Korean Conversation · Level 122
15 words
Korean word
무리
Pronunciation
Romanizationmuri
Meaning
- nounimpossible
Example
그걸 한 시간 안에 끝내는 건 무리야.keu geol han si gan a ne kkeun nae neun keon mu ri ya
It's impossible to finish that in an hour.
More examples
그 무거운 상자를 혼자 옮기기는 무리야.keu mu geo un sang ja reul hon ja om gi gi neun mu ri ya
It's impossible to move that heavy box by yourself.
Core concept
A goal is too difficult or poorly supported to accept as a realistic request.
Common phrases
감당하기엔 무리다kam dang ha gi en mu ri da
too much to handle
아이한테는 무리다a i han te neun mu ri da
too difficult for a child
Similar words
불가능pulganeung: A result or event cannot happen or become real.
곤란kollan: A situation is hard to handle or solve, leaving someone unsure how to proceed.
어려움eoryeoum: A task or problem has a barrier that makes completing or solving it hard.
Definition in Korean
실현되기 어렵거나 능력·조건이 부족해 요구를 받아들이기 힘든 상태를 이르는 명사.sil hyeon doe gi eo ryeop kkeo na neung nyeok cho geo ni pu jo kae yo gu reul pa da deu ri gi him deun sang tae reul i reu neun myeong sa
Word origin
The sense grew from a Sino-Korean expression for something that has no sound basis, giving the word its connection with actions that cannot be carried out.
Usage tips
- This is a useful Korean way to decline an unreasonable request without saying that the person is unreasonable, because the focus stays on the task or conditions.
Other meanings
- groupnoun
Opposites
- 가능kaneungpossibilitynoun
Related words
- 무리하다murihadaoverexertverb
- 무리함murihamoverexertionnoun