Korean · Body & Health
"to breathe" in Korean: 숨 쉬다
숨 쉬다sum swida
to breathe in Korean is 숨 쉬다 (sum swida). 숨 쉬다 combines the breath noun with 쉬다; 쉬다 alone can mean rest rather than breathe.
to breathe: an everyday statement
천천히 숨 쉬어요.cheoncheonhi sum swieoyo.
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How to pronounce 숨 쉬다
Say it
sum swida
/sum swita/
Read 숨 쉬다 as sum swida. The spoken form 숨 쉬어요 is sum swieoyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to breathe" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 숨 쉬다sum swida | to breathe Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 숨 쉬어요sum swieoyo | to breathe (polite present) Use 숨 쉬어요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 숨 쉬어요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 숨 쉬었어요sum swieosseoyo | to breathe (polite past) Use 숨 쉬었어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 숨 쉬었어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 숨 쉬다 in real life
- 1to breathe: an everyday statement
천천히 숨 쉬어요.
cheoncheonhi sum swieoyo.
I breathe slowly.
숨 쉬어요 is the present form of 숨 쉬다.
- 2to breathe: a different situation
아까 깊게 숨 쉬었어요.
akka gipge sum swieosseoyo.
I breathed deeply earlier.
숨 쉬었어요 is the past form of 숨 쉬다.
- 3to breathe: a question or request
편하게 숨 쉬어요?
pyeonhage sum swieoyo?
Are you breathing comfortably?
숨 쉬어요 is the present form of 숨 쉬다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 숨 쉬다
Incorrect: 숨 쉬다.
Correct: 숨 쉬어요.
When practicing to breathe, 숨 쉬다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 숨 쉬어요.
Incorrect: 어제 숨 쉬어요.
Correct: 어제 숨 쉬었어요.
When practicing to breathe, for a completed event yesterday, use 숨 쉬었어요; the present form 숨 쉬어요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
숨 쉬다 combines the breath noun with 쉬다; 쉬다 alone can mean rest rather than breathe. 숨 쉬어요 is the polite conversational form of 숨 쉬다; 숨 쉬었어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led body and health study exercise: two sentences with 숨 쉬다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
천천히 숨 쉬어요.
cheoncheonhi sum swieoyo.
I breathe slowly.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
아까 깊게 숨 쉬었어요.
akka gipge sum swieosseoyo.
I breathed deeply earlier.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to breathe" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to breathe" in Korean
How do I use 숨 쉬다 in polite speech?
숨 쉬어요 is the polite conversational form of 숨 쉬다; 숨 쉬었어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 숨 쉬다 in a past-tense sentence?
숨 쉬었어요 is the polite past form. 숨 쉬다 combines the breath noun with 쉬다; 쉬다 alone can mean rest rather than breathe.
What does 숨 쉬어요 mean here?
숨 쉬어요 is used for to breathe. For example, 천천히 숨 쉬어요. means “I breathe slowly.”
What should I remember about 숨 쉬다?
숨 쉬다 combines the breath noun with 쉬다; 쉬다 alone can mean rest rather than breathe.
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