Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
발목을 잡다 balmogeul japda
To be shackled by a past mistake or a person that prevents your professional growth.
What does 발목을 잡다 mean?
발목을 잡다 (balmogeul japda) means: To be shackled by a past mistake or a person that prevents your professional growth.
When Koreans use this, they aren't just talking about a minor delay; they are describing a visceral feeling of being physically anchored to the floor while everyone else moves forward. It carries a heavy sense of resentment or regret, implying that you could have soared if not for this specific 'shackle.' Learners often mistake it for simple 'interruption,' but natives reserve it for situations where your potential is being actively stifled by a lingering debt, a past scandal, or a toxic teammate.
Other sides of 발목을 잡다
◆ Relational Entrapment — When natives use this, they aren't talking about tripping someone; they are describing a suffocating grip on an ex or a partner who refuses to grant emotional closure. It carries a heavy sense of resentment, suggesting the 'captor' is selfishly anchoring the other person to a sinking ship. Learners often mistake this for simple 'obsession,' but it is specifically about the power dynamic of forced stagnation.
◆ The 'Weak Link' Exposure — When Koreans use this, they aren't just talking about a mistake; they are painting someone as the 'anchor' sinking the ship. It carries a heavy social sting, implying that the group was doing fine until this specific person’s incompetence or scandal became the public face of the team. Learners often confuse this with general 'hindrance,' but native speakers reserve this for moments where the individual's failure becomes the defining narrative of the entire group's success.
◆ The 'Weak Link' Exposure — When Koreans use this, they aren't just talking about a mistake; they are painting someone as the 'anchor' sinking the ship. It carries a heavy social sting, implying that the group was doing fine until this specific person’s incompetence or scandal became the public face of the team. Learners often confuse this with general 'hindrance,' but native speakers reserve this for moments where the individual's failure becomes the defining narrative of the entire group's success.
🎙️ 발목을 잡다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [발모글 잡따]로 소리나요 (경음화, 연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 과거의 실수가 자꾸 내 발목을 잡네.
gwa-geo-ui sil-su-ga ja-kku nae bal-mo-geul jam-ne.
My past mistake keeps holding me back.
💡 Reveals the self-deprecating frustration of being unable to move on from a previous professional blunder. - 팀장님이 계속 내 발목을 잡는 것 같아.
tim-jang-nim-i gye-sok nae bal-mo-geul jam-neun geot ga-ta.
I feel like my team lead is constantly holding me back.
💡 Shows how the phrase is used to blame a superior for stifling one's career progression. - 이 프로젝트가 내 발목을 잡아서 이직을 못 하고 있어.
i peu-ro-jek-teu-ga nae bal-mo-geul ja-ba-seo i-ji-geul mot ha-go i-sseo.
This project is holding me back, so I can't quit and find a new job.
💡 Highlights the sense of being trapped in a role due to an ongoing, inescapable task.
Related words in Social Situations
바늘 도둑이 소 도둑 된다 Baneul dodugi so doduk doenda발을 빼다 Bareul ppaeda비행기 태우다 Bihaeng-gi taeuda보통 bo-tong보기 좋은 떡이 먹기도 좋다 Bogi joeun tteogi meokgi-do jota