말문이 막히다
malmuni makhida
The English phrase 'speechless' is translated into Korean as 말문이 막히다 (malmuni makhida).
말문이 막히다 is used when someone is unable to speak due to shock, surprise or being overwhelmed by emotion.
Meaning: not speaking, not knowing what to say (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 말문 (opening for words/speech) and 막히다 (to be blocked/clogged).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone was speechless (past tense), use the form 말문이 막혔다.
How do you pronounce it?
malmuni makhida
Did you know?
- While 말문이 막히다 means the 'gate of speech' is blocked, Koreans also use the phrase 입이 안 떨어지다, which literally means the 'mouth does not fall away' from the face.
- The verb 막히다 is the same word used to describe a clogged drain or a traffic jam, treating your inability to speak like a physical obstruction in a pipe.
- The component 막히다 can be found in 15th-century texts like the Worin seokbo, which was a seminal work of Middle Korean used to translate Buddhist scriptures.
Examples in context
- 그 일에 대해서는 말이 안 나와요.Regarding that matter, I'm speechless.
- 그 모습에 말도 못했어요.I couldn't say anything because of that appearance.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 막히다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
