A1 Collocation 中性

목이 마르다

mogi mareuda

Be thirsty

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use '목이 마르다' to express the physical need for water when your throat feels dry.

  • Means: My throat is dry / I am thirsty.
  • Used in: After exercise, eating spicy food, or waking up.
  • Don't confuse: Don't use it for hunger; that's '배가 고프다'.
🌵 + {목|喉} (Throat) = 💧 (Need water)

Explanation at your level:

At this level, '목이 마르다' is a basic survival phrase. You use it to tell people you need water. It's like saying 'I am thirsty.' You should learn the simple form '목말라요' to use in restaurants or with friends. It's a very important phrase for daily life in Korea.
At the A2 level, you should understand the '르' irregular conjugation (마르다 -> 말라요). You can use it to describe why you are doing something, like 'I'm thirsty, so I'm buying water.' You also start to recognize it in simple questions from others asking if you want a drink.
Intermediate learners can use '목이 마르다' in more complex sentences using connectors like '-어서/아서' (because) or '-(으)니까'. You can describe different degrees of thirst and use related terms like '갈증' in formal contexts. You understand that it can sometimes be used for a strong desire for something like 'success'.
At this stage, you can distinguish between '목이 마르다' and '목이 타다' (burning thirst) to express intensity. You can use the phrase in nuanced social situations, such as politely declining a drink or explaining a physical condition. You are comfortable with the metaphorical uses in literature or news media.
Advanced learners analyze the phrase's role in Korean idioms and its etymological connection to the concept of 'Gi' (energy) and moisture. You can use it fluently in abstract discussions about human desires or social needs, and you understand the subtle register shifts between native Korean and Hanja-based equivalents.
Near-native mastery involves understanding the deep cultural semiotics of 'thirst' in Korean history and literature. You can discuss the linguistic evolution of the '르' irregular verb class and how '목이 마르다' functions as a prototypical example of Korean somatic expression, comparing it to other 'body-part + verb' collocations.

意思

To feel the physical sensation of thirst.

🌍

文化背景

In Korean restaurants, water is almost always free and often served in a large stainless steel bottle or via a self-service purifier. It is considered basic hospitality. Koreans often drink 'Boricha' (barley tea) instead of plain water to quench thirst, as it is believed to be more refreshing and better for digestion. The phrase '목이 빠지게 기다리다' (to wait until one's neck falls out) is a related idiom about waiting anxiously, showing how many Korean idioms involve the '목' (neck/throat). While 'thirst' is a universal human experience, the Korean focus on the 'throat drying' is shared with other East Asian languages like Japanese, reflecting a shared linguistic area.

🎯

The '르' Rule

Always remember that '마르다' changes to '말라'. If you say '마르요', Koreans will understand but it sounds very 'foreign'.

💬

Offering First

In Korea, it's polite to ask others if they are thirsty before getting a drink for yourself.

意思

To feel the physical sensation of thirst.

🎯

The '르' Rule

Always remember that '마르다' changes to '말라'. If you say '마르요', Koreans will understand but it sounds very 'foreign'.

💬

Offering First

In Korea, it's polite to ask others if they are thirsty before getting a drink for yourself.

⚠️

Not for Sore Throats

If you have a cold, don't say '목이 말라요'. Say '목이 아파요'.

自我测试

Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of '마르다'.

운동을 많이 해서 목이 ______.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 말라요

'마르다' is a '르' irregular verb, so it becomes '말라요' in the polite present tense.

Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I am thirsty'?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 나는 목이 말라요.

'목이 마르다' is the correct collocation using the subject marker '이'.

Complete the dialogue.

가: 날씨가 정말 덥네요. 나: 네, 그래서 ______.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 목이 말라요

Hot weather naturally leads to feeling thirsty.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You just finished a 5km run.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 목이 말라요

Thirst is the most likely sensation after running.

🎉 得分： /4

视觉学习工具

常见问题

10 个问题

Yes, among friends or family, '목말라' is the most common way to say it.

It is neutral. To make it formal, use '목이 마릅니다'. To make it honorific for an elder, say '목이 마르세요?'.

'목이 마르다' is a native Korean verb phrase. '갈증' is a Hanja-based noun. '갈증' is used in more formal or written contexts.

No, for dry weather, use '날씨가 건조하다'.

You can say '목말라 죽겠어요'.

