마음을 터놓다
ma-eumeul teonota
open one's heart
Phrase in 30 Seconds
마음을 터놓다 means to stop hiding your feelings and speak honestly with someone you trust.
- Means: To share deep, private thoughts or secrets with another person.
- Used in: Deep late-night talks, therapy, or resolving conflicts with friends.
- Don't confuse: Don't use it for casual small talk about the weather.
Explanation at your level:
意思
To confide in someone and share one's true feelings.
文化背景
In Korea, drinking culture (Hoesik) is often the venue where people '터놓다' their hearts. Alcohol is seen as a social lubricant that helps lower the 'Chemyeon' (face) barrier. The concept of 'Sok-maeum' (inner heart) vs 'Geot-maeum' (outer heart) is central. '마음을 터놓다' is the act of showing the 'Sok-maeum'. With the rise of social media, 'digital opening up' is common, but '마음을 터놓다' is still reserved for more intimate, 1-on-1 or small group settings. Modern Korean companies are trying to move away from hierarchy to encourage employees to '터놓다' their ideas and concerns to improve productivity.
Use with '이야기하다'
If you're not sure how to use it, just remember the phrase '마음을 터놓고 이야기하다'. It's the most natural way to use it 90% of the time.
Don't over-use
This is a 'heavy' phrase. If you use it for every small conversation, you'll sound like you're in a K-drama.
意思
To confide in someone and share one's true feelings.
Use with '이야기하다'
If you're not sure how to use it, just remember the phrase '마음을 터놓고 이야기하다'. It's the most natural way to use it 90% of the time.
Don't over-use
This is a 'heavy' phrase. If you use it for every small conversation, you'll sound like you're in a K-drama.
The 'ㅎ' spelling
Many learners forget the 'ㅎ' in '터놓다'. Remember it's '놓다' (to put), not '노다'.
Alcohol and Honesty
In Korea, saying '우리 마음 터놓고 얘기하자' is often a signal to go get a drink together.
自我测试
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '마음을 터놓다'.
우리는 어제 밤새도록 (______) 이야기했다.
'~고' is used to connect two actions that happen together or in sequence. 'Talking while opening one's heart' is the standard usage.
Which situation is MOST appropriate for using '마음을 터놓다'?
다음 중 '마음을 터놓다'를 사용하기 가장 좋은 상황은?
This phrase is for deep, sincere conversations about feelings or worries with someone you trust.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 왜 그렇게 기분이 안 좋아 보여? 무슨 일 있어? 나: 사실 고민이 좀 있는데... 너한테만 (______).
The speaker is about to share their worries, so 'I will open my heart (to you)' is the logical choice.
Match the Korean phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are standard translations for these common collocations.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Honesty Levels in Korean
常见问题
10 个问题No, you can open your heart about your dreams, your love for someone, or your happy secrets too. It's about sincerity, not just sadness.
Yes, but usually in a private setting like a 1-on-1 meeting or a dinner. It shows you trust them.
'솔직하다' is an adjective meaning 'to be honest.' '마음을 터놓다' is an action that implies a deep emotional connection.
It is always '마음을' because the heart is the object being 'opened'.
Not at all. It is used by all ages, from teenagers to the elderly.
Yes, it's very common in essays, novels, and even song lyrics.
A good opposite is '마음의 문을 닫다' (to close the door of one's heart).
Yes, '툭 까놓고' is a very common casual/slang alternative.
Yes, '우리 모두 마음을 터놓고...' is perfectly fine for a group discussion.
In formal writing, yes. In casual speech, people often say '마음 터놓고'.
相关表达
속을 털어놓다
synonymTo empty out one's inside/secrets.
마음을 열다
similarTo open one's heart/mind.
입을 열다
builds onTo open one's mouth (to start speaking).
말을 아끼다
contrastTo save one's words / To be cautious in speaking.
在哪里用
Late night with a best friend
지수: 우리 진짜 오랜만에 마음 터놓고 얘기하는 것 같아.
