Korean word

앓다

Pronunciation

Romanizationalta

Meaning

  • verbbe sick

Example

어제 밤새 앓아서 잠을 못 잤어요.eo je pam sae a ra seo cha meul mot cha sseo yo

I couldn't sleep because I was sick all night last night.

Illustration for 앓다 (be sick)

More examples

그는 몇 년째 만성 두통을 앓고 있다.keu neun myeot nyeon jjae man seong tu tong eul al ko it tta

He has been suffering from chronic headaches for several years.

Core concept

Enduring illness or pain over time, whether in the body or the mind.

Common phrases

  • 감기로 앓다kam gi ro al ta

    be sick with a cold

  • 만성질환을 앓다man seong jil hwa neul al ta

    suffer from a chronic illness

  • 병을 앓다pyeong eul al ta

    suffer from an illness

Similar words

아프다apeuda: Feeling pain or distress in the body or heart.
고생하다kosaenghada: Struggling through a difficult period caused by problems or obstacles.

Definition in Korean

몸이나 마음이 병이나 고통 때문에 오래 괴로워하다mo mi na ma eu mi pyeong i na ko tong ttae mu ne o rae koe ro wo ha da

Word origin

No reliable origin is established here, so the word is best remembered as a verb for continuing to suffer from illness or pain.

Usage tips

  • This verb often highlights that a condition lasts and wears someone down, rather than describing only a brief moment of feeling unwell.

Other meanings

  • suffer fromverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 속앓이sogariinner sufferingnoun
  • 앓이arisufferingnoun

Word lists with this word