허리가 아파요
heoriga apayo
In Korean, 'my back hurts' is expressed as 허리가 아파요 (heoriga apayo).
This phrase is used to express physical pain in the lower back area.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a highly formal and polite tone suitable for professional or clinical settings, use 제 등이 아픕니다 or 허리가 아픕니다. To speak informally with close friends or people younger than you, you can use 내 등이 아파 or 허리가 아파.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 허리가 아파요, the particle 가 (ga) serves as the subject marker, indicating that the 허리 is the thing that is experiencing the sensation of pain.
How do you pronounce it?
heoriga apayo
Did you know?
- The word 허리 is also used in the phrase 허리를 펴다, which means 'to straighten one's back'. Metaphorically, this can mean to recover from a financial crisis or to finally breathe easy after a period of hardship.
- In Korean, it is common to omit the word 'my' (내 or 제) when saying 허리가 아파요. The context makes it obvious whose back hurts, and adding the possessive pronoun can sometimes sound unnaturally repetitive.
- When describing pain in Korean, the verb 아프다 (to hurt) is used for both physical pain and emotional heartache. While 허리가 아파요 is physical, the same root is used to say one's heart is breaking.
Example conversation
Seoyeon is stretching at the office while talking to Hyeon-woo.
- 서연 Seo-yeon아, 허리가 아파요.a, heoriga apayo.Oh, my back hurts.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말요? 많이 아파요?jeongmallyo? mani apayo?Really? Does it hurt a lot?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 조금 뻐근해요.ne, jogeum ppeogeunhaeyo.Yes, it feels a bit stiff.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo잠시 일어나서 스트레칭 하세요.jamsi ireonaseo seuteureching haseyo.Please stand up and stretch for a moment.
