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흘리다

A2 verb #3,500 most common 7 min read

흘리다

heullida Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 흘리다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 흘리다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '흘리다' is primarily introduced as 'to spill.' Learners focus on simple, physical actions involving liquids like water, milk, or juice. The most common context is accidental spills during meals. At this stage, you should learn the basic present and past tense forms: '흘려요' and '흘렸어요.' You will mostly see it paired with nouns like '물' (water), '우유' (milk), and '주스' (juice). The goal is to be able to describe a small mess you've made. It is also one of the first verbs used to describe basic bodily functions like '눈물' (tears) in very simple stories or songs. The focus is on the physical result: liquid being where it shouldn't be because of a slight mistake.

At the A2 level, the meaning of '흘리다' expands to include bodily fluids like sweat (땀) and nosebleeds (코피), as well as the act of dropping small items. You will learn to use it in sentences describing physical activity ('땀을 흘려요') or emotional states ('눈물을 흘려요'). This level also introduces the idea of accidentally dropping things while walking, such as a wallet (지갑) or keys (열쇠). You'll start to see it in more complex sentence structures using connectors like '-서' (because) or '-다가' (while). For example, '길을 걷다가 지갑을 흘렸어요' (I dropped my wallet while walking). The nuance here is that the action is unintentional and often goes unnoticed at first.

At the B1 level, you begin to see '흘리다' used in more idiomatic and metaphorical ways. One common usage is '말을 흘리다,' which means to let something slip or to mention something casually/vaguely. You'll also encounter '흘려 듣다,' meaning to not pay close attention or to let someone's words go in one ear and out the other. This level requires understanding the nuance of 'flow' in social and communicative contexts. You might also use it to describe a messy eater ('음식을 흘리고 먹다'). The vocabulary paired with the verb becomes more diverse, including abstract concepts like '정보' (information) or '소문' (rumors) being spread or leaked.

At the B2 level, '흘리다' is used to describe effort and sacrifice through the phrase '땀과 눈물을 흘리다' (to shed sweat and tears). This is common in literature, news, and motivational speeches. You will also learn more specific applications, such as '침을 흘리다' (to drool), which can be used literally or figuratively to mean 'to crave' or 'to desire' something intensely. The verb's role in describing negligence becomes clearer, such as '단어를 흘리다' (to miss/skip words while reading or writing). You should be able to distinguish '흘리다' from its synonyms like '쏟다' or '분출하다' based on the volume and intensity of the flow.

At the C1 level, learners explore the subtle nuances of '흘리다' in professional and literary contexts. It can describe 'leaking' sensitive data ('보안 정보를 흘리다') or the way a certain atmosphere or charm 'emanates' from a person ('매력을 흘리다'). In literature, it might describe the way light or sound 'spills' into a room. You will also study how it functions in complex grammatical constructions and how it contrasts with the passive form '흘러나오다' or the intransitive '흐르다.' The focus is on the intentionality (or lack thereof) and the social consequences of 'letting something flow' in high-level discourse.

At the C2 level, you master the most obscure and sophisticated uses of '흘리다.' This includes archaic or highly poetic uses where time or life itself is described as being 'spilled' or 'wasted.' You understand the deep etymological connection between '흐르다' (to flow) and '흘리다' (to cause to flow) and can use this knowledge to interpret complex wordplay in classical Korean literature or modern poetry. You are also proficient in using the verb in legal or highly technical contexts where the 'leakage' of information or resources has specific definitions. At this stage, '흘리다' is not just a verb but a conceptual tool to describe the movement and loss of both physical and abstract entities.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

흘리다 in 30 Seconds

Primarily means to spill liquids like water or coffee accidentally.
Used for shedding bodily fluids such as tears, sweat, and blood.
Describes accidentally dropping and losing small items like wallets or keys.
Metaphorically used for leaking information or missing details in speech.

The Korean verb 흘리다 (heullida) is a versatile and essential term that every learner should master. At its most basic level, it translates to 'to spill' or 'to let flow.' However, its usage extends far beyond just accidentally tipping over a glass of water. It encompasses a wide range of actions involving liquids, bodily fluids, and even physical objects that are inadvertently dropped or left behind. Understanding the nuances of 흘리다 is key to sounding natural in Korean, as it captures the unintentional or natural flow of things from a container or a source.

