얼굴이 화끈거리다.
eolguri hwakkeungeorida.
Face feels hot.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when your face feels physically hot because you are incredibly embarrassed or ashamed.
- Means: To feel a burning sensation in the face from shame (max 15 words)
- Used in: Social mistakes, receiving unexpected praise, or being caught lying (max 15 words)
- Don't confuse: Not for a medical fever; use '열이 나다' for sickness (max 15 words)
Explanation at your level:
Significado
To blush or feel a burning sensation in the face due to embarrassment or shame.
Contexto cultural
The concept of 'Chemyeon' (saving face) is central. A burning face is a physical sign that one's social standing has been momentarily compromised. Similar to Korea, Japan has a strong 'shame culture' (Haji). The phrase 'Kao kara hi ga deru' reflects the same physiological response to social errors. While blushing is universal, Western cultures often focus on the 'cuteness' or 'innocence' of a blush (especially in romance), whereas in Korea, it's more heavily weighted toward 'shame' and 'regret'. The term '흑역사' (heuk-yeok-sa / dark history) is often paired with this phrase. People feel their faces burn when they see old, cringey social media posts.
Use with '내가 다'
If you feel embarrassed for someone else, say '내가 다 얼굴이 화끈거리네' (Even my face is burning).
Not for Spicy Food
While '화끈하다' works for spicy food, '화끈거리다' is almost exclusively for the skin sensation of blushing in modern usage.
Significado
To blush or feel a burning sensation in the face due to embarrassment or shame.
Use with '내가 다'
If you feel embarrassed for someone else, say '내가 다 얼굴이 화끈거리네' (Even my face is burning).
Not for Spicy Food
While '화끈하다' works for spicy food, '화끈거리다' is almost exclusively for the skin sensation of blushing in modern usage.
Pair with '이불킥'
This is the perfect phrase to explain why you were 'kicking your blankets' (이불킥) last night.
Modesty Marker
Using this when complimented makes you sound humble and polite in Korean.
Teste-se
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '얼굴이 화끈거리다'.
짝사랑하는 오빠가 나에게 인사를 하자 ( ).
The sentence is in the past tense (he greeted me), so '화끈거렸다' is the most natural fit.
Which situation would most likely cause someone to say '얼굴이 화끈거려요'?
다음 중 '얼굴이 화끈거리는' 상황은?
Situation B involves public embarrassment, which is the primary use of this idiom.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
가: 어제 노래방에서 노래 부르다가 음이탈 났지? 나: 응, 진짜 ( ).
Making a mistake while singing (음이탈) causes embarrassment, and '죽는 줄 알았어' is a common intensifier.
Choose the most natural sentence.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
The phrase is used for shame/embarrassment, not fever, cold weather, or exercise heat.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Heat Sensation vs. Fever
Perguntas frequentes
12 perguntasYes, you can! '햇볕에 타서 얼굴이 화끈거려요' is a perfectly natural way to describe the sting of a sunburn.
Mostly, but it can be used for 'good' embarrassment, like being overwhelmed by a romantic gesture or a big award.
'부끄럽다' is the emotion (I am shy/embarrassed). '얼굴이 화끈거리다' is the physical result of that emotion.
Yes, you can say '귀가 화끈거리다' (ears burning) or '등이 화끈거리다' (back burning - often from a sting or sun).
Yes, if you are describing a past mistake you learned from, it shows you are human and self-aware.
Usually no. It's more about shame. If you're angry, your face might '열불이 나다' (fire of anger rising).
'얼굴이 빨개졌어요' is the simplest way, but '화끈거려요' is more expressive.
It's a verb (동사) because it describes a process/sensation, but it functions similarly to an adjective in many contexts.
Yes, if the rash feels hot and stinging, '화끈거리다' is appropriate.
There isn't a direct opposite sensation, but '태연하다' (to be nonchalant/unfazed) is the opposite emotional state.
No, it's a standard idiom used in all levels of society.
For the mouth, use '입안이 얼얼하다' or '입안이 화끈하다'. '화끈거리다' is usually for the skin.
Frases relacionadas
낯이 뜨겁다
synonymTo feel ashamed/embarrassed
얼굴이 빨개지다
similarTo turn red in the face
쥐구멍에 들어가고 싶다
builds onTo want to hide in a mouse hole
손발이 오그라들다
similarTo cringe
철면피
contrastIron-faced / Shameless
Onde usar
Spilling a drink on a date
민수: 앗, 죄송해요! 옷에 커피를 쏟았어요.
