발을 헛디뎌 미끄러지면서 커피를 쏟았어요.
He stumbled and slipped, spilling his coffee.
새 신발은 바닥이 미끄러워서 조심해야겠어요.
My new shoes have slippery soles, so I need to be careful.
계단에서 미끄러져서 크게 다칠 뻔했어요.
I almost got seriously hurt by slipping on the stairs.
눈길에서 미끄러져서 차가 가드레일을 들이받았어요.
The car slipped on the snowy road and hit the guardrail.
넘어진 건 아니지만, 발이 미끄러져서 깜짝 놀랐어요.
I didn't fall, but my foot slipped, and it startled me.
빙판길에 발을 헛디뎌 미끄러질 뻔했지만, 다행히 넘어지지 않았어요.
I almost slipped on the icy road because I missed my step, but luckily I didn't fall.
'-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다' is used to express that something almost happened.
바닥에 물기가 있어서 조심하지 않으면 미끄러지기 쉬워요.
The floor is wet, so it's easy to slip if you're not careful.
'-기 쉽다' means 'easy to do something'.
그는 갑자기 나타난 장애물 때문에 급정거하면서 차가 옆으로 미끄러지는 것을 느꼈다.
He felt the car slide sideways as he braked suddenly due to an obstacle that appeared out of nowhere.
'-면서' indicates simultaneous actions.
프로젝트 마감 기한이 다가오면서, 계획이 예상보다 많이 미끄러지고 있다는 불안감이 커지고 있다.
As the project deadline approaches, the anxiety that the plan is slipping much more than expected is growing.
Here, '미끄러지다' is used metaphorically to mean 'to fall behind' or 'to go off track'.
실수로 연필을 놓쳐서 책상 아래로 미끄러져 버렸어요.
I accidentally dropped my pencil, and it slipped under the desk.
'-아/어 버리다' indicates that an action is completed and often implies a sense of regret or finality.
경기가 안 좋아지면서 회사의 매출이 계속해서 미끄러지고 있다고 보고되었다.
It was reported that the company's sales continue to slide as the economy worsens.
'-고 있다고 보고되었다' means 'it was reported that something is continuing to happen'.
얼음 위에서 조심스럽게 걸었지만, 결국 발이 미끄러져 균형을 잃고 말았다.
I walked carefully on the ice, but eventually my foot slipped and I lost my balance.
'-고 말았다' indicates that an action eventually happened, often with an undesirable outcome.
그 선수는 젖은 잔디 위에서 공을 따라가다 미끄러져 넘어지는 바람에 좋은 기회를 놓쳤다.
The player slipped and fell while chasing the ball on the wet grass, missing a good opportunity.
'-는 바람에' indicates that an action was the cause or reason for a negative outcome.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
조심해, 미끄러질 수 있어.
Be careful, you might slip.
얼음 위에서 미끄러졌어요.
I slipped on the ice.
바닥이 미끄러우니 조심하세요.
The floor is slippery, so be careful.
눈길에 차가 미끄러졌어요.
The car slipped on the snowy road.
계단에서 발을 헛디뎌 미끄러질 뻔했어요.
I almost slipped by missing a step on the stairs.
비가 와서 길이 미끄러워요.
It's raining, so the road is slippery.
그는 미끄러져서 넘어졌다.
He slipped and fell.
컵이 손에서 미끄러져 떨어졌다.
The cup slipped from my hand and fell.
미끄러지지 않게 조심해서 걸으세요.
Walk carefully so you don't slip.
운동화가 낡아서 잘 미끄러져요.
My sneakers are old, so they slip easily.
Often Confused With
'미끄럽다' is an adjective describing something as slippery. '미끄러지다' is the verb 'to slip'. The noun form is '미끄럼'.
These two words sound slightly similar but have completely different meanings. '미끄러지다' is about slipping, while '미루다' is about delaying something.
Another pair that sounds a bit similar but has entirely different definitions and uses. '미치다' has meanings like 'to go crazy' or 'to reach/affect'.
