Explanation at your level:
When a flower is not fresh, we say it is 시들하다. It looks sad and droopy. You can use this word when you see a plant that needs water.
You can use 시들하다 for plants that are dying. You can also use it for things that are not popular anymore. For example, a game might be 시들하다 if people stop playing it.
시들하다 describes a loss of vitality. It is often used for flowers, but also for abstract concepts like 'enthusiasm' or 'market demand'. When something loses its initial energy, it becomes 시들하다.
In B2 contexts, you will see 시들하다 used to describe shifts in cultural trends or personal motivation. It implies a gradual decline rather than a sudden stop. It is a nuanced way to express that something has lost its 'edge'.
At the C1 level, 시들하다 is used in sophisticated critiques. You might describe a 'fading movement' or a 'waning influence' using this term. It captures the transition from a peak state to a state of depletion.
Mastery of 시들하다 involves understanding its metaphorical weight. It is used in literature to describe the 'withering' of a soul or the 'fading' of an era. It carries a sense of inevitability and melancholy that native speakers intuitively grasp.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Used for wilting plants
- Used for fading interest
- Adjective in Korean
- Opposite of fresh
When you hear 시들하다, think of a flower left in the sun without water. It starts to lose its crisp shape and bright color. That is the literal meaning of 시들하다.
However, we use it metaphorically too! If you were super excited about a new hobby but now you don't care anymore, your interest has become 시들해졌다. It is a very descriptive word for things losing their 'spark' or 'life'!
The word 시들하다 stems from the root 시들-, which relates to the process of drying out or wilting. It has been used in Korean for centuries to describe the natural life cycle of plants.
Historically, it was tied closely to agriculture. Farmers would observe crops and use this term to identify plants that needed immediate care. Over time, the language evolved to apply this 'drying out' concept to human emotions and social trends.
You use 시들하다 when talking about plants, like 시들한 꽃 (withered flower). It is a common adjective for describing physical states.
In casual conversation, you'll hear it about feelings. If someone asks, 'Are you still into gaming?' you might say, '관심이 좀 시들해졌어' (My interest has faded). It is perfectly acceptable in both formal and casual settings.
1. 인기가 시들하다: Popularity is fading. 2. 열정이 시들하다: Passion is dying down. 3. 시들한 반응: A lukewarm response. 4. 시들해지다: To become withered or bored. 5. 시들시들하다: A reduplicated form emphasizing extreme drooping or lack of energy.
시들하다 functions as a descriptive verb (adjective) in Korean. It conjugates easily with endings like -ㄴ/은 or -아/어지다.
Pronunciation is straightforward: 'si-deul-ha-da'. Ensure the 'deul' sound is soft. It rhymes with words ending in '-하다' patterns in Korean, though it is unique in its root structure.
Fun Fact
It mimics the sound and visual of a plant drooping.
Pronunciation Guide
Korean phonetics
Korean phonetics
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'deul'
- Ignoring the 'h' sound
- Stress on wrong syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective conjugation
시들하다 -> 시들한
Change of state
시들해지다
Subject marking
꽃이
Examples by Level
꽃이 시들하다.
The flower is withered.
Basic subject-adjective structure.
시들한 꽃을 버렸다.
관심이 시들하다.
시들한 채소를 먹지 마세요.
열정이 시들해졌다.
인기가 시들하다.
시들한 잎을 따주세요.
반응이 시들하다.
시들한 기운이 느껴진다.
그의 열정은 예전보다 시들하다.
시장에 대한 관심이 시들해졌다.
시들한 꽃다발을 받았다.
유행이 시들하다.
그녀의 태도가 시들하다.
시들해진 관계를 회복하고 싶다.
시들한 모습이 안타깝다.
축제의 열기가 시들하다.
그의 예술적 영감은 시들해진 것 같다.
시들한 경제 지표가 우려된다.
팬들의 열광이 시들하다.
시들한 대화는 그만하자.
그는 시들한 반응을 보였다.
시들해진 정치적 입지.
시들한 꽃잎이 떨어졌다.
시들한 희망을 다시 불태우다.
시들해진 명성을 되찾기는 어렵다.
그의 시들한 눈빛에서 슬픔을 읽었다.
시들한 시장 상황을 타개할 전략이 필요하다.
시들한 열정을 다시 자극하는 방법.
시들한 관계의 종말.
시들한 문학적 감수성.
