KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean phrases › Proverbs & idioms › 어깨가 무겁다
“I feel the weight of responsibil…” in Korean
어깨가 무겁다
eokkaega mugeopda
Meaning
I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders.
Usage note
Literally “the shoulders are heavy”. It is not about stiff muscles but about the weight of responsibility or expectation, often said after a promotion or a big assignment.
Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.
How to pronounce it
Said aloud, it sounds like [어깨가 무겁따].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 어깨가 | ||
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | eo |
| 깨 | ㄲ+ㅐ | kkae |
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 무겁다 | ||
| 무 | ㅁ+ㅜ | mu |
| 겁 | ㄱ+ㅓ+ㅂ | geop |
| 다 | ㄷ+ㅏ | [따] da |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 겁다 → [겁따]
Speech style
Ends in -다. Common in proverbs, writing and the news, but not how you normally speak to the person in front of you.
Phrases that use the same word
Phrases with “무겁다”
- 입이 무겁다To be good at keeping secrets
Quick self-check
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 What does “어깨가 무겁다” mean?
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Answer: I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders
Question 2 How do you say “I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders” in Korean?
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Answer: 어깨가 무겁다 eokkaega mugeopda
Question 3 How is “어깨가 무겁다” pronounced?
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Answer: [어깨가 무겁따]
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Practice in the gameMore phrases for this situation
- 발등에 불이 떨어졌다Things have gotten urgent. The heat is on
- 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다A coincidence that makes you look guilty
- 공든 탑이 무너지랴A tower built with devotion won’t crumble
- 눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁘다Too busy to even catch a breath
- 개구리 올챙이 적 생각 못 한다Once people succeed, they forget their humble beginnings
- 우이독경Preaching to deaf ears
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