Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when someone's skill or behavior is so extreme it leaves you speechless and shaking your head in disbelief.
- Means: To be utterly astonished or impressed by someone's actions.
- Used in: Praising incredible talent or reacting to shocking rudeness.
- Don't confuse: Do not confuse with '혀를 차다' (to click one's tongue in pity).
适合你水平的解释：
意思
To be astonished or greatly surprised by something.
文化背景
In Korean media, especially variety shows like 'Running Man', you will often see captions saying '혀를 내두르게 하는 실력' when a guest performs a talent. It is a staple of Korean entertainment vocabulary. While it's an idiom, it's formal enough to be used in business reports to describe a competitor's aggressive growth or a breakthrough technology. Koreans highly value academic persistence. A student who studies until their nose bleeds (코피가 나다) is often described with this idiom by their peers. Using this phrase to describe someone's negative behavior is a way of 'polite' criticism. It sounds more objective than just saying 'He is a bad person.'
Use with ~ㄹ 정도로
To sound more natural, use it as a modifier: '혀를 내두를 정도로 대단해요.'
Avoid for self-praise
Never say 'I am so good that I shake my tongue.' It sounds very weird.
Use with ~ㄹ 정도로
To sound more natural, use it as a modifier: '혀를 내두를 정도로 대단해요.'
Avoid for self-praise
Never say 'I am so good that I shake my tongue.' It sounds very weird.
Negative usage
Don't be afraid to use it for negative things. It's a great way to express 'I'm shocked by how bad/rude this is.'
Visualizing
If you forget the verb, remember '내두르다' is like 'waving a flag.' You are waving your tongue like a flag of amazement.
自我测试
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
그 선수의 엄청난 속도에 관중들이 모두 혀를 ________.
'내둘렀다' is the past tense of '내두르다', which fits the context of being amazed by speed.
Which situation is MOST appropriate for using '혀를 내두르다'?
다음 중 '혀를 내두르다'를 사용하기 가장 좋은 상황은?
The idiom is used for 'extreme' or 'surprising' feats that exceed expectations.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 김 대리님, 이번 프로젝트 혼자서 다 끝내셨다면서요? B: 네, 정말 그 열정과 능력에 ________________.
B is expressing admiration for Kim's ability and passion.
Match the idiom to the correct nuance.
Match '혀를 내두르다' and '혀를 차다' to their meanings.
This distinguishes between the two commonly confused 'tongue' idioms.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Tongue Idioms Comparison
练习题库
5 练习그 선수의 엄청난 속도에 관중들이 모두 혀를 ________.
'내둘렀다' is the past tense of '내두르다', which fits the context of being amazed by speed.
다음 중 '혀를 내두르다'를 사용하기 가장 좋은 상황은?
The idiom is used for 'extreme' or 'surprising' feats that exceed expectations.
A: 김 대리님, 이번 프로젝트 혼자서 다 끝내셨다면서요? B: 네, 정말 그 열정과 능력에 ________________.
B is expressing admiration for Kim's ability and passion.
Match '혀를 내두르다' and '혀를 차다' to their meanings.
This distinguishes between the two commonly confused 'tongue' idioms.
🎉 得分： /5
常见问题
10 个问题Yes, very frequently, especially when discussing celebrities, sports, or surprising news.
Not usually. For food, we use '둘이 먹다 하나 죽어도 모를 맛' or just '정말 맛있어요.' '혀를 내두르다' is for actions or skills.
Yes, if you are praising a colleague's work or a company's achievement, it is perfectly polite.
'깜짝 놀라다' is a sudden, short shock (like a loud noise). '혀를 내두르다' is a deeper amazement at a quality or behavior.
Not a direct one, but {驚愕|경악} (Gyeong-ak) or {感歎|감탄} (Gam-tan) are the formal nouns for the feelings it describes.
Yes, if the object is so impressive it implies the skill of the creator. '이 건물의 디자인에 혀를 내둘렀다.'