민호: 맞아. 그동안 바빠서 속마음을 말할 기회가 없었네.
Job Interview (Soft Skills)
면접관: 팀 내 갈등이 생기면 어떻게 해결하시겠습니까?
지원자: 동료와 마음을 터놓고 대화하여 오해를 풀겠습니다.
Dating/Relationship Talk
여자친구: 오빠는 왜 나한테 마음을 안 터놓아?
남자친구: 미안해, 아직 내 감정을 말하는 게 서툴러서 그래.
Counseling Session
상담사: 여기는 안전한 곳입니다. 마음을 터놓고 말씀해 보세요.
내담자: 네... 사실 제가 요즘 너무 힘들어요.
Parent-Child Conflict
아빠: 아빠한테는 마음을 터놓아도 돼. 다 들어줄게.
딸: 알았어 아빠. 사실 학교에서 일이 좀 있었어.
Apologizing to a friend
수진: 그때 내가 너무 예민했어. 우리 마음 터놓고 다시 얘기하자.
현우: 그래, 나도 사과하고 싶었어.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of '마음' (Ma-eum) as a 'Room' and '터놓다' (Teo-not-da) as 'Taking out the door.' You're taking the door off your heart-room.
Visual Association
Imagine a small wooden gate in a stone wall. The gate is '터놓다'—it's not just unlocked, it's been removed so anyone you trust can walk in and see the garden inside.
Rhyme
마음을 터놓고, 걱정은 버리고 (Open your heart, throw away your worries).
Story
Min-su was always quiet. One day, he sat by the Han River with his friend. He decided to '터놓다' his heart. He felt like a heavy backpack was finally taken off his shoulders as he spoke his truth.
Word Web
挑战
Write a 3-sentence diary entry in Korean about a time you opened your heart to someone. Use the pattern: '~에게 마음을 터놓고 이야기했다.'
In Other Languages
To open up / To pour one's heart out
Korean '터놓다' implies clearing a blockage, while English 'open up' is more general.
Sincerarse / Abrir el corazón
Spanish often uses reflexive verbs for this, whereas Korean uses a compound verb.
Ouvrir son cœur / Se confier
French 'se confier' is more about the act of trusting, while Korean focuses on the 'opening' of the heart.
Sein Herz ausschütten
German focuses on the 'liquid' flow of emotions, Korean on the 'clearing' of the path.
腹を割る (Hara o waru)
The anatomical focus (belly vs. heart) and the intensity of the verb (split vs. open).
يفتح قلبه (Yaftah qalbahu)
Arabic usage is often very poetic and can be used in both romantic and platonic contexts.
推心置腹 (Tuī xīn zhì fù)
Chinese uses a more complex metaphorical image of exchanging hearts/bellies.
Desabafar
Portuguese focuses on the release of pressure, Korean on the connection with the listener.
Easily Confused
They both start with '마음을' and end with '놓다'.
Remember that '터놓다' has the '터' (open/clear). '마음을 놓다' means to feel relieved or to stop worrying (literally 'to set the heart down').
Both are collocations with '마음'.
'사다' means to buy. '마음을 사다' means to win someone's heart or favor.
常见问题 (10)
No, you can open your heart about your dreams, your love for someone, or your happy secrets too. It's about sincerity, not just sadness.
Yes, but usually in a private setting like a 1-on-1 meeting or a dinner. It shows you trust them.
'솔직하다' is an adjective meaning 'to be honest.' '마음을 터놓다' is an action that implies a deep emotional connection.
It is always '마음을' because the heart is the object being 'opened'.
Not at all. It is used by all ages, from teenagers to the elderly.
Yes, it's very common in essays, novels, and even song lyrics.
A good opposite is '마음의 문을 닫다' (to close the door of one's heart).
Yes, '툭 까놓고' is a very common casual/slang alternative.
Yes, '우리 모두 마음을 터놓고...' is perfectly fine for a group discussion.
In formal writing, yes. In casual speech, people often say '마음 터놓고'.