Liquid Spillage: This is the primary use. When you accidentally tip a cup and the liquid comes out, you use 흘리다. It implies a sense of lack of control or an accident. For example, spilling coffee on your shirt or water on the floor.

아이기 우유를 식탁에 흘렸어요. (The child spilled milk on the table.)

Bodily Fluids: In Korean culture, expressing the flow of tears (눈물), sweat (땀), nosebleeds (코피), or even drool (침) specifically requires 흘리다. It describes the natural process of these fluids leaving the body, often due to emotion, physical exertion, or biological reaction.

운동을 많이 해서 땀을 많이 흘렸어요. (I worked out a lot, so I sweated a lot.)

Dropping or Losing Items: Interestingly, 흘리다 is used when you accidentally drop something small like a wallet, keys, or a handkerchief while walking. It conveys the idea that the object 'slid out' of your pocket or bag without you noticing.

길에서 지갑을 흘린 것 같아요. (I think I dropped my wallet on the street.)

Furthermore, 흘리다 can be used metaphorically. It can refer to 'dropping' or 'leaking' information, or even 'missing' a part of a conversation or a lecture. If a teacher speaks too fast and you miss some words, you might say you 'let the words flow past' using this verb. This multidimensionality makes it a high-frequency verb in daily Korean life, appearing in contexts ranging from the kitchen to the gym to the office.

Using 흘리다 correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical structure and the specific particles it pairs with. As a transitive verb, it typically takes an object marked by the particle 을/를. The subject is the person or entity that causes the spill or the flow, even if the action is unintentional.

Basic Structure: [Subject]이/가 + [Object]을/를 + 흘리다. For example, '나는(Subject) 커피를(Object) 흘렸다(Verb).'

국을 흘리지 않게 조심하세요. (Be careful not to spill the soup.)

The conjugation of 흘리다 follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in '-ㅣ'. In the present tense, it becomes 흘려요 (polite) or 흘린다 (plain). In the past tense, it becomes 흘렸어요. It is important to distinguish this from the intransitive form 흐르다 (to flow), where the liquid itself is the subject.

Causative Nuance: Because 흘리다 is the causative form of 흐르다, it implies that someone or something made the liquid flow. This is why it's used for shedding tears—you are the one 'letting' them flow through your emotion.

그는 감동적인 영화를 보고 눈물을 흘렸다. (He shed tears after watching a moving movie.)

Common Verb Patterns: 흘리고 다니다 (to go around dropping things/being messy), 흘려 듣다 (to half-listen/let words slip through one's ears), 다 흘리다 (to spill everything).

제 말을 그냥 흘려 듣지 마세요. (Don't just let my words go in one ear and out the other.)

In summary, focus on the object you are 'spilling' or 'letting flow.' Whether it's a physical liquid, an emotion-driven fluid, or a forgotten object, 흘리다 describes the act of it leaving its intended place through your action or negligence.

The word 흘리다 is ubiquitous in Korean life. You will hear it in various settings, from casual household conversations to dramatic television scenes. Its usage is so ingrained that it appears in many fixed expressions and cultural contexts.

In the Kitchen and Dining: Parents often tell their children, '음식 흘리지 말고 먹어' (Eat without spilling food). Since Korean meals often involve soups and side dishes with sauces, spilling is common, and this verb is the go-to for such incidents.

옷에 김칫국물을 흘려서 잘 안 지워져요. (I spilled kimchi soup on my clothes, and it won't come out easily.)

In Korean Dramas (K-Dramas): K-Dramas are famous for emotional scenes. You will frequently hear characters talking about '눈물을 흘리다' (shedding tears). It sounds more poetic and evocative than just '울다' (to cry). It focuses on the visual of the tears flowing.

그녀는 말없이 눈물만 흘리고 있었다. (She was just shedding tears without saying a word.)

On Public Transport and the Street: If you lose something in a taxi or on the bus, you might say '물건을 흘렸다.' This is a common way to report lost property at a lost and found center.

버스에 에어팟을 흘린 것 같아요. (I think I dropped/lost my AirPods on the bus.)