지수: 괜찮아요, 민수 씨. 너무 당황하지 마세요.
민수: 너무 창피해서 얼굴이 화끈거려요.
Getting a huge compliment at work
부장님: 이번 프로젝트는 김 대리 덕분에 성공했어요. 정말 대단해요!
김 대리: 아닙니다, 부장님. 과찬이십니다.
김 대리: (속마음) 사람들 앞에서 칭찬받으니 얼굴이 화끈거리네.
Calling a teacher 'Mom'
학생: 엄마! 아, 아니... 선생님!
친구들: 하하하! 쟤 좀 봐!
학생: 아... 진짜 얼굴이 화끈거려서 못 살겠다.
Caught watching something private
동생: 형, 뭐 봐? 오, 연애 시뮬레이션 게임?
형: 아니야! 저리 가!
형: 갑자기 들켜서 얼굴이 화끈거렸어.
Realizing your fly is open
친구: 야, 너 바지 지퍼 열렸어.
나: 뭐? 진짜? 언제부터?
나: 아, 진짜 얼굴 화끈거려. 어떡해!
Public speaking nerves
나: 안녕하세요... 저는... 음...
청중: (조용히 쳐다봄)
나: (속으로) 긴장해서 얼굴이 화끈거리고 목소리가 떨려.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Hot (Hwa) Cone (Kkeun)'—a cone of fire hitting your face when you're embarrassed.
Visual Association
Imagine a tea kettle on top of someone's head. When they get embarrassed, the steam starts whistling and their face turns bright red like the stove burner.
Rhyme
실수하면 화끈, 부끄러워 화끈!
Story
You are at a fancy party. You try to use a French word to impress your crush, but you say it completely wrong. Everyone stops talking. Suddenly, you feel a heater turned on right in front of your cheeks. That's '얼굴이 화끈거리다'.
Word Web
Desafio
Try to remember the last time you felt '얼굴이 화끈거렸다'. Write three sentences in Korean describing that situation to a friend.
In Other Languages
To have one's ears burning / To flush with shame
Korean emphasizes the physical heat sensation over the visual color change.
Ponerse rojo como un tomate
Spanish is more visual (color), Korean is more sensory (heat).
Piquer un fard
French uses a makeup metaphor; Korean uses a fire/heat mimetic.
Rot werden
German is more descriptive of the state, Korean is more expressive of the feeling.
顔から火が出る (Kao kara hi ga deru)
Japanese is slightly more hyperbolic ('fire coming out'), while Korean is more descriptive of the sensation ('burning').
يحمرّ وجهه خجلاً (Yahmarru wajhuhu khajalan)
Arabic is more formal and focuses on the color 'red'.
脸红心跳 (Liǎnhóng xīntiào)
Chinese includes the heart rate; Korean focuses specifically on the facial heat.
Ficar vermelho de vergonha
Focuses on the resulting state (redness) rather than the process of burning.
Easily Confused
Both involve a hot face.
Use '열이 나다' for sickness/fever; use '화끈거리다' for emotions.
Same root '화끈'.
'화끈하다' describes a bold personality or spicy food. '화끈거리다' describes the sensation of blushing.
Perguntas frequentes (12)
Yes, you can! '햇볕에 타서 얼굴이 화끈거려요' is a perfectly natural way to describe the sting of a sunburn.
Mostly, but it can be used for 'good' embarrassment, like being overwhelmed by a romantic gesture or a big award.
'부끄럽다' is the emotion (I am shy/embarrassed). '얼굴이 화끈거리다' is the physical result of that emotion.
Yes, you can say '귀가 화끈거리다' (ears burning) or '등이 화끈거리다' (back burning - often from a sting or sun).
Yes, if you are describing a past mistake you learned from, it shows you are human and self-aware.
Usually no. It's more about shame. If you're angry, your face might '열불이 나다' (fire of anger rising).
'얼굴이 빨개졌어요' is the simplest way, but '화끈거려요' is more expressive.
It's a verb (동사) because it describes a process/sensation, but it functions similarly to an adjective in many contexts.
Yes, if the rash feels hot and stinging, '화끈거리다' is appropriate.
There isn't a direct opposite sensation, but '태연하다' (to be nonchalant/unfazed) is the opposite emotional state.
No, it's a standard idiom used in all levels of society.
For the mouth, use '입안이 얼얼하다' or '입안이 화끈하다'. '화끈거리다' is usually for the skin.
