Korean word

기절하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkijeolhada

Meaning

  • verbfaint

Example

더워서 기절할 뻔했어요.teo wo seo ki jeol hal ppeon hae sseo yo

I almost fainted because it was so hot.

Illustration for 기절하다 (faint)

More examples

심한 통증에 놀라서 기절했어요.sim han tong jeung e nol la seo ki jeol hae sseo yo

I fainted because the severe pain startled me.

Core concept

A person briefly becomes unresponsive when dizziness or a strong shock makes consciousness suddenly disappear.

Common phrases

  • 기절할 뻔하다ki jeol hal ppeon ha da

    nearly faint

  • 기절한 상태ki jeol han sang tae

    state of unconsciousness

Similar words

실신하다silsinhada: Sudden unconsciousness that leaves a person unable to respond.
쓰러지다sseureojida: Falling to the ground when strength or balance gives way.
의식을 잃다uisigeul ilta: Loss of awareness of surrounding people and events.

Definition in Korean

어지럽거나 충격으로 순간적으로 의식을 잃는 상태가 되다.eo ji reop kkeo na chung gyeo geu ro sun gan jeo geu ro ui si geul il leun sang tae ga toe da

Word origin

The word is built from a Sino-Korean term for vital energy or breath being cut off, which reflects the sudden loss of consciousness it describes.

Usage tips

  • The verb usually points to an actual short loss of consciousness, so it is more specific than English expressions for merely feeling dizzy or overwhelmed.

Opposites

  • 정신을 차리다cheongsineul charidarecover one's sensesverb
  • 정신이 들다cheongsini teuldacome toverb

Related words

  • 기절kijeolfaintnoun
  • 기절시키다kijeolsikidamake someone faintverb

Word lists with this word