Finally, in the workplace, you might hear it in the context of 'leaking' secrets or information—'정보를 흘리다.' This implies that the information was let out, perhaps intentionally but appearing like a slip of the tongue. Whether it's a physical mess or a social slip-up, 흘리다 is the word that captures the essence of things escaping their place.

While 흘리다 seems straightforward, English speakers often make specific errors when translating 'spill' or 'drop' into Korean. The nuances between similar verbs can be tricky.

Confusing 흘리다 with 쏟다: This is the most common mistake. 쏟다 (ssot-da) usually implies pouring out a large amount, often intentionally or in a sudden, massive spill. 흘리다 is for smaller amounts, dripping, or the act of things escaping. If you knock over a whole bucket, use 쏟다. If you drip a bit of sauce, use 흘리다.

Wrong: 물을 바닥에 쏟았어요 (when you just dripped a bit). Right: 물을 바닥에 흘렸어요.

Using 흘리다 for General 'Lose' (잃어버리다): You can only use 흘리다 for losing things if they physically fell out of your possession (like dropping a coin). You cannot use it for 'losing' a game or 'losing' your way. For those, use 지다 or 길을 잃다.

Transitive vs. Intransitive (흘리다 vs. 흐르다): Remember that 흘리다 needs an object. If the water is just flowing naturally (like a river), you must use 흐르다. You cannot say '강이 물을 흘려요' (The river spills water) unless you mean it in a very strange, personified way.

Wrong: 눈물이 흘려요. Right: 눈물이 흐르다 (Tears flow) or 눈물을 흘리다 (Shed tears).

Lastly, avoid using 흘리다 for intentional pouring. If you are serving tea to a guest, use 따르다. Using 흘리다 in that context would imply you are making a mess or being clumsy. Paying attention to these distinctions will help you avoid awkward misunderstandings and sound more like a native speaker.

To truly master 흘리다, it is helpful to compare it with related words that share similar meanings but have different applications. This helps in choosing the exact word for the right situation.

흘리다 vs. 쏟다 (Spill/Pour): 흘리다 usually refers to a small amount or a gradual, unintentional flow (like a drip). 쏟다 refers to a large amount coming out at once, often because the container was completely overturned.

흘리다 vs. 떨어뜨리다 (Drop): If you hold an apple and it falls from your hand to the floor, you use 떨어뜨리다. If you are walking and a coin slips out of your pocket without you knowing, you use 흘리다. 흘리다 emphasizes the 'leaving behind' aspect.

핸드폰을 바닥에 떨어뜨렸어요. (I dropped my phone on the floor - from hand to floor.)

흘리다 vs. 잃어버리다 (Lose): 잃어버리다 is the general word for losing something. 흘리다 is specifically for losing something by dropping it somewhere. If you don't know where you lost it, you use 잃어버리다. If you realize it fell out of your bag, 흘리다 is more descriptive.

흘리다 vs. 새다 (Leak): 새다 is intransitive (the liquid leaks out of a hole). 흘리다 is transitive (you spill/drop it). If a pipe is broken, water 새다. If you carry a leaky bucket and leave a trail, you 흘리다 water.

In summary, choose 흘리다 when the focus is on the unintentional escape or flow of something from your possession or body. It is the perfect word for those 'oops' moments or deep emotional expressions.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word for cursive handwriting in Korean, '흘림체' (heullimche), literally means 'spilled style' because the characters look like they are flowing or spilling into each other.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /hɯl.li.da/

US /hʊl.li.dɑ/

The stress is generally even across syllables in Korean, but the first syllable '흘' (heul) may feel slightly more emphasized due to the double 'l' transition.

Rhymes With

풀리다 (pullida - to be untied) 물리다 (mullida - to be bitten) 졸리다 (jollida - to be sleepy) 홀리다 (hollida - to be possessed/charmed) 불리다 (bullida - to be called) 들리다 (deullida - to be heard) 열리다 (yeollida - to be opened) 날리다 (nallida - to fly/make fly)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'eu' (ㅡ) like 'u' (ㅜ).
Not doubling the 'l' sound correctly between the first and second syllables.
Confusing the pronunciation with '흐르다' (heureuda).
Making the 'h' sound too strong.
Pronouncing the final 'da' like 'the'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in text, but nuance varies by context.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct object marker and knowledge of collocations.