Grammar Patterns
Idioms & Expressions
"발이 미끄러지다"
To slip and fall (literally, 'one's foot slips')
눈길에 발이 미끄러져서 넘어졌어요. (My foot slipped on the snowy road and I fell.)
neutral"손에서 미끄러지다"
To slip from one's hand
컵이 손에서 미끄러져서 깨졌어요. (The cup slipped from my hand and broke.)
neutral"미끄러운 길"
A slippery road
비가 와서 길이 미끄러워요. (The road is slippery because it rained.)
neutral"미끄럼틀"
A slide (playground equipment)
아이들이 미끄럼틀을 타고 놀고 있어요. (The children are playing on the slide.)
neutral"시험에 미끄러지다"
To fail an exam (colloquial, literally 'to slip on an exam')
이번 시험에 미끄러져서 속상해요. (I'm upset because I failed this exam.)
informal"미끄러운 장어"
A slippery eel (often used metaphorically for someone hard to catch or pin down)
그 사람은 미끄러운 장어 같아서 잡기 힘들어요. (He's like a slippery eel, hard to catch.)
informal"미끄럼 타다"
To slide down (e.g., a hill, a slide)
겨울에 눈썰매장에서 미끄럼 타는 것을 좋아해요. (I like to slide at the sledding hill in winter.)
neutral"바닥이 미끄럽다"
The floor is slippery
바닥이 미끄러우니 조심하세요. (Be careful, the floor is slippery.)
neutral"얼음판에서 미끄러지다"
To slip on an ice rink
얼음판에서 미끄러져서 엉덩방아를 찧었어요. (I slipped on the ice rink and fell on my bottom.)
neutral"미끄러워 넘어지다"
To slip and fall
비 오는 날에는 길이 미끄러워 넘어지기 쉬워요. (On rainy days, the roads are slippery and it's easy to slip and fall.)
neutralEasily Confused
Both '미끄러지다' and '넘어지다' relate to falling, but they describe different stages or causes of the fall.
'미끄러지다' specifically means to slip or slide, which can lead to a fall. '넘어지다' means to fall down, to tumble over, or to lose one's balance and hit the ground. You might '미끄러지다' first, and then '넘어지다'.
미끄러져서 넘어졌어요. (I slipped and fell.)
Both can imply a downward movement, but their contexts are distinct.
'미끄러지다' is about losing footing on a surface. '떨어지다' is about an object falling from a higher place to a lower place, or a person falling off something (e.g., a chair).
책이 책상에서 떨어졌어요. (The book fell from the desk.)
Both describe unstable movement.
'미끄러지다' implies a loss of friction leading to an unintended slide. '비틀거리다' means to stagger or totter, often due to dizziness, weakness, or intoxication, but not necessarily involving a slippery surface.
술에 취해서 비틀거렸어요. (I staggered because I was drunk.)
Both can happen suddenly and cause minor injury or discomfort.
'미끄러지다' is a slip. '삐끗하다' means to sprain or twist a joint, often due to an awkward movement or a misstep, but not necessarily involving a slippery surface.
계단에서 삐끗해서 발목을 다쳤어요. (I twisted my ankle on the stairs.)
This is another word for falling.
'자빠지다' is a more informal or colloquial way to say '넘어지다', often implying a fall that is somewhat undignified or clumsy. While '미끄러지다' describes the act of slipping, '자빠지다' describes the consequence of hitting the ground.
넘어져서 자빠졌어요. (I fell over and tumbled down.)
Sentence Patterns
주어(subject) + 이/가 + 미끄러지다.
제가 미끄러졌어요. (I slipped.)
주어(subject) + 이/가 + (장소)에서 + 미끄러지다.
아이가 길에서 미끄러졌어요. (The child slipped on the road.)
(원인) 아/어서 + 주어(subject) + 이/가 + 미끄러지다.
눈이 와서 제가 미끄러졌어요. (Because it snowed, I slipped.)
주어(subject) + 이/가 + 미끄러지다 + 아/어서 + (결과).
친구가 미끄러져서 다쳤어요. (My friend slipped and got hurt.)
(명령/청유) 미끄러지지 않도록 조심하세요/조심합시다.
미끄러지지 않도록 조심하세요. (Be careful not to slip.)