Yes, it is a standard Korean idiom used across the peninsula.
It becomes '혀를 내둘렀어요' (informal polite) or '혀를 내둘렀습니다' (formal polite).
No, it is 100% figurative. Please don't actually wave your tongue around!
It's equally common in both. You'll see it in novels and hear it on TV.
相关表达
입이 벌어지다
synonymTo have one's mouth hang open
기가 막히다
similarTo be dumbfounded
눈이 휘둥그레지다
similarTo be wide-eyed
감탄을 금치 못하다
specialized formCannot suppress one's admiration
혀를 차다
contrastTo click one's tongue
在哪里用
Watching a Masterpiece
A: 이 그림 좀 보세요. 정말 세밀하죠?
B: 와, 정말 혀를 내두를 정도네요. 사람이 그린 게 맞나요?
Reacting to a Workaholic
A: 민수 씨는 이번 주에도 매일 야근했대요.
B: 정말 그 열정에 혀를 내둘렀어요. 건강이 걱정될 정도예요.
Hearing about a Scam
A: 그 사기꾼이 노인들의 돈을 다 가로챘대요.
B: 어떻게 그럴 수가 있죠? 그 악랄함에 혀를 내두르게 되네요.
Watching Sports
A: 손흥민 선수가 방금 골 넣는 거 봤어?
B: 응, 진짜 실력에 혀를 내둘렀어. 역시 월드클래스야!
Job Interview Feedback
면접관: 지원자분의 포트폴리오를 보고 저희 팀 모두가 혀를 내둘렀습니다.
지원자: 과찬이십니다. 좋게 봐주셔서 감사합니다.
Extreme Weather
A: 오늘 기온이 40도까지 올라간대요.
B: 올해 여름 더위에는 정말 혀를 내두르겠어요.
记住它
记忆技巧
Imagine your tongue is so excited by how 'cool' or 'crazy' something is that it starts dancing (shaking) in your mouth!
视觉联想
Picture a judge at a talent show. Instead of just clapping, their tongue is literally vibrating or waving because the performance was so incredible.
Rhyme
혀를 내둘러, 정말 놀라워! (Hyeoreul naedulleo, jeongmal nollawo! - Shake the tongue, it's really amazing!)
Story
A master chef sliced a single grain of rice into 100 pieces. The onlookers were so shocked they couldn't speak; they just stood there with their mouths open, their tongues waving in disbelief. This is '혀를 내두르다'.
In Other Languages
In Japanese, '舌를 巻く' (Shita o maku) means to roll one's tongue in admiration. In English, we might say someone is 'speechless' or 'blown away'.
Word Web
挑战
Think of the most impressive thing you saw on the internet today. Write a sentence in Korean using '혀를 내두르다' to describe your reaction.
Review this phrase 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week after learning. Focus on the '르' irregular conjugation.
发音
Standard pronunciation.
Note the 'u' sound in 'du' and 'ru'.
正式程度
그의 실력에 혀를 내둘렀습니다. (General praise)
그의 실력에 혀를 내둘렀어요. (General praise)
그의 실력에 혀를 내둘렀어. (General praise)
그의 실력 진짜 미쳤다, 혀를 내두를 정도야. (General praise)
Derived from the physical reaction of being unable to control one's speech organs during a moment of intense psychological shock. '내두르다' means to swing or wave something around vigorously.
趣味小知识
Despite involving the tongue, this idiom has nothing to do with eating or tasting!
文化笔记
In Korean media, especially variety shows like 'Running Man', you will often see captions saying '혀를 내두르게 하는 실력' when a guest performs a talent. It is a staple of Korean entertainment vocabulary.
“유재석이 게스트의 노래 실력에 혀를 내둘렀다.”
While it's an idiom, it's formal enough to be used in business reports to describe a competitor's aggressive growth or a breakthrough technology.
“경쟁사의 기술 혁신에 업계가 혀를 내두르고 있다.”
