눈을 감아
nuneul gama
To say "close your eyes" in Korean, use 눈을 감아 (nuneul gama).
This phrase is used as a request or a command to shut one's eyelids.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 눈 (eye), the object marker 을 and the verb 감아 (to close/shut).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 눈을 감아 is informal and should only be used with friends, siblings or people younger than you. For a formal or polite way to say "close your eyes," you can use 눈을 감으세요 or 눈을 감아요.
How does it change in a sentence?
There are several ways to express this depending on the grammatical nuance: 눈을 감으세요 translates to "please close your eyes" in a polite manner, while 눈을 감아요 is a polite, non-honorific form. If you are giving a direct order to a child or someone of lower status, you can use the imperative command form 눈을 감아라.
How do you pronounce it?
nuneul gama
Did you know?
- The verb 감다 is also used for the action of 'braiding' hair, showing a linguistic connection between 'folding/winding' and 'closing'.
- The word 눈 (eye) is a homonym with the Korean word for 'snow', meaning they are written and pronounced identically.
- While 감아 is the root for closing eyes, the opposite action 'to open' uses the verb 뜨다, which also means 'to float'. This creates a linguistic contrast between the 'heavy' act of closing and the 'light' act of opening.
Examples in context
- 사진을 찍을게, 눈을 감아!I will take a photo, close your eyes!
- 눈을 감아.nun-eul gam-a.Close your eyes.
- 잠깐만 눈을 감아 봐.jam-kan-man nun-eul gam-a bwa.Try closing your eyes for a moment.
- 선물을 줄 테니까 눈을 감아.seon-mul-eul jul te-ni-kka nun-eul gam-a.I will give you a gift, so close your eyes.
Example conversation
Dohyun is preparing a surprise for Jieun.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은아, 눈을 감아.Ji-eun-a, nun-eul gam-a.Jieun, close your eyes.
- 지은 Ji-eun왜? 뭐 준비했어?wae? mwo jun-bi-haet-eo?Why? Did you prepare something?
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 눈을 감아 있으면 깜짝 놀랄 거야.eung, nun-eul gam-a is-seu-myeon kkam-jjak nol-ral geo-ya.Yes, you will be surprised if you keep your eyes closed.
- 지은 Ji-eun알았어, 눈을 감았어.ar-at-eo, nun-eul gam-at-eo.Okay, I closed my eyes.
