Vocab: Taking a Warm Bath/Shower

🎯

TL;DR 🦄

피로 = fatigue, tiredness (noun) 😴

풀다 = to relieve, release (regular verb) 💧

나른하다 = to feel languid, pleasantly drowsy (adjective) 🛁

노곤하다 = to feel weary, worn out (adjective) 💤

푹 = deeply, soundly (adverb) 🌙

🔊

🎧 Iru Helper Note

Want to hear these words pronounced naturally? Check out the <mention-page url="https://www.notion.so/349be37590c08068a178f6d92b8a4a18"> for audio support.

따뜻한 물에 몸을 푹 담그면 피로가 풀리고 몸이 나른하고 노곤해져요.

(If you soak your body deeply in warm water, your fatigue is relieved and your body becomes pleasantly drowsy and heavy.)

🌈 The Big Picture

There's a special vocabulary for the feeling of sinking into a warm bath after a long day. This lesson covers 피로 (the fatigue that builds up), 풀다 (the relief that follows), the two flavors of bodily heaviness — 나른하다 (pleasant, drowsy) and 노곤하다 (worn-out, depleted) — and 푹 (the depth of rest or sleep that follows). Together, they let you describe the whole arc from exhausted to relaxed to soundly asleep.

🎨 The Core Warm Bath Family

1. 피로 — fatigue, tiredness 😴

A noun for accumulated bodily or mental tiredness.

피로가 쌓였어요. (Fatigue has built up.)

피로를 풀고 싶어요. (I want to relieve my fatigue.)

— Grammar note: 피로 pairs with 가 쌓이다 (to build up), 를 풀다 (to relieve, active), and 가 풀리다 (to be relieved, passive).

2. 풀다 — to relieve, release 💧

A regular verb for releasing something built up — tension, stress, fatigue, or even a knot or a problem.

피로를 풀어요. (I relieve my fatigue.)

스트레스를 풀어요. (I relieve stress.)

— Grammar note: 풀다 → 풀어요/풀었어요/풀 거예요. Passive form 풀리다 = "to be relieved/loosened" — 피로가 풀려요 (fatigue gets relieved).

3. 나른하다 — to feel languid, pleasantly drowsy 🛁

A regular 하다 adjective for a soft, relaxed heaviness — the pleasant drowsiness after warmth or rest.

목욕 후에 나른해요. (I feel languid after bathing.)

나른한 오후 (a languid afternoon)

— Grammar note: 나른하다 → 나른해요/나른했어요/나른한 + noun. Usually describes a pleasant feeling.

4. 노곤하다 — to feel weary, worn out 💤

A regular 하다 adjective for a heavier, more depleted tiredness — often from physical exertion.

온몸이 노곤해요. (My whole body feels worn out.)

노곤한 몸 (a weary body)

— Grammar note: 노곤하다 → 노곤해요/노곤했어요/노곤한 + noun. Heavier and less pleasant than 나른하다.

5. 푹 — deeply, soundly 🌙

An adverb emphasizing the depth or completeness of rest, sleep, or soaking.

푹 자다 (to sleep soundly)

욕조에 푹 담그다 (to soak deeply in the tub)

— Grammar note: 푹 is a fixed adverb pairing with 자다 (sleep), 쉬다 (rest), 삶다/담그다 (boil/soak) — always emphasizes thoroughness.

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

따뜻한 물에 몸을 푹 담그면 피로가 풀리고 몸이 나른해져요. (If you soak your body deeply in warm water, your fatigue is relieved and your body becomes languid.) 🛁

— 몸을 푹 담그면 (if you soak your body deeply) leads to two results: 피로가 풀리고 (fatigue is relieved, and) 몸이 나른해져요 (your body becomes languid).

하루 종일 일해서 노곤했는데, 목욕을 하고 나니 한결 가벼워졌어요. (I was worn out from working all day, but after bathing, I felt much lighter.) 💤

— 노곤했는데 (I was worn out, but) sets up a contrast with 목욕을 하고 나니 한결 가벼워졌어요 (after bathing, I became much lighter).

따뜻한 샤워는 피로를 풀어주고 푹 잘 수 있게 도와줘요. (A warm shower relieves fatigue and helps you sleep soundly.) 🌙

— 피로를 풀어주고 (relieves fatigue, and) + 푹 잘 수 있게 도와줘요 (helps [you] sleep soundly) — the cause-and-effect of a warm shower.

