TOPIK · Level 112
15 words
Korean word
늙다
Pronunciation
Romanizationneuktta
Meaning
- verbgrow old
Example
우리 강아지가 많이 늙었어요.u ri kang a ji ga ma ni neul geo sseo yo
Our puppy has grown quite old.
More examples
요즘 어머니가 많이 늙어 보이세요.yo jeum eo meo ni ga ma ni neul geo po i se yo
Lately, my mother looks very old.
Core concept
Time gradually makes a living thing or object show age through its appearance or function.
Common phrases
많이 늙었다ma ni neul geot tta
grow quite old
늙어 보이다neul geo po i da
look old
조금 늙었다cho geum neul geot tta
grow a little old
Similar words
나이가 들다naiga teulda: Reach an older age as the years go by.
나이를 먹다naireul meoktta: Get older as life goes on in casual everyday speech.
늙어가다neulgeogada: Gradually grow older as time continues to pass.
Definition in Korean
사람이나 동물, 물건이 시간이 지나면서 외모나 기능에서 오래된 모습을 보이다.sa ra mi na tong mul mul geo ni si ga ni chi na myeon seo oe mo na ki neung e seo o rae doen mo seu beul po i da
Word origin
This is a native Korean word rather than a Sino-Korean borrowing, and it has long expressed aging in living things and becoming old in appearance or function.
Usage tips
- For people, this word can sound blunt, so a softer age-related expression is often better for polite comments.
Opposites
- 젊어지다cheolmeojidagrow youngerverb
Related words
- 늙음neulgeumagingnoun
- 늙은이neulgeuniold personnoun