Speaking 3/5

Common in daily life; must distinguish from '흐르다'.

Listening 2/5

Clearly pronounced, usually easy to hear in context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

물 (water) 눈물 (tears) 흐르다 (to flow) 닦다 (to wipe) 조심하다 (to be careful)

Learn Next

쏟다 (to pour/spill) 잃어버리다 (to lose) 떨어뜨리다 (to drop) 적시다 (to soak) 새다 (to leak)

Advanced

유출하다 (to leak information) 누설하다 (to divulge) 방출하다 (to emit) 흘림체 (cursive script)

Grammar to Know

Causative Verbs (-이/히/리/기/우/구/추)

흐르다 (flow) -> 흘리다 (cause to flow).

-다가 (while doing/intermediate change)

길을 걷다가 지갑을 흘렸어요.

-지 않게 (so that... not)

흘리지 않게 조심하세요.

-ㄴ 것 같다 (guessing/seeming)

어디서 흘린 것 같아요.

을/를 (Object Marker)

땀을 흘리다, 물을 흘리다.

Examples by Level

바닥에 물을 흘렸어요.

I spilled water on the floor.

Past tense of 흘리다 (흘리 + 었다).

우유를 흘리지 마세요.

Don't spill the milk.

-지 마세요 (negative imperative).

주스를 조금 흘렸어요.

I spilled a little juice.

조금 (a little) modifies the amount.

아이가 국을 흘려요.

The child is spilling the soup.

Present tense (흘리 + 어요).

누가 물을 흘렸니?

Who spilled the water?

-니? (informal question ending).

커피를 옷에 흘렸어요.

I spilled coffee on my clothes.

에 (location particle).

조심해! 우유 흘린다.

Watch out! You're spilling the milk.

-ㄴ다 (plain present tense used as a warning).

여기에 주스를 흘리지 마.

Don't spill juice here.

여기에 (here).

슬픈 영화를 보고 눈물을 흘렸어요.

I shed tears after watching a sad movie.

눈물을 흘리다 is the standard phrase for crying/shedding tears.

더워서 땀을 많이 흘려요.

I'm sweating a lot because it's hot.

-어서 (reason connector).

어디에서 지갑을 흘렸는지 모르겠어요.

I don't know where I dropped my wallet.

-는지 모르다 (to not know if/where).

코피를 흘려서 보건실에 갔어요.

I had a nosebleed, so I went to the nurse's office.

코피를 흘리다 (to have a nosebleed).

길에 돈을 흘린 것 같아요.

I think I dropped some money on the street.

-ㄴ 것 같다 (it seems like/I think).

운동장 보수 공사 중에 땀을 흘렸다.

I sweated while working on the playground repair.

중 (during/in the middle of).

주머니에서 열쇠를 흘렸어요.

I dropped my keys from my pocket.

주머니에서 (from the pocket).

아이들이 아이스크림을 다 흘리며 먹어요.

The children are eating ice cream, spilling it everywhere.

-며 (while doing/simultaneous action).

그는 지나가는 말로 비밀을 흘렸다.

He let the secret slip in passing.

비밀을 흘리다 (to leak a secret).

제 말을 그냥 흘려 듣지 마세요.

Don't just let my words go in one ear and out the other.

흘려 듣다 (to half-listen/ignore).

그 소문은 누가 흘린 걸까요?

Who do you think leaked that rumor?

-ㄴ 걸까요? (asking for speculation).

밥을 먹을 때 자꾸 흘리고 먹어요.

I keep spilling food when I eat.

자꾸 (repeatedly).

선생님 설명을 몇 군데 흘렸어요.

I missed a few parts of the teacher's explanation.

흘리다 used for missing information.

그는 웃을 때 침을 흘리는 버릇이 있다.

He has a habit of drooling when he laughs.

침을 흘리다 (to drool).

중요한 단서를 흘리고 갔네요.

You left behind an important clue.

-고 가다 (to do something and leave).

눈물을 흘리며 사과했어요.

He apologized while shedding tears.

