주의
juui[t͡ɕuɰi]
The Korean word for attention is 주의 (juui).
주의 is a noun meaning mental focus. It can also be used as a military command. The word 주의 means 'attention' in formal settings.
Meaning: mental focus (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
You can turn the noun 주의 into a verb by adding the suffix –하다 to create 주의하다, which means to be careful or to pay attention. To express the action of 'paying attention', the noun 주의 is typically paired with the verb 기울이다 (to tilt/devote) in the phrase 주의를 기울이다.
How do you pronounce it?
juui
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse 주의 (caution/attention) with 주위 (surroundings/vicinity