Koreans highly value academic persistence. A student who studies until their nose bleeds (코피가 나다) is often described with this idiom by their peers.
“그의 지독한 공부 벌레 기질에 친구들이 혀를 내둘렀다.”
Using this phrase to describe someone's negative behavior is a way of 'polite' criticism. It sounds more objective than just saying 'He is a bad person.'
“그의 이기적인 행동에는 정말 혀를 내두를 수밖에 없네요.”
对话开场白
최근에 누군가의 실력을 보고 혀를 내두른 적이 있나요?
친구의 행동 때문에 혀를 내두를 정도로 놀랐던 경험이 있어요?
한국의 기술력 중에서 혀를 내두를 만한 것은 무엇이라고 생각하세요?
常见错误
혀를 차다
혀를 내두르다
L1 Interference
혀가 내둘러요
혀를 내둘러요
L1 Interference
혀를 내둘렀다 (for a small surprise)
깜짝 놀랐다
L1 Interference
내 혀를 내두르다 (to describe self)
사람들이 내 실력에 혀를 내둘렀다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
舌を巻く (Shita o maku)
Japanese uses 'roll' while Korean uses 'wave/brandish'.
令人咋舌 (Lìng rén zé shé)
Chinese focuses on the sound (clicking), Korean on the movement (waving).
To be left speechless / To take one's breath away
English idioms don't typically involve moving the tongue.
Quedarse boquiabierto
Focuses on the mouth/jaw rather than the tongue.
En rester bouche bée
Emphasizes the 'gaping' aspect of the mouth.
Bauklötze staunen
Focuses on the eyes and a child-like state of wonder.
يُصاب بالذهول (Yusab bi-dhuhul)
More abstract and less focused on a specific body part movement.
Deixar de queixo caído
Focuses on the chin/jaw dropping rather than the tongue.
Spotted in the Real World
“김종국의 힘에 모두가 혀를 내둘렀다.”
When Kim Jong-kook easily won a physical challenge against three people.
“챗GPT의 창의적인 답변에 전문가들도 혀를 내두르고 있습니다.”
A report on the rapid advancement of AI technology.
“박연진의 악행에 시청자들은 혀를 내둘렀다.”
Discussing the cruelty of the main antagonist.
“...그의 고집에 가족들은 혀를 내두를 뿐이었다.”
Describing the family's reaction to the protagonist's extreme lifestyle change.
“이번 안무 난이도 진짜 혀를 내두를 정도임...”
Reacting to a difficult dance practice video.
容易混淆
Both involve the tongue and a reaction to something.
Think: '내두르다' (wave) = Wow! '차다' (click) = Oh no/Tisk-tisk.
Uses the same verb '내두르다' but with 'head'.
'고개를 내두르다' usually means to strongly deny or shake one's head in refusal.
常见问题 (10)
Yes, very frequently, especially when discussing celebrities, sports, or surprising news.
usage contextsNot usually. For food, we use '둘이 먹다 하나 죽어도 모를 맛' or just '정말 맛있어요.' '혀를 내두르다' is for actions or skills.
usage contextsYes, if you are praising a colleague's work or a company's achievement, it is perfectly polite.
practical tips'깜짝 놀라다' is a sudden, short shock (like a loud noise). '혀를 내두르다' is a deeper amazement at a quality or behavior.
comparisonsNot a direct one, but {驚愕|경악} (Gyeong-ak) or {感歎|감탄} (Gam-tan) are the formal nouns for the feelings it describes.
grammar mechanicsYes, if the object is so impressive it implies the skill of the creator. '이 건물의 디자인에 혀를 내둘렀다.'
usage contextsYes, it is a standard Korean idiom used across the peninsula.
cultural usageIt becomes '혀를 내둘렀어요' (informal polite) or '혀를 내둘렀습니다' (formal polite).
grammar mechanicsNo, it is 100% figurative. Please don't actually wave your tongue around!
basic understandingIt's equally common in both. You'll see it in novels and hear it on TV.
usage contexts
