Korean word

숨

Pronunciation

Romanizationsum

Meaning

  • nounbreath

Example

깊게 숨을 쉬어.kip kke su meul swi eo

Take a deep breath.

Illustration for 숨 (breath)

More examples

시험장에 들어서자 그는 숨을 제대로 쉬지 못했다.si heom jang e teu reo seo ja keu neun su meul che dae ro swi ji mo taet tta

When he entered the exam room, he could not breathe properly.

Core concept

A living flow of air through the body, whether viewed continuously or as one breath.

Common phrases

  • 숨을 쉬다su meul swi da

    breathe

  • 숨을 내쉬다su meul nae swi da

    exhale

  • 숨을 들이쉬다su meul teu ri swi da

    inhale

Similar words

호흡hoheup: The regular body process of taking air in and sending it out.
한숨hansum: A breath let out to release feelings such as worry, weariness, or relief.
공기konggi: The air present around people, places, and objects.

Definition in Korean

몸속의 공기가 나왔다 들어가는 호흡의 상태나 한 번의 숨을 가리키는 말.mom so gui kong gi ga na wat tta teu reo ga neun ho heu bui sang tae na han peo nui su meul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

The word is native Korean rather than a Sino-Korean compound, which helps explain its broad everyday use in breathing expressions.

Usage tips

  • Natural English often pairs this idea with verbs such as hold, catch, or lose, so learning common verb pairings makes the word easier to use.

Related words

Word lists with this word