Level 4

엎드리다

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Meaning and Usage

The verb '엎드리다' means to lie face down or prostrate oneself on the ground or a surface. It is often used to describe a physical posture where the chest is down and the face is toward the floor.

Common Contexts

This word is frequently used in everyday situations such as children lying on the floor while reading or resting, military training where the prone position is taught, or when someone is extremely tired and lies down face down.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 엎드려 있다: to be lying face down
  • 엎드려서 공부하다: to study while lying face down
  • 엎드려 쏘다: to shoot in the prone position (military context)

Register and Nuance

'엎드리다' is a neutral verb suitable for both spoken and written Korean. It is not formal or honorific. It conveys a clear physical posture without additional figurative meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '엎드리다' with '눕다' (to lie down), but '눕다' can mean lying on the back or side, whereas '엎드리다' specifically means lying face down. Use '엎드리다' when emphasizing the prone position.

Example Sentences

아이가 바닥에 엎드려서 책을 읽고 있다.

Aiga badage eopdeuryeoseo chaegeul ilggo itda.

The child is lying face down on the floor reading a book.

군대에서 훈련할 때 엎드려 쏘는 자세를 배운다.

Gundaeseo hunryeonhal ttae eopdeuryeo ssoneun jasereul baeunda.

In the military training, you learn the prone shooting position.

그는 너무 피곤해서 소파에 엎드려 잠들었다.

Geuneun neomu pigonhaseo sopae eopdeuryeo jamdeureotda.

He was so tired that he lay face down on the sofa and fell asleep.