Nuance Dictionary / Sounds & Sensations
느릿느릿 neu-rit-neu-rit
The observable, rhythmic slowness of someone moving with an intentional lack of urgency.
What does 느릿느릿 mean?
느릿느릿 (neu-rit-neu-rit) means: The observable, rhythmic slowness of someone moving with an intentional lack of urgency.
Native speakers reach for '느릿느릿' when they want to highlight that someone is taking their sweet time, almost as if they are moving through molasses. It isn't just 'slow' (느리다); it carries a repetitive, plodding quality that often implies the person is unbothered by external pressure. Learners often mistake it for a clinical description of speed, but it’s actually quite evocative—it paints a picture of a leisurely pace that can be either endearingly relaxed or infuriatingly sluggish depending on your mood.
Other sides of 느릿느릿
◆ Cognitive Lag — When you use this to describe someone’s brain, you aren't just talking about speed—you're highlighting a 'buffer' effect where the person seems to be lagging in real-time. Native speakers reach for this when someone is visibly struggling to process a simple question or is perpetually half a beat behind the conversation. Learners often mistake this for a neutral description of pace, but in this context, it carries a distinct, slightly judgmental edge that suggests the person isn't quite 'plugged in' to the current flow.
◆ Casual Irritation — When a native uses '느릿느릿' this way, they aren't describing a slow pace; they are calling out a lack of urgency or a deliberate attempt to stall. It carries the weight of a sigh—the kind you exhale when you're waiting for a coworker to send a file or a friend to get ready. Learners often use it to mean 'at a slow speed,' but natives use it to imply, 'You are being annoying by moving this slowly on purpose.'
◆ Whimsical Slowness — When you use '느릿느릿' in this context, you aren't complaining about speed; you are romanticizing it. Natives use this to describe a peaceful Sunday afternoon, a slow-walking pet, or someone intentionally savoring a task, signaling that the lack of rush is a conscious, enviable choice. Learners often misuse this as a synonym for 'slow,' missing the warm, almost cinematic quality that turns a sluggish action into a charming 'slow-life' moment.
◆ Casual Irritation — When a native uses '느릿느릿' this way, they aren't describing a slow pace; they are calling out a lack of urgency or a deliberate attempt to stall. It carries the weight of a sigh—the kind you exhale when you're waiting for a coworker to send a file or a friend to get ready. Learners often use it to mean 'at a slow speed,' but natives use it to imply, 'You are being annoying by moving this slowly on purpose.'
◆ Whimsical Slowness — When you use '느릿느릿' in this context, you aren't complaining about speed; you are romanticizing it. Natives use this to describe a peaceful Sunday afternoon, a slow-walking pet, or someone intentionally savoring a task, signaling that the lack of rush is a conscious, enviable choice. Learners often misuse this as a synonym for 'slow,' missing the warm, almost cinematic quality that turns a sluggish action into a charming 'slow-life' moment.
🎙️ 느릿느릿은 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [느린느릳]로 소리나요 (받침규칙, 비음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 거북이가 느릿느릿 기어가고 있어.
geo-buk-i-ga neu-rit-neu-rit gi-eo-ga-go iss-eo.
The turtle is crawling along at a snail's pace.
💡 Demonstrates the classic, literal use of the word to describe an naturally slow, steady movement. - 아침이라 다들 느릿느릿 움직이네.
a-chim-i-ra da-deul neu-rit-neu-rit um-ji-gi-ne.
Everyone is moving so sluggishly because it's the morning.
💡 Shows the social context of observing a group’s lack of morning energy. - 느릿느릿 걸으니까 시간이 더 안 가는 것 같아.
neu-rit-neu-rit geol-eu-ni-kka si-gan-i deo an ga-neun geot gat-a.
Walking at this sluggish pace makes time feel like it's barely moving.
💡 Highlights how the word captures a subjective, physical experience of time dragging.
Related words in Sounds & Sensations
오밀조밀 o-mil-jo-mil오손도손 o-son-do-son오글오글 ogeul-ogeul옥신각신 ok-sin-gak-sin올망졸망 olmang-jolmang