Korean word

갇히다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkachida

Meaning

  • verbbe trapped

Example

폭설 때문에 집에 갇혔어요.pok sseol ttae mu ne chi be ka tyeo sseo yo

I was trapped in my house because of the heavy snow.

Illustration for 갇히다 (be trapped)

More examples

엘리베이터에 갇혔어요.el li be i teo e ka tyeo sseo yo

I was trapped in an elevator.

Core concept

A person or thing is kept inside a place and cannot get out.

Common phrases

  • 집에 갇히다chi be ka chi da

    be trapped at home

  • 엘리베이터에 갇히다el li be i teo e ka chi da

    be trapped in an elevator

  • 방에 갇히다pang e ka chi da

    be trapped in a room

Similar words

가두다kaduda: Keep a person or animal inside a place so that it cannot leave freely.
끼이다kkiida: Become wedged between two things and unable to move freely.
막히다makida: Become blocked so that people, air, liquid, or other things cannot pass through.

Definition in Korean

자기 의사와 상관없이 좁은 곳이나 특정 장소에 머물러 벗어나지 못하게 되다.cha gi ui sa wa sang gwa neop ssi cho beun ko si na teuk jjeong chang so e meo mul leo peo seo na ji mo ta ge toe da

Word origin

This native Korean verb combines a stem associated with confinement with a passive-forming suffix, giving the sense of being made unable to leave.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English locked up, which often suggests deliberate confinement, this word also naturally describes being unable to leave because of an accident or natural event.

Other meanings

  • be locked upverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 갇힘kachimbeing trappednoun

Word lists with this word