Adverbial usage with -며.

성공을 위해 피와 땀을 흘려야 합니다.

You must shed blood and sweat for success.

피와 땀을 흘리다 (metaphor for hard work).

그는 명품 가방을 보고 침을 흘렸다.

He drooled over the luxury bag (craved it).

Figurative use of 침을 흘리다.

그 기사는 정보를 일부러 흘린 것 같다.

It seems the reporter leaked the information on purpose.

일부러 (on purpose).

그녀는 매력을 흘리고 다니는 스타일이에요.

She's the type who goes around exuding charm.

매력을 흘리다 (to exude charm/be flirtatious).

받아쓰기를 할 때 글자를 자꾸 흘려 써요.

When doing dictation, I keep missing letters/writing sloppily.

흘려 쓰다 (to write sloppily or miss characters).

그는 슬픔을 억누르지 못하고 눈물을 흘렸다.

He couldn't suppress his sadness and shed tears.

억누르지 못하다 (cannot suppress).

수사관은 범인이 흘린 증거를 찾았다.

The investigator found the evidence the criminal dropped.

범인이 흘린 (dropped by the criminal).

말끝을 흘리는 습관은 좋지 않아요.

The habit of trailing off at the end of sentences is not good.

말끝을 흘리다 (to trail off/mumble the end of a sentence).

정부는 새로운 정책에 대한 반응을 살피기 위해 정보를 흘렸다.

The government leaked information to gauge the reaction to the new policy.

Strategic leaking of information.

그의 문체는 섬세하면서도 힘을 흘리지 않는다.

His writing style is delicate yet doesn't lose its strength.

Metaphorical use in literary criticism.

과거의 영광을 뒤로하고 눈물을 흘리며 떠났다.

Leaving his past glory behind, he departed while shedding tears.

High-level narrative style.

그는 대화 중에 중요한 힌트를 은근히 흘렸다.

He subtly dropped an important hint during the conversation.

은근히 (subtly/secretly).

작가는 독자의 상상력을 자극하기 위해 복선을 흘려 두었다.

The author dropped foreshadowing to stimulate the reader's imagination.

복선을 흘리다 (to drop clues/foreshadow).

그의 연설은 청중의 마음속에 깊은 울림을 흘려보냈다.

His speech sent a deep resonance into the hearts of the audience.

흘려보내다 (to send/let flow toward).

그는 매사에 꼼꼼하지 못해 실수를 흘리고 다닌다.

He isn't meticulous, so he leaves a trail of mistakes everywhere.

Metaphorical negligence.

전통의 맥을 흘리지 않고 이어가는 것이 중요하다.

It is important to continue the tradition without letting its essence slip away.

맥을 흘리다 (to lose the pulse/essence).

세월의 흐름 속에 청춘을 흘려보낸 회한이 밀려왔다.

A surge of regret for letting youth slip away in the passage of time came over him.

Highly poetic and abstract usage.

그의 눈빛은 형언할 수 없는 슬픔을 흘리고 있었다.

His eyes were exuding an indescribable sadness.

Abstract 'spilling' of emotion through sight.

난세의 영웅들은 대의를 위해 기꺼이 피를 흘렸다.

Heroes in times of chaos willingly shed blood for a great cause.

Historical/Heroic register.

문장의 여백에 작가의 고뇌가 흘러넘치고 있다.

The author's anguish is overflowing in the margins of the sentences.

흘러넘치다 (to overflow - related compound).

정보화 시대에 개인 정보가 자신도 모르게 흘려지고 있다.

In the information age, personal information is being leaked without one's knowledge.

Passive nuance in a transitive context.

그는 자신의 철학을 대중에게 흘리듯 전파했다.

He spread his philosophy to the public as if letting it slip naturally.

흘리듯 (as if spilling/leaking).

고전의 향기를 흘리지 않고 번역하는 것은 난제 중의 난제다.

Translating without losing the scent of the classics is the most difficult of challenges.

Translational nuance.

그는 일생을 바쳐 쌓아온 명성을 한순간의 실수로 흘려버렸다.

He threw away the reputation he had built over a lifetime with a single moment's mistake.

흘려버리다 (to spill away completely/lose).