주어(subject) + 이/가 + (도구/상황)에 의해 + 미끄러지다.
바닥에 있던 물 때문에 그가 미끄러졌어요. (He slipped because of the water on the floor.)
(가정) 만약 ~하면 + 미끄러질 거예요/수도 있어요.
만약 조심하지 않으면 미끄러질 수도 있어요. (If you're not careful, you might slip.)
주어(subject) + 이/가 + 미끄러지다 + (과거 경험/회상).
어제 계단에서 미끄러졌던 기억이 나요. (I remember slipping on the stairs yesterday.)
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
How to Use It
미끄러지다 is used when something (or someone) loses its grip and slides unintentionally. It can be used for people slipping on the ground, or for objects sliding. It’s an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object.
A common mistake is confusing it with other verbs like 넘어지다 (to fall down). While slipping often leads to falling, 미끄러지다 specifically refers to the act of *slipping*, not necessarily the *falling* itself. You might slip and not fall, but if you say 넘어졌어요, it means you definitely fell. Another common mistake is trying to use it transitively. Remember, you don't 'slip something'; something 'slips'.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions미끄러지다 focuses on the act of slipping, where your feet lose grip. 넘어지다 is the consequence: falling down. So, you might 미끄러지다 and then 넘어지다, but you can also just 미끄러지다 without falling completely.
Yes, absolutely! You can say 차가 미끄러졌어요 (The car slipped). It's commonly used for vehicles losing traction.
Generally, yes. It implies an unintentional loss of footing or grip. If you intentionally slide, you'd use a different verb like 미끄럼을 타다.
You can say 미끄러질 뻔했어요. The '-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다' grammar point means 'almost did something'.
Yes, that's a perfect use! For example, 컵이 손에서 미끄러졌어요 (The cup slipped from my hand).
Yes, the adjective is 미끄럽다. You can say 길이 미끄러워요 (The road is slippery) or 바닥이 미끄러워요 (The floor is slippery).
It conjugates regularly: 미끄러졌어요 (slipped). For example, 어제 얼음에 미끄러졌어요 (Yesterday I slipped on the ice).
While not a formal idiom, it's often used with '뻔하다' to express a near-miss: 하마터면 미끄러질 뻔했다 (I nearly slipped/I almost had a big fall). You might also hear it metaphorically for something failing or going wrong, like a plan slipping up.
Yes, metaphorically, it can mean to 'slip up' or 'fail' in a competition or a career. For example, 시험에 미끄러졌어요 (I failed the exam, lit. 'slipped on the exam') or 그는 승진에서 미끄러졌다 (He missed out on the promotion).
You'll often see signs that say 미끄럼 주의 (Caution: Slippery) or 바닥 미끄럼 주의 (Caution: Slippery Floor) in public places. Very practical!
Test Yourself 114 questions
길이 얼어서 ___ 넘어졌어요. (The road was frozen, so I ___ and fell.)
'미끄러지다' means to slip. The sentence describes slipping on a frozen road.
바닥이 젖어서 ___ 조심하세요. (The floor is wet, so be careful not to ___.)
The sentence warns about a wet floor, which can cause one to slip.
아이가 바나나 껍질에 ___ 울었어요. (The child ___ on a banana peel and cried.)
Banana peels are known for causing people to slip.
눈 위에서 ___ 정말 위험해요. (It's very dangerous to ___ on snow.)
Slipping is a common danger when on snow.
얼음 위에서 ___ 운동화는 없나요? (Are there no sneakers that won't ___ on ice?)
The question is about shoes that prevent slipping on ice.
빗길에 차가 ___ 사고가 났어요. (The car ___ on the wet road and had an accident.)
Cars can slip on wet roads, leading to accidents.
Choose the correct meaning for '미끄러지다'.
'미끄러지다' means 'to slip' or 'to lose one's footing accidentally'.
Which sentence correctly uses '미끄러지다'?
The sentence '나는 바나나 껍질에 미끄러졌어요.' correctly uses '미끄러지다' to describe slipping.
What is the past tense form of '미끄러지다'?