🧩 General Formation Rule

피로 (noun): 피로가 쌓이다/풀리다, 피로를 풀다

풀다 (regular verb): 풀어요/풀었어요/풀 거예요; passive 풀리다 (to be relieved)

나른하다 (regular 하다 adjective): 나른해요/나른했어요/나른한 + noun

노곤하다 (regular 하다 adjective): 노곤해요/노곤했어요/노곤한 + noun

푹 (fixed adverb): pairs with 자다/쉬다/담그다/삶다

📚 Cross-check note

All vocabulary cross-checked against korean.go.kr ✅

🪞 Synonym Alert

피로 vs 졸림 — 피로 is physical or mental fatigue/tiredness; 졸림 is sleepiness, specifically the urge to sleep.

풀다 vs 없애다 — 풀다 means to release or relieve something built up, gradually; 없애다 means to eliminate or get rid of entirely, more abruptly.

나른하다 vs 노곤하다 — 나른하다 is a pleasant, relaxed heaviness or drowsiness (like after a warm bath); 노곤하다 is a heavier, more depleted weariness, often from exertion.

노곤하다 vs 피곤하다 — 노곤하다 describes a specific bodily heaviness or sluggishness, often tied to warmth or rest; 피곤하다 is the broader, more common word for general tiredness.

푹 vs 잘 — 푹 emphasizes the depth or completeness of rest or sleep; 잘 means "well" more generally, without that emphasis on depth.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ 피로를 없애요 (sounds too abrupt/clinical) → ✅ 피로를 풀어요 — fatigue is "released/relieved" (풀다), not "eliminated" (없애다), since it naturally builds back up.

❌ 나른해요 used to describe being completely exhausted after hard labor → ✅ 노곤해요 — 나른하다 is a pleasant, relaxed drowsiness; 노곤하다 fits heavier physical weariness better.

❌ 졸려서 목욕했어요 (confusing sleepiness with fatigue as the reason for bathing) → ✅ 피곤해서/피로를 풀려고 목욕했어요 — 졸리다 = sleepy (wanting to sleep), 피로 = fatigue (bodily tiredness).

❌ 잘 잤어요 used when you mean especially deep, restorative sleep → ✅ 푹 잤어요 — 잘 자다 = slept well (general), 푹 자다 = slept deeply/soundly (emphasizes depth).

❌ 피로를 풀려요 mixing active and passive markers → ✅ 피로가 풀려요 (passive: fatigue gets relieved) vs 피로를 풀어요 (active: I relieve my fatigue) — don't mix 를 with 풀리다.

따뜻한 물에 푹 담그고, 피로를 풀고, 나른하고 노곤한 몸으로 오늘 밤은 푹 자 보세요! 🛁🌙✨

Try this exercise

Fill in each blank with the correct form of 피로, 풀다, 나른하다, 노곤하다, or 푹. Each word is used twice.

하루 종일 일했더니 ＿＿＿＿가 쌓였어요. (After working all day, fatigue has built up.)

Answer

피로

따뜻한 물로 샤워하면 피로가 ＿＿＿＿려요. (If you shower with warm water, your fatigue gets relieved.)

Answer

풀

목욕을 하고 나니 몸이 ＿＿＿＿해졌어요. (After bathing, my body became languid/drowsy.)

Answer

나른

운동을 너무 많이 해서 몸이 ＿＿＿＿해요. (I exercised too much, so my body feels worn out.)

Answer

노곤

오늘은 ＿＿＿＿ 자고 싶어요. (Today I want to sleep deeply/soundly.)

Answer

푹

스트레스를 ＿＿＿＿ 방법을 찾고 있어요. (I'm looking for ways to relieve stress.)

Answer

풀

따뜻한 물에 몸을 담그니 ＿＿＿＿한 기분이 들어요. (Soaking in warm water gives me a languid feeling.)

Answer

나른

시험 준비로 ＿＿＿＿가 많이 쌓였어요. (Fatigue has built up a lot from preparing for the exam.)

Answer

피로

어제 ＿＿＿＿ 쉬어서 오늘은 몸이 가벼워요. (I rested deeply yesterday, so my body feels light today.)

Answer

푹

하루 종일 걸어서 다리가 ＿＿＿＿해요. (My legs feel worn out from walking all day.)

