약하다
yakada
/ja.kʰa.da/
Definition
To be weak or not strong in body, mind, or power.
Example
감기에 걸려서 몸이 많이 약해졌어요.
Show translation
I got a cold, so my body became very weak.
Etymology
From Sino-Korean 弱 (약, *yak*), meaning "weak," combined with the native Korean copula/descriptive verb suffix 하다 (*hada*). The hanja 弱 is shared across CJK languages (Japanese 弱い *yowai*, Mandarin 弱 *ruò*), all tracing back to the Old Chinese root meaning "weak, pliant."
Cultural note
In Korean health culture, describing someone as 몸이 약하다 (one's body is weak) is a common, non-stigmatizing way to explain frequent illness or low stamina. It is also used figuratively — 마음이 약하다 (one's heart is weak) means someone is soft-hearted or emotionally sensitive, which is often said as a gentle compliment rather than a criticism.