시들한 정열을 탓할 수는 없다.
시들한 시대의 흐름.
시들한 문명의 잔재를 마주하다.
그의 철학적 사유는 시들해진 적이 없다.
시들한 영혼을 달래는 음악.
시들한 권력의 몰락.
시들한 시대상을 반영한 소설.
시들한 감정의 찌꺼기.
시들한 예술혼을 불태우다.
시들한 기억의 파편들.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"시들시들하다"
Very weak or drooping
아이가 시들시들하다.
casual"인기가 시들하다"
Losing fame
그 영화는 인기가 시들하다.
neutral"열정이 식다"
Passion cools down
열정이 식어 시들하다.
neutral"시들한 반응을 보이다"
To react with indifference
그는 시들한 반응을 보였다.
neutral"시들해지다"
To become withered
꽃이 시들해지다.
neutral"시들한 관계"
A fading relationship
우리는 시들한 관계가 되었다.
neutralEasily Confused
Opposite meaning
Fresh vs Withered
싱싱한 채소 vs 시들한 채소
Both imply loss of life
Dead vs Withered
죽은 나무 vs 시들한 꽃
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 이/가 + 시들하다
꽃이 시들하다.
Subject + 에 + 대한 + 관심이 + 시들하다
그 일에 대한 관심이 시들하다.
Subject + 의 + 인기가 + 시들하다
그 가수의 인기가 시들하다.
Subject + 가 + 시들해졌다
열정이 시들해졌다.
시들한 + Noun
시들한 꽃잎.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
시들하다 is for wilting or fading, not just being tired.
시들하다 implies organic fading.
시들시들하다 is more descriptive of the state.
시들하다 is for living things or feelings.
시들하다 is slightly informal/descriptive.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a wilted flower in your room.
Native usage
Use it when you lose interest.
Cultural insight
Used often in seasonal poetry.
Grammar shortcut
Use with '해지다' for change.
Say it right
Keep the 'deul' soft.
Don't make this mistake
Don't use for broken machines.
Did you know?
It sounds like the act of wilting.
Study smart
Pair with '인기' and '관심'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
See the 'deul' (field) - the flowers in the field are 시들하다.
Visual Association
A wilted rose.
Word Web
Challenge
Check your fridge for 시들한 vegetables.
Word Origin
Korean
Original meaning: To lose freshness
Cultural Context
None.
Similar to 'wither' or 'fade'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Gardening
- 꽃이 시들하다
- 물을 줘야겠다
Social trends
- 인기가 시들하다
- 유행이 지났다
Emotions
- 관심이 시들하다
- 열정이 식었다
Cooking
- 채소가 시들하다
- 신선하지 않다
Conversation Starters
"요즘 어떤 취미에 관심이 시들해졌나요?"
"시들한 꽃을 본 적 있나요?"
"인기가 시들해진 연예인이 누구인가요?"
"시들한 채소를 어떻게 하나요?"
"열정이 시들할 때 어떻게 하나요?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time your interest in something faded.
Describe a flower you saw today.
How do you keep your passion from becoming 시들하다?
What is something that is currently popular but might become 시들하다?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, for their interest or passion.
It is neutral.
Not necessarily, just losing freshness.
Yes, for vegetables.
싱싱하다.
시들해요, 시들한, 시들했다.
It is a descriptive verb (adjective).
It rhymes with many -하다 words.
Test Yourself
꽃이 ___.
Flowers wither.
Which is a synonym?
Both relate to wilting.
Can you use 시들하다 for a car?
Cars don't wither.
Word
Meaning
Popularity fades.
Adverb-Subject-Adjective.
Score: /5
Summary
시들하다 means to lose freshness or passion, like a flower in the sun.
- Used for wilting plants
- Used for fading interest
- Adjective in Korean
- Opposite of fresh
Memory Palace
Imagine a wilted flower in your room.
Native usage
Use it when you lose interest.
Cultural insight
Used often in seasonal poetry.
Grammar shortcut
Use with '해지다' for change.
Example
꽃이 시들해서 물을 주었다.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
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~게
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공기
A1Air, atmosphere.
몽땅
B1All of it, entirely, completely.
온갖
B1All sorts of, every kind of.
~을/를 따라서
A2Along; indicating movement or position parallel to something.
동물
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개미
A1A small insect typically living in large colonies.
주위에
A2Surrounding something or someone; around.
그대로
A2Without changing; as it is.