Answer

노곤

📚

Vocabulary Box

피로 = fatigue

풀다 = to relieve, release

나른하다 = languid, drowsy (pleasant)

노곤하다 = weary, worn out

푹 = deeply, soundly

⚠️

Pitfalls reminder

피로를 풀다, not 피로를 없애다

나른하다 (pleasant) vs 노곤하다 (worn out)

푹 자다 ≠ just 잘 자다

피로가 풀려요 (passive), 를 풀어요 (active)

🚀

Want more reps? Head down to the Practice Hub below for 50 more questions across 5 themed exercises! 🎉

📦

Practice Hub: Taking a Warm Bath/Shower

Ready to really lock these in? Here are 50 questions across 5 exercises, building from word recall to full sentences. 🎧 Listen and repeat each sentence out loud as you go — hearing AND saying these patterns is what makes them stick!

Exercise 1 — Word Recall: 피로 & 풀다 😴💧

A. "I'm tired from fatigue."

Answer

피로 때문에 힘들어요.

B. "Fatigue has built up."

Answer

피로가 쌓였어요.

C. "I want to relieve my fatigue."

Answer

피로를 풀고 싶어요.

D. "This tea helps relieve fatigue."

Answer

이 차는 피로를 푸는 데 도움이 돼요.

E. "Let's relieve our stress this weekend."

Answer

이번 주말에 스트레스를 풀어요.

F. "I solved the problem."

Answer

문제를 풀었어요.

G. "My shoulders feel relieved now."

Answer

어깨가 이제 풀렸어요.

H. "I want to relieve the tension in my body."

Answer

몸의 긴장을 풀고 싶어요.

I. "A hot bath really helps with fatigue."

Answer

뜨거운 목욕은 피로에 정말 도움이 돼요.

J. "How do you usually relieve fatigue?"

Answer

보통 피로를 어떻게 풀어요?

📚

Quick Reference

피로가 쌓이다/풀리다

피로를 풀다 = "to relieve fatigue"

풀다 also = "to solve" (문제를 풀다)

풀리다 = passive "to be relieved/loosened"

Exercise 2 — Word Recall: 나른하다, 노곤하다 & 푹 🛁💤🌙

A. "I feel languid after the bath."

Answer

목욕 후에 나른해요.

B. "It's a languid spring afternoon."

Answer

나른한 봄 오후예요.

C. "The warm sunlight makes me feel drowsy."

Answer

따뜻한 햇볕 때문에 나른해져요.

D. "My whole body feels worn out."

Answer

온몸이 노곤해요.

E. "I feel worn out after a long day."

Answer

긴 하루를 보내고 나니 노곤해요.

F. "My legs are heavy and worn out."

Answer

다리가 노곤하고 무거워요.

G. "I slept soundly last night."

Answer

어젯밤에 푹 잤어요.

H. "Please get some deep rest this weekend."

Answer

이번 주말에 푹 쉬세요.

I. "I want to soak deeply in the tub."

Answer

욕조에 푹 담그고 싶어요.

J. "I hope you recover fully and rest well."

Answer

푹 쉬고 빨리 나으세요.