The past tense of '미끄러지다' is '미끄러졌어요'.
You can use '미끄러지다' when you want to say 'I ate lunch'.
'미끄러지다' means 'to slip', not 'to eat'.
If someone falls on ice, you can use '미끄러지다' to describe what happened.
'미끄러지다' is used when someone slips and falls, especially on a slippery surface like ice.
The word '미끄러지다' is a noun.
'미끄러지다' is a verb, meaning 'to slip'.
The floor is slippery.
I almost fell.
The road is slippery because of the snow.
Read this aloud:
조심하세요. 길이 미끄러워요.
Focus: 미끄러워요 (mi-kkeu-reo-weo-yo)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
바닥이 미끄러웠어요.
Focus: 미끄러웠어요 (mi-kkeu-reo-weo-sseo-yo)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
얼음 때문에 미끄러질 수 있어요.
Focus: 미끄러질 수 있어요 (mi-kkeu-reo-jil su i-sseo-yo)
You said:
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Write a short sentence about someone slipping on a wet floor. Use '미끄러지다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
물이 있는 바닥에서 미끄러졌어요. (I slipped on the wet floor.)
Imagine you are walking outside and you slip. Write a simple sentence describing this. Use '미끄러지다'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
길에서 미끄러질 뻔했어요. (I almost slipped on the road.)
Write a sentence about someone being careful not to slip. Use '미끄러지다' in a negative or preventative way.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
눈이 와서 미끄러지지 않게 조심해요. (It's snowing, so be careful not to slip.)
What happened to the person yesterday?
Read this passage:
저는 어제 계단을 내려가다가 미끄러졌어요. 다행히 다치지 않았어요. 조심해야 해요.
What happened to the person yesterday?
The passage says '계단을 내려가다가 미끄러졌어요' which means 'I slipped while going down the stairs.'
The passage says '계단을 내려가다가 미끄러졌어요' which means 'I slipped while going down the stairs.'
What did the child slip on?
Read this passage:
아이가 얼음 위에서 미끄러졌지만 울지 않았어요. 괜찮아요.
What did the child slip on?
The passage states '아이가 얼음 위에서 미끄러졌지만' which translates to 'The child slipped on the ice but'.
The passage states '아이가 얼음 위에서 미끄러졌지만' which translates to 'The child slipped on the ice but'.
What is the advice given?
Read this passage:
비가 와서 길이 미끄러워요. 천천히 걸으세요.
What is the advice given?
The passage says '천천히 걸으세요' which means 'Please walk slowly.' This is advised because '비가 와서 길이 미끄러워요' (It's raining so the road is slippery).
The passage says '천천히 걸으세요' which means 'Please walk slowly.' This is advised because '비가 와서 길이 미끄러워요' (It's raining so the road is slippery).
This sentence means 'I slipped on the road.' The order 'I (나는) + on the road (길에서) + slipped (미끄러졌어)' is the most natural word order in Korean.
This sentence means 'The floor was wet, so it was slippery.' The order 'Floor (바닥이) + was wet (젖어서) + was slippery (미끄러웠다)' flows logically.
This sentence means 'Be careful, you might slip.' The command 'Be careful (조심해)' comes first, followed by the potential action 'you might slip (미끄러질 수 있어).'
Which sentence correctly uses '미끄러지다'?
'미끄러지다' means to slip or lose one's footing accidentally, which fits the context of slipping on the street.
Choose the best Korean translation for 'The ice was slippery, so I almost slipped.'
'미끄러웠어요' means 'was slippery' and '거의 미끄러졌어요' means 'almost slipped', accurately translating the English sentence.
What is the most natural way to say 'Be careful, you might slip!' in Korean?
'미끄러질 수도 있어요' expresses the possibility of slipping, which is appropriate for a warning.
You can use '미끄러지다' to describe a car sliding on an icy road.
'미끄러지다' can be used for inanimate objects like cars sliding unexpectedly.
If you intentionally slide down a playground slide, you would use '미끄러지다'.
'미끄러지다' implies an accidental loss of footing. For intentionally sliding down a slide, '미끄럼을 타다' would be more appropriate.