Common Collocations

눈물을 흘리다

땀을 흘리다

침을 흘리다

물을 흘리다

커피를 흘리다

지갑을 흘리다

정보를 흘리다

말을 흘리다

코피를 흘리다

음식을 흘리다

Common Phrases

흘리고 다니다

— To be messy or go around dropping things frequently.

너는 왜 이렇게 물건을 흘리고 다니니?

흘려 듣다

— To not listen carefully or to ignore what someone says.

내 말을 흘려 듣지 말고 잘 들어.

눈물 콧물을 흘리다

— To cry very hard (literally: shed tears and snot).

그는 눈물 콧물을 흘리며 빌었다.

피땀을 흘리다

— To work extremely hard with great sacrifice.

우리는 이 프로젝트에 피땀을 흘렸다.

말끝을 흘리다

— To trail off at the end of a sentence due to lack of confidence.

그는 자신 없는 듯 말끝을 흘렸다.

침을 흘리며 기다리다

— To wait for something very eagerly (often food).

피자가 오기를 침을 흘리며 기다렸다.

정보를 흘려주다

— To give someone a tip or leak some information secretly.

친구에게 시험 힌트를 살짝 흘려주었다.

단어를 흘리다

— To skip words when reading or writing.

긴장해서 중간에 단어를 몇 개 흘렸어요.

술을 흘리다

— To spill alcohol (often used in social drinking contexts).

술잔이 넘쳐서 술을 흘렸다.

정신을 흘리다

— To be absent-minded or lose focus (idiomatic).

정신을 어디에 흘리고 다니는 거야?

Often Confused With

흘리다 vs 흐르다

'흐르다' is intransitive (the liquid flows). '흘리다' is transitive (you spill/shed the liquid).

흘리다 vs 쏟다

'쏟다' is for large amounts or intentional pouring. '흘리다' is for small amounts or unintentional spills.

흘리다 vs 떨어뜨리다

'떨어뜨리다' is dropping from a height. '흘리다' is losing an item by it falling out of your possession while moving.

Idioms & Expressions

"땀을 흘리다"

— To work hard or exert effort.

노력의 땀을 흘린 만큼 결과가 좋을 것이다.

Neutral

"눈물을 흘리다"

— To feel deep sorrow or emotion.

이별의 눈물을 흘렸다.

Neutral

"침을 흘리다"

— To desire something intensely.

그는 남의 떡에 침을 흘리고 있다.

Informal

"귓등으로 흘리다"

— To completely ignore what someone says.

엄마의 잔소리를 귓등으로 흘렸다.

Informal

"피를 흘리다"

— To make a sacrifice or suffer injury for a cause.

민주주의를 위해 많은 이들이 피를 흘렸다.

Formal

"말을 흘리다"

— To hint at something or leak a secret casually.

그가 결혼한다는 말을 은근히 흘렸다.

Neutral

"정신을 흘리다"

— To act like a scatterbrain.

정신을 어디다 흘리고 온 거니?

Informal

"복선을 흘리다"

— To provide foreshadowing in a story.

작가는 1장에서 이미 복선을 흘렸다.

Literary

"매력을 흘리다"

— To be flirtatious or exude charm.

그녀는 웃을 때마다 매력을 흘린다.

Informal

"돈을 흘리다"

— To spend money carelessly or lose it.

그는 돈을 흘리고 다니는 사람처럼 쓴다.

Neutral

Easily Confused

흘리다 vs 잃어버리다

Both involve losing something.

잃어버리다 is the general state of not having it. 흘리다 is the specific act of it falling out and being left behind.

I lost my phone (잃어버리다). I dropped my wallet on the street (흘리다).

흘리다 vs 버리다

Both can mean 'getting rid of' or 'losing'.

버리다 is intentional throwing away. 흘리다 is accidental dropping.

I threw away the trash (버리다). I dropped my pen (흘리다).

흘리다 vs 따르다

Both involve liquid moving from a container.

따르다 is intentional pouring (like tea). 흘리다 is unintentional spilling.

Pour the tea (따르다). Don't spill the tea (흘리다).

흘리다 vs 새다

Both involve liquid escaping.

새다 focuses on the hole or container leaking. 흘리다 focuses on the person or action causing the spill.