📚

Quick Reference

나른하다 = pleasant drowsiness

노곤하다 = heavy weariness

푹 + 자다/쉬다/담그다

나른한/노곤한 + noun

Exercise 3 — Conjugation Practice: 풀다/풀리다 & 나른하다/노곤하다 🔄

A. 따뜻한 물로 샤워하면 피로가 ＿＿＿＿. (If you shower with warm water, fatigue gets relieved. — present, passive)

Answer

풀려요

B. 어제 목욕을 하고 피로를 ＿＿＿＿. (Yesterday I relieved my fatigue by bathing. — past, active)

Answer

풀었어요

C. 이 마사지를 받으면 긴장이 ＿＿＿＿ 거예요. (If you get this massage, the tension will be relieved.)

Answer

풀릴

D. 목욕 후에 몸이 ＿＿＿＿. (After bathing, my body feels languid. — present)

Answer

나른해요

E. 어제는 너무 ＿＿＿＿. (Yesterday I felt very languid/drowsy. — past)

Answer

나른했어요

F. 봄이 되면 ＿＿＿＿ 기분이 들어요. (When spring comes, I get a drowsy feeling.)

Answer

나른한

G. 하루 종일 걸어서 ＿＿＿＿. (I'm worn out from walking all day. — present)

Answer

노곤해요

H. 그때는 정말 ＿＿＿＿. (At that time I was really worn out. — past)

Answer

노곤했어요

I. 운동을 많이 하면 몸이 ＿＿＿＿ 거예요. (If you exercise a lot, your body will feel worn out.)

Answer

노곤할

J. 오늘은 ＿＿＿＿ 자려고 해요. (Today I'm going to try to sleep deeply.)

Answer

푹

📚

Quick Reference

풀리다: 풀려요/풀렸어요/풀릴

풀다: 풀어요/풀었어요

나른하다/노곤하다: 해요/했어요/한 + noun

푹 + verb (always before the verb)

Exercise 4 — Pattern Practice: 나른하다 vs 노곤하다 & 푹 vs 잘 🌙

A. "After the warm bath, I felt a pleasant drowsiness."

Answer

따뜻한 목욕 후에 기분 좋은 나른함을 느꼈어요.

B. "After the marathon, my whole body was completely worn out."

Answer

마라톤 후에 온몸이 완전히 노곤했어요.

C. "It's a lazy, drowsy Sunday afternoon."

Answer

나른한 일요일 오후예요.

D. "My legs are heavy and worn out from standing all day."

Answer

하루 종일 서 있어서 다리가 노곤해요.

E. "I slept well last night." (general)

Answer

어젯밤에 잘 잤어요.

F. "I slept very deeply last night." (emphasize depth)

Answer

어젯밤에 아주 푹 잤어요.

G. "Did you rest well during the holiday?" (general)

Answer

연휴 동안 잘 쉬었어요?

H. "I want to rest deeply this weekend, with no plans at all."

Answer

이번 주말에는 계획 없이 푹 쉬고 싶어요.

I. "The cat looked so lazy and content in the sun."

Answer

고양이가 햇볕 아래서 정말 나른해 보였어요.

J. "After the long flight, my whole body felt heavy and worn out."

Answer

긴 비행 후에 온몸이 무겁고 노곤했어요.

📚

Quick Reference

나른함 (noun form) = "languidness"

노곤하다 = heavy/worn out (exertion)

잘 자다/쉬다 = "well" (general)

푹 자다/쉬다 = "deeply" (emphatic)

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery: Unwinding in a Warm Bath 🛁🌙

A. "After a long day, a warm bath relieves all my fatigue."

Answer

긴 하루를 보내고 따뜻한 목욕을 하면 피로가 다 풀려요.

B. "Soaking in warm water makes my whole body feel pleasantly drowsy."

Answer

따뜻한 물에 몸을 담그면 온몸이 기분 좋게 나른해져요.

C. "My body was so worn out, but the bath helped a lot."

Answer

몸이 너무 노곤했는데 목욕이 많이 도움이 됐어요.

D. "After bathing, I slept very soundly."

Answer

목욕 후에 정말 푹 잤어요.

E. "A warm shower before bed helps relieve the day's fatigue."

Answer

자기 전 따뜻한 샤워는 하루의 피로를 풀어줘요.

F. "I want to soak in the tub until my body feels completely relaxed and heavy."

Answer

몸이 완전히 나른해질 때까지 욕조에 담그고 싶어요.

G. "After a tiring week, I just want to rest deeply this weekend."

Answer

힘든 한 주를 보내고 이번 주말에는 그냥 푹 쉬고 싶어요.

H. "A hot bath is the best way to relieve fatigue and feel relaxed."

Answer

뜨거운 목욕은 피로를 풀고 나른해지는 가장 좋은 방법이에요.

I. "My legs were so worn out, but after a warm bath, they felt much lighter."

Answer

다리가 너무 노곤했는데 따뜻한 목욕 후에 훨씬 가벼워졌어요.

J. "Take a warm bath, relieve your fatigue, and sleep soundly tonight."

Answer

따뜻한 목욕을 하고 피로를 풀고 오늘 밤 푹 자세요.

📚

Quick Reference

피로가 풀리다 = "fatigue gets relieved"

나른해지다 = "to become languid"

노곤했는데 = "was worn out, but..."

푹 자다 = "to sleep soundly"

피로를 풀고, 나른하고 노곤한 몸을 따뜻한 물에 맡기고, 오늘 밤은 푹 자 봐요! 🛁🌙✨