A common cause for someone to '미끄러지다' is walking on a wet floor.
Wet floors are a very common cause of accidental slips.
The floor is slippery. Be careful.
I almost slipped on the stairs.
The child slipped on the snow.
Read this aloud:
길이 얼어서 미끄러울 수 있어요.
Focus: 미끄러울
You said:
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Read this aloud:
조심해! 바닥이 젖어서 미끄러워.
Focus: 미끄러워
You said:
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Read this aloud:
비가 와서 길이 미끄러웠어요.
Focus: 미끄러웠어요
You said:
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This sentence describes slipping on a banana peel. The order follows Korean sentence structure (Subject-Object-Verb).
This sentence is a warning about a slippery road. '길이 미끄러우니' means 'Because the road is slippery,' and '조심하세요' means 'Please be careful.'
This sentence describes slipping, falling, and getting hurt. The sequence of actions is important: '미끄러져서' (slipping) leads to '넘어져서' (falling), which results in '아팠어요' (being hurt).
Choose the most natural sentence using '미끄러지다'.
The most common consequence of slipping is falling. The other options are grammatically possible but less natural in context.
Which sentence correctly describes a slippery situation?
If a road is slippery, it's natural to be careful to avoid slipping. The other actions are inappropriate or dangerous.
What is the best way to say 'He slipped on the ice' in Korean?
'미끄러지다' is the correct verb for 'to slip'. The other verbs are 'to eat', 'to sleep', and 'to laugh', which are not relevant to the action of slipping.
If you say '발이 미끄러웠어요,' it means your foot was slippery.
'발이 미끄러웠어요' literally translates to 'my foot was slippery' or 'I slipped my foot,' indicating a loss of footing.
You can use '미끄러지다' to describe a car skidding.
Yes, '미끄러지다' can be used for inanimate objects like cars skidding or sliding.
If someone says '미끄러져서 기뻤어요,' it means they were happy to slip.
'미끄러져서 기뻤어요' means 'I slipped and was happy,' which is an unnatural and unlikely combination of events. Slipping is generally an unpleasant experience.
This sentence describes someone slipping on a banana peel. The order follows a typical Korean sentence structure: object + action.
This sentence gives advice to walk carefully because the road is slippery. '길이 미끄러우니' (because the road is slippery) comes first, followed by the advice '조심해서 걸으세요' (walk carefully).
This sentence explains that the ground was slippery because it rained. '비가 와서' (because it rained) is the cause, and '땅이 미끄러웠어요' (the ground was slippery) is the result.
바닥이 젖어서 ___ 뻔했어요. (The floor was wet, so I almost slipped.)
The context '뻔했어요' (almost happened) suggests an action that was nearly completed but didn't quite. '미끄러질 뻔했어요' means 'almost slipped.'
빙판길에 ___ 사고가 많이 발생합니다. (Many accidents occur from slipping on icy roads.)
'미끄러져서' (due to slipping) correctly links slipping to the cause of accidents on icy roads.
비 오는 날에는 조심하지 않으면 쉽게 ___. (On rainy days, if you're not careful, you can easily slip.)
The phrase '쉽게' (easily) combined with the context of '비 오는 날' (rainy day) implies a tendency to slip.
갑자기 발이 ___ 넘어졌어요. (My foot suddenly slipped and I fell.)
When '발이' (foot) is the subject, '미끄러져서' (slipped) is the appropriate verb to describe losing one's footing, leading to a fall.
양말을 신고 마루를 걸으니 ___ 것 같아요. (It feels like I'm going to slip when I walk on the wooden floor with socks on.)
'미끄러울 것 같아요' (feels like it will be slippery) describes the sensation of potential slipping.
얼음 위에서 춤을 추다가 ___ 크게 다칠 뻔했어요. (While dancing on the ice, I almost slipped badly.)
Dancing on ice directly relates to the possibility of '미끄러져서' (slipping), which could lead to injury.
다음 문장 중 '미끄러지다'가 가장 적절하게 사용된 것은 무엇입니까?
'미끄러지다'는 넘어질 뻔한 상황에서 발이 미끄러지는 것을 의미합니다.