The roof leaks (새다). I spilled water (흘리다).

흘리다 vs 빠뜨리다

Both mean dropping/omitting.

빠뜨리다 often means dropping *into* something (like water) or omitting a name from a list. 흘리다 is dropping *somewhere*.

I dropped my phone in the water (빠뜨리다). I dropped my glove on the road (흘리다).

Sentence Patterns

[Liquid]을/를 흘렸어요.

주스를 흘렸어요.

[Body Fluid]을/를 흘려요.

땀을 흘려요.

[Object]을/를 흘린 것 같아요.

열쇠를 흘린 것 같아요.

[Speech]을/를 흘려 듣다.

잔소리를 흘려 들어요.

[Secret]을/를 흘리다.

비밀을 흘렸어요.

[Metaphor]을/를 흘리며 [Action].

피땀을 흘리며 공부했어요.

[Abstract]을/를 흘리고 다니다.

매력을 흘리고 다녀요.

[Time/Life]을/를 흘려보내다.

청춘을 흘려보냈어요.

Word Family

Nouns

흘림 (heullim - the act of spilling/dropping)

흘림체 (heullimche - cursive/running script handwriting)

Verbs

흐르다 (heureuda - to flow [intransitive])

흘러나오다 (heulleonaoda - to flow out)

흘러가다 (heulleogada - to flow away)

흘려보내다 (heullyeobonaeda - to let flow/waste time)

흘러넘치다 (heulleoneomchida - to overflow)

쏟다 (ssotda - to pour/spill)

빠지다 (ppajida - to fall out/miss)

잃다 (ilta - to lose)

적시다 (jeoksida - to wet/soak)

젖다 (jeotda - to get wet)

How to Use It

frequency

Very High

Common Mistakes

Using '흘리다' for the liquid flowing by itself. → 물이 흘러요.
If the water is the subject, use the intransitive '흐르다'. Use '흘리다' when a person spills it.
Using '흘리다' for losing a game. → 경기에 졌어요.
'흘리다' is only for physical objects or substances. Use '지다' for losing a match.
Confusing '흘리다' with '쏟다' for large spills. → 물을 바닥에 쏟았어요.
If you tip over a whole bucket, '쏟다' is better. '흘리다' is for smaller drips or accidents.
Using '흘리다' to mean 'to pour' for a guest. → 차를 따라 드릴게요.
'따르다' is for intentional pouring. '흘리다' implies you are making a mess.
Saying '눈물이 흘려요'. → 눈물이 흘러요 (Tears flow) or 눈물을 흘려요 (I shed tears).
You must use the correct particle and verb form based on whether the tears or the person is the subject.

Tips

Use with -다가

When you drop something while doing another activity, use the -다가 pattern. '학교에 가다가 지갑을 흘렸어요' (I dropped my wallet while going to school).

Bodily Fluids

Always use '흘리다' for sweat, tears, and blood. It is the most natural verb for these contexts.

Information Leaks

In a professional context, '정보를 흘리다' can mean a strategic leak or a careless slip of the tongue.

Table Manners

Saying '음식을 흘리지 마세요' is a common way to teach children how to eat properly in Korea.

Poetic Usage

In books, you might see '빛을 흘리다' (to spill light), which creates a beautiful visual of light entering a space.

Messy Writing

If someone's handwriting is hard to read, you can say they '흘려 썼다' (wrote flowingly/sloppily).

Crying Nuance

'눈물을 흘리다' sounds more poignant and visual than '울다'. Use it in your writing for more impact.

Hard Work

Use '땀을 흘리다' to show you've worked hard. '성공은 땀을 흘린 사람의 것이다' (Success belongs to those who sweat).

Charm

'매력을 흘리다' is a common modern expression for someone who is very charismatic or flirtatious.

Listening

'흘려 듣다' is a great way to describe when someone is ignoring you or not taking you seriously.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Heul' as the sound of a small 'Hull' (of a boat) leaking water. You 'Heullida' when you let that leak happen or spill your drink.

Visual Association

Imagine a person walking while coffee drips (spills) from their cup, tears flow from their eyes, and a wallet falls (spills) from their pocket. All three are '흘리다'.

