돌다
dolda[ˈto̞(ː)ɭda̠]
To say turn in Korean, use 돌다 (dolda) when something turns or rotates or 돌리다 (dollida) when you turn something else. If unsure, use 돌다.
Meaning: transitive: change the direction or orientation of, especially by rotation (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 돌다 | dolda | [ˈto̞(ː)ɭda̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 돌리다 | dollida | [to̞ʎʎida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
돌다 is used for turning when giving or following directions, and for things spinning, such as a fan or a merry-go-round.
Which one should you use?
Use 돌다 when the subject itself turns or rotates. Use 돌리다 when you are turning something else, such as a knob or a wheel. A turn in the sense of a chance in a sequence is the noun 차례, and a rotation or change of direction is 회전.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite imperative of 돌다 is 도세요, used to tell someone to turn, as in directions.
How do you pronounce it?
돌다 is romanized as dolda.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 돌다 for turning an object with your hand. For that, use 돌리다.
Did you know?
- The verb 돌다 is used idiomatically to describe someone who has 'gone crazy' or lost their mind, as if their mental state has spun out of control.
- In Korean, if you say your head is 돌다, you are not saying you are turning your head, but rather that you are feeling dizzy.
- In Korean, rumors or investigations are said to be 'going around' using the verb 돌다, treating abstract information like a spinning object.
Examples in context
- 왼쪽으로 도세요.Please turn left.왼쪽으로 means to the left, and 도세요 politely asks the listener to turn.
- 오른쪽으로 도세요.Please turn right.오른쪽으로 means to the right, so this is how you ask someone to turn right.
- 제 차례가 다가왔습니다.My turn is approaching.
- 우리 서로 번갈아 가면서 운전합시다.Let's take turns driving.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn” translations and entries 돌다, 돌리다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