눈 위에서 걷다가 발이 ______. 빈칸에 알맞은 단어는?
눈 위에서 발이 헛디뎌 넘어질 뻔하는 상황을 묘사할 때 '미끄러지다'를 사용합니다.
다음 중 '미끄러지다'의 유의어로 가장 적절한 것은?
'미끄러지다'는 발이 헛디뎌 넘어지는 상황을 의미하므로 '넘어지다'와 관련이 깊습니다.
차가 미끄러운 도로에서 미끄러지는 것은 '미끄러지다'를 사용하여 표현할 수 있다.
'미끄러지다'는 사람뿐만 아니라 자동차와 같은 사물이 미끄러지는 상황에도 사용될 수 있습니다.
어떤 일을 계획대로 잘 처리하지 못하고 실수를 저지르는 상황에 '미끄러지다'를 사용할 수 있다.
'미끄러지다'는 물리적으로 넘어지는 것 외에도, 계획이나 일이 제대로 진행되지 않고 어긋나는 비유적인 의미로도 사용될 수 있습니다.
새로운 직책에 지원했다가 합격하지 못했을 때 '미끄러지다'를 사용할 수 있다.
시험이나 면접에서 탈락했을 때도 '미끄러지다'를 사용하여 표현할 수 있습니다.
The speaker almost got seriously hurt.
What is the danger if one is not careful on a wet floor?
The speaker stumbled and slipped on a mountain path.
Read this aloud:
눈길에 미끄러지지 않게 조심해서 걸어야 해요.
Focus: 미끄러지지
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Read this aloud:
얼음 위에서 미끄러지지 않으려면 균형을 잘 잡아야 합니다.
Focus: 미끄러지지 않으려면
You said:
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Read this aloud:
계단에서 미끄러져서 깜짝 놀랐어요.
Focus: 미끄러져서
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빙판길에 발을 헛디뎌 ___ 하마터면 넘어질 뻔했다.
The context implies a completed action that led to almost falling. '미끄러져서' (slipping and as a result) fits this causative relationship.
예상치 못한 비에 바닥이 젖어 차가 급정거하다 ___ 사고가 발생했다.
'미끄러져' here acts as a connective, indicating that the car slipped and that led to the accident. It’s a common way to link sequential actions with a causal feel.
그는 얼음 위에서 균형을 잃고 ___ 엉덩방아를 찧었다.
'미끄러지면서' (while slipping) describes an action happening concurrently with losing balance. It emphasizes the continuous nature of the slip.
경사가 심한 길에서 낡은 신발을 신고 걷다가 발이 ___ 크게 다칠 뻔했다.
'미끄러워져서' (becoming slippery and as a result) implies the state of the foot becoming slippery, which then caused the near-accident. It focuses on the change in state.
바닥에 흘린 물을 닦지 않으면 지나가던 사람이 발을 ___ 위험할 수 있다.
'미끄러지면' (if they slip) sets up a conditional statement, indicating a potential consequence if the water is not cleaned up.
그는 얼음판 위에서 능숙하게 스케이트를 타는 듯했지만, 결국 작은 실수로 인해 한 번 ___ 했다.
'미끄러지고 말았다' expresses that something happened contrary to expectation or desire, or simply that it ended up happening. It fits the 'but eventually...' context.
다음 문장 중 '미끄러지다'가 가장 적절하게 사용된 것은 무엇입니까?
'미끄러지다'는 넘어질 뻔한 상황에서 사용되는 것이 가장 자연스럽습니다.
어떤 상황에서 '미끄러지다'라는 표현을 사용하는 것이 적절하지 않습니까?
'미끄러지다'는 물리적으로 넘어지거나 제어를 잃는 상황에 사용됩니다. 시험 점수와는 관련이 없습니다.
다음 중 '미끄러지다'와 유의어로 볼 수 없는 것은 무엇입니까?
'넘어지다', '떨어지다', '헛디디다'는 모두 물리적으로 균형을 잃는 것과 관련이 있지만, '좌절하다'는 심리적인 상태를 나타냅니다.