Word Web

Water (물) Tears (눈물) Sweat (땀) Wallet (지갑) Secret (비밀) Drool (침) Soup (국) Information (정보)

Challenge

Try to use '흘리다' in three different ways today: once for a drink, once for sweat or tears, and once for a dropped object.

Word Origin

흘리다 is the causative form of the native Korean verb 흐르다 (to flow). The suffix '-이-' was added to create the causative meaning 'to make flow' or 'to let flow.'

Original meaning: To cause a liquid to flow from its source or container.

Native Korean (Altaic/Koreanic).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using '침을 흘리다' (drool) about someone else, as it can be derogatory unless used for a baby or in a very specific 'craving food' context.

English speakers use 'spill' for liquids and 'drop/lose' for objects. Korean uses '흘리다' for both if the object fell out of possession during movement.

The song '눈물 흘리며' (While Shedding Tears) is a common theme in K-Pop ballads. Traditional calligraphy '흘림체' is a respected art form. The phrase '땀은 배신하지 않는다' (Sweat does not betray) implies that the effort you 'spill' will pay off.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a Restaurant

옷에 국을 흘렸어요.
휴지 좀 주세요. 물을 흘렸어요.
음식 흘리지 않게 조심하세요.
앞치마를 하면 안 흘려요.

Gym or Sports

땀을 너무 많이 흘렸어.
수건으로 땀 좀 닦아.
땀 흘린 후에 마시는 물이 최고야.
운동하면 땀을 흘리는 게 당연해.

Lost and Found

지하철에 지갑을 흘린 것 같아요.
혹시 여기 흘린 물건 없나요?
어디서 흘렸는지 기억이 안 나요.
주머니에서 열쇠를 흘렸나 봐요.

Emotional Situations

눈물을 흘리지 마세요.
그녀는 감동해서 눈물을 흘렸다.
슬픈 소식에 눈물을 흘렸어요.
왜 그렇게 눈물을 흘리고 있니?

Workplace/Secrets

누가 이 정보를 흘렸지?
비밀을 흘리면 안 돼.
그는 은근슬쩍 힌트를 흘렸다.
말을 흘리고 다니지 마세요.

Conversation Starters

"어제 영화 보고 눈물을 흘렸어요. 당신도 그 영화 봤어요?"

"제가 방금 커피를 조금 흘렸는데, 휴지 좀 빌려주실 수 있나요?"

"길에서 지갑을 흘린 적이 있나요? 어떻게 찾았어요?"

"운동할 때 땀을 많이 흘리는 편인가요?"

"아이들이 음식을 흘리지 않고 먹게 하는 좋은 방법이 있을까요?"

Journal Prompts

오늘 실수로 무언가를 흘린 적이 있나요? 그 상황을 설명해 보세요.

최근에 눈물을 흘릴 만큼 감동적이거나 슬픈 일이 있었나요?

목표를 위해 피와 땀을 흘려 노력했던 경험에 대해 써 보세요.

누군가에게 비밀을 흘려서 곤란했던 적이 있나요?

어릴 때 물건을 자주 흘리고 다녔나요? 어떤 물건을 잃어버렸었나요?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, '흘리다' is only for physical objects or liquids. For losing a game, use '지다'.

'눈물이 나다' means tears come out (spontaneously). '눈물을 흘리다' means to shed tears, often emphasizing the act or emotion behind it.

Usually, yes, for liquids and objects. However, for tears and sweat, it's a natural biological response, and for 'leaking information', it can be intentional.

You say '셔츠에 커피를 흘렸어요' (Sheocheu-e keopi-reul heullyeosseoyo).

No, that would be '투하하다' (tu-ha-hada). '흘리다' is for small things falling out of pockets or bags.

It means to want something very badly, like 'drooling' over a new car or delicious food.

No, for rain we say '비가 오다' or '비가 내리다'. '흘리다' requires a person or specific source to 'let it flow'.

Yes, it can be used for grains like sand or sugar if they are spilling out of a bag.

It is the Korean term for cursive or running script handwriting, where the strokes 'flow' together.

You can say '내 말을 흘려 듣지 마' (Nae mareul heullyeo deutji ma).