Korean word

꼼짝

Pronunciation

Romanizationkkomjjak

Meaning

  • adverbbudge

Example

그는 총을 보고 꼼짝도 못했다.keu neun chong eul po go kkom jjak tto mo taet tta

He could not move at all when he saw the gun.

Illustration for 꼼짝 (budge)

More examples

아이가 너무 아파서 엄마는 옆에서 꼼짝도 못했다.a i ga neo mu a pa seo eom ma neun yeo pe seo kkom jjak tto mo taet tta

The child was in such severe pain that his mother could not move a muscle while beside him.

Core concept

A body or object remains almost still, with at most a tiny movement.

Common phrases

  • 꼼짝도 못하다kkom jjak tto mo ta da

    not budge at all

  • 꼼짝도 못하고 있다kkom jjak tto mo ta go it tta

    be unable to budge

Similar words

가만히kamanhi: Staying quietly in the same place.
꼼짝도kkomjjaktto: Not budging even a little.
전혀cheonhyeo: Not in the least.

Definition in Korean

몸이나 사물의 움직임이 거의 없거나 아주 조금만 있는 상태를 강조하는 부사.mo mi na sa mu rui um ji gi mi keo ui eop kkeo na a ju cho geum man in neun sang tae reul kang jo ha neun pu sa

Word origin

꼼짝 (kkomjjak, "tiny movement") is a Korean mimetic formation associated with a tiny movement, which helps explain its use for near-total stillness and slight movement.

Usage tips

  • 꼼짝 (kkomjjak, "movement") often appears with a negative verb and an emphatic particle, so learners can recognize phrases meaning that someone cannot move at all.

Opposites

Related words

  • 꼼짝거리다kkomjjakkkeoridamove slightlyverb

Word lists with this word