계단에서 발을 헛디뎌 균형을 잃는 상황에서 '미끄러지다'를 사용할 수 있다.
'미끄러지다'는 발을 헛디뎌 균형을 잃는 상황을 표현할 때 적절하게 사용될 수 있습니다.
미끄럼틀을 타는 행동은 '미끄러지다'로 표현할 수 없다.
미끄럼틀을 타는 것은 '미끄러지다'의 기본적인 의미와 일치하는 행동입니다. 다만 의도적인 행동으로, 사고가 아닙니다.
예상치 못한 문제로 계획이 틀어졌을 때 '계획이 미끄러졌다'라고 표현할 수 있다.
'미끄러지다'는 비유적으로 계획이 틀어지거나 일이 순조롭지 않게 될 때도 사용될 수 있습니다.
The road is slippery because it rained, so be careful.
I almost fell after slipping on the ice rink.
He accidentally slipped and fell into a puddle.
Read this aloud:
젖은 바닥에 미끄러지지 않게 조심하세요.
Focus: 미끄러지지 (mi-kkeu-reo-ji-ji)
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눈길 운전은 미끄러지기 쉬우니 서행해야 합니다.
Focus: 미끄러지기 (mi-kkeu-reo-ji-gi)
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경사면에서 돌이 미끄러져 내려왔다.
Focus: 미끄러져 (mi-kkeu-reo-jeo)
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This sentence describes nearly falling due to slipping on a snowy road. '눈길에' (on a snowy road) is followed by '미끄러져서' (because I slipped), and then '넘어질 뻔했어요' (almost fell).
This sentence warns someone to be careful not to slip because the floor is wet. '바닥이 젖어 있으니' (since the floor is wet) comes first, followed by '미끄러지지 않게' (so you don't slip), and then '조심하세요' (please be careful).
This sentence describes someone slipping on ice and getting seriously hurt. '그는' (he) is the subject, followed by '빙판에서' (on the ice), then '발이 미끄러져' (his foot slipped and), and finally '크게 다쳤습니다' (got seriously hurt).
The speaker is talking about a near-accident on an icy road.
The sentence discusses a business facing difficulties.
The sentence is about the stock market.
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예기치 못한 사고로 인해 그의 계획이 미끄러지고 말았다.
Focus: 미끄러지고 말았다
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발을 헛디뎌서 계단에서 미끄러질 뻔했는데, 다행히 난간을 잡았어요.
Focus: 미끄러질 뻔했는데
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이번 프로젝트가 성공하려면 어떤 변수에도 미끄러지지 않도록 철저히 준비해야 합니다.
Focus: 미끄러지지 않도록
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This sentence describes a near-fall due to slipping on a snowy road. '눈길에' (on the snowy road) sets the scene, '미끄러져서' (slipping) describes the action, and '넘어질 뻔했어요' (almost fell) indicates the outcome.
This sentence warns someone to be careful because the floor is wet. '바닥이 젖어 있으니' (since the floor is wet) gives the reason, and '미끄러지지 않게 조심하세요' (be careful not to slip) is the advice.
This sentence uses '미끄러지다' metaphorically to mean deviating from the truth. '그의 말은' (his words) is the subject, '자꾸 진실에서 미끄러지는 것처럼' (as if constantly slipping from the truth) describes the manner, and '들렸다' (sounded) is the verb.
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Example
얼음 위에서 발이 미끄러져 넘어질 뻔했어요.
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More health words
비정상적이다
B1Deviating from what is normal or usual; abnormal.
비정상이다
A2To be abnormal or irregular.
에 대해서
A2Indicating the topic or subject; about, concerning.
누적되다
B1To be accumulated or added up over a period of time. It is frequently used to describe the buildup of fatigue, debt, or environmental damage.
몸살
A2General body aches and fatigue, often accompanying a cold or flu.
몸살나다
A2To suffer from body aches and fatigue, often due to a cold.
쑤시다
B1To have a dull, throbbing pain; to ache.
에취
A2Achoo! (onomatopoeia for sneezing).
급성적이다
A2To be acute or sudden (e.g., an illness).
급성이다
A2Having a rapid onset and short course; to be acute (illness).