It means both! In this context, it clearly refers to the throat.

Young people might say '목말라 뒤지겠다' in very casual/rough settings, but '목말라 죽겠다' is safer.

Yes, '권력에 목이 마르다' is a common metaphorical expression.

Because '목' ends in a consonant (ㄱ).

Yes, many K-pop songs use it to describe longing or desire.

相关表达

🔗

배가 고프다

similar

To be hungry

🔄

갈증이 나다

synonym

To feel thirst

🔗

목이 타다

specialized form

To be parched/burning with thirst

🔗

물을 마시다

builds on

To drink water

在哪里用

🍴

At a Restaurant

Customer: 저기요, 목이 너무 말라서 그런데 물 좀 빨리 주실 수 있나요?

Server: 네, 바로 가져다 드리겠습니다.

neutral
💪

After Gym

Friend A: 와, 오늘 운동 진짜 힘들었다. 목말라 죽겠어.

Friend B: 나도. 편의점 가서 포카리스웨트 마시자.

informal
☀️

Waking Up

Child: 엄마, 자고 일어났더니 목이 말라요.

Mother: 주방에 가서 물 마시렴.

informal
☕

During a Date

Person A: 우리 좀 많이 걸었죠? 목 안 마르세요?

Person B: 조금 마르네요. 저기 카페 갈까요?

neutral
🌶️

Spicy Food Challenge

You: 이 떡볶이 너무 매워! 목이 타는 것 같아!

Friend: 빨리 우유 마셔!

informal
💼

In a Meeting

Presenter: 잠시 실례하겠습니다. 목이 좀 말라서 물 한 모금만 마실게요.

Boss: 네, 천천히 하세요.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Mug' (목 - sounds like mug) that is 'Marred' (마르다 - sounds like marred/dry) because it has no water in it.

Visual Association

Imagine a dry, cracked desert floor inside someone's throat. A tiny person is standing there holding an empty water bottle.

Rhyme

목이 말라, 물을 달라! (Mogi malla, mureul dalla! - My throat is dry, give me water!)

Story

You are hiking up Namsan Tower. The sun is hot. You reach for your bottle, but it's empty. You point to your throat (목) and say it's dry like a desert (마르다). A friendly local gives you cold barley tea.

Word Web

물 (Water)음료수 (Drink)갈증 (Thirst)마시다 (To drink)사막 (Desert)덥다 (To be hot)땀 (Sweat)

挑战

Next time you feel even slightly thirsty, say '목말라' out loud to yourself before you take a drink.

In Other Languages

English moderate

To be thirsty

Korean focuses on the throat, English on the person's state.

Spanish low

Tener sed

Spanish uses 'have', Korean uses 'dry'.

French low

Avoir soif

French uses a noun for thirst, Korean uses a verb for drying.

German low

Durst haben

German can use an adjective like English, but 'have thirst' is very common.

Japanese high

喉が渇く (Nodo ga kawaku)

Almost no difference in conceptualization.

Arabic moderate

أنا عطشان (Ana 'atshan)

Arabic is person-centric, Korean is throat-centric.

Chinese partial

口渴 (Kǒu kě)

The body part used is different (mouth vs throat).

Portuguese low

Estar com sede

Korean describes a physical change, Portuguese describes a state of accompaniment.

Easily Confused

목이 마르다 对比 목이 아프다

Both involve the '목' (throat).

Use '아프다' for pain/sore throat, '마르다' for thirst.

목이 마르다 对比 목이 쉬다

Both involve the throat and speaking.

'쉬다' means your voice is hoarse/lost.

常见问题 (10)

Yes, among friends or family, '목말라' is the most common way to say it.

It is neutral. To make it formal, use '목이 마릅니다'. To make it honorific for an elder, say '목이 마르세요?'.

'목이 마르다' is a native Korean verb phrase. '갈증' is a Hanja-based noun. '갈증' is used in more formal or written contexts.

No, for dry weather, use '날씨가 건조하다'.

You can say '목말라 죽겠어요'.

It means both! In this context, it clearly refers to the throat.

Young people might say '목말라 뒤지겠다' in very casual/rough settings, but '목말라 죽겠다' is safer.

Yes, '권력에 목이 마르다' is a common metaphorical expression.

Because '목' ends in a consonant (ㄱ).

Yes, many K-pop songs use it to describe longing or desire.

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