Key Facts
- 다리 (dari) means leg.
- Part of speech: noun; origin: native.
- Register: Neutral everyday word; same word means bridge but context disambiguates.
- Level: A1.
Leg in Korean: What Does 다리 Mean?
다리 names the leg and also a bridge. It is a neutral everyday word, and the context nearly always makes the meaning clear. It is the lower-limb counterpart to the arm.
How Do You Pronounce 다리?
Two even syllables, da and ri. The ㄷ is soft and the ㄹ between vowels is a quick tap, close to a flapped d, not an English r.
How Do You Use 다리 in a Sentence?
다리가 아파요.
My legs hurt.
dariga apayo. With the subject marker 가 and 아파요, this reports pain. The English plural legs is a translation choice: Korean does not mark number here.
다리가 길어요.
He has long legs.
dariga gireoyo. The same shape describes a trait. 길어요 means long, so the sentence says the person has long legs.
저 다리를 건너세요.
Please cross that bridge.
jeo darireul geonneoseyo. Now the verb tells you the other meaning. 건너세요 means please cross, so 다리 must be the bridge, and 저 points to a far one.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 다리를 꼬다 | to cross one's legs |
| 다리를 건너다 | to cross a bridge |
| 다리가 붓다 | to have swollen legs |
Pick the verb and the meaning follows: 꼬다 and 붓다 belong to the leg, 건너다 belongs to the bridge. The first and third rows are body phrases, the second is a trip across water.
Common Mistake
Mistake: assuming 다리 can only mean leg, then getting lost when someone mentions crossing a 다리.
Correction: read the verb: 다리가 아프다 is a hurting leg, 다리를 건너다 is crossing a bridge.
Check: Pain or swelling means the body part. Crossing or walking over means the structure.
How Does 다리 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How to tell it from 다리 |
|---|---|---|
| 발 | foot | Only the foot. 다리 starts at the hip and ends at the ankle. |
| 육교 | pedestrian overpass | A specific kind of overpass. 다리 is the general bridge. |
After a Long Walk: Sore Legs
Two coworkers have walked across the city. One suggests a break. They use polite everyday endings even though the situation is relaxed.
Jisu
다리가 아파요?
Dariga apayo?
Do your legs hurt?
Alex
네. 오늘 많이 걸었어요.
Ne. Oneul mani georeosseoyo.
Yes. I walked a lot today.
Jisu
여기 앉아서 좀 쉬어요.
Yeogi anjaseo jom swieoyo.
Let’s sit here and rest a little.
Alex
좋아요. 다리 좀 뻗을게요.
Joayo. Dari jom ppeodeulgeyo.
Good idea. I’ll stretch my legs out a little.
The last line uses 다리를 뻗다, “to stretch out one's legs”, with the object marker left out. The speaker announces their own movement. Here 좀 makes the line sound less abrupt; it does not describe an exact amount of stretching.
Which Leg Phrases Describe Different Sensations?
다리가 아프다 is the broad phrase for having sore or painful legs. 다리가 붓다 specifically describes swelling. 다리가 저리다 describes tingling or numbness, such as the feeling after sitting in one position. These phrases give the listener different information, even though English speakers might loosely call all three “a bad leg”.
For movement, 다리를 꼬다 means crossing one leg over the other while sitting. 다리를 뻗다 means extending the legs. 꼬다 evokes twisting or crossing; 뻗다 evokes reaching out straight. Watching the action helps separate the verbs, which carry more detail than the noun alone.
A useful figurative phrase is 다리를 놓다. Literally it means building or laying a bridge. In talk about relationships, it can mean connecting people or helping them make contact. A discussion of construction uses the literal sense; a story about introducing two people may use the figurative one. The bridge meaning makes that connection easy to remember.
Where Will You Hear 다리?
In a clinic, a speaker may identify the side with 오른쪽 다리, “right leg”, or 왼쪽 다리, “left leg”. If you describe your own pain, “my” is often unnecessary. The person listening normally understands whose leg is involved from the situation.
In exercise classes, instructions about crossing, lifting or extending legs use 다리 with an action verb. In dramas and ordinary conversation, 다리가 길어요 comments on someone's proportions. It describes long legs, but 길어요 alone cannot settle the meaning: a bridge can be long too. You still need the surrounding scene.
On a map or in directions, 다리 refers to a bridge. The example 저 다리를 건너세요 points to a structure to cross. Some bridge names end in 대교, meaning a large bridge. You can recognize a name on a sign while still asking about the structure with the ordinary word 다리.
다리 also names a supporting leg on furniture. 의자 다리 means a chair leg, and 책상 다리 means a desk leg. A broken 다리 in a furniture conversation is therefore different from an injured person's leg. The nearby noun tells you what the leg belongs to.
Related Body Words for a Clearer Description
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 무릎 | knee | Name the joint rather than the whole leg. |
| 발목 | ankle | The joint between the leg and foot. |
| 허벅지 | thigh | The upper part of the leg. |
| 종아리 | calf | The back of the lower leg. |
| 발 | foot | Use it for the foot itself. |
The body vocabulary lesson places these words in the wider body set. “Leg” gives the general area; “knee” or “ankle” gives the listener a more precise location.
Quick Self-Test
- Which phrase means crossing your legs: 다리를 꼬다 or 다리를 건너다?
- Does 다리가 길어요 always describe a person?
- Which word names the joint just above the foot?
Show answers
- 다리를 꼬다. 건너다 goes with crossing a bridge.
- No. A bridge can also be long; the scene decides.
- 발목, the ankle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does 다리 Mean?
Leg, and also bridge.
How Can I Tell Which One?
Look at the verb: 아프다 means leg, 건너다 means bridge.
Is 다리 the Foot?
No. The foot is 발.
How Do I Say Cross Your Legs?
Say 다리를 꼬다.
Where to Go Next
Open people body vocabulary, then foot to separate the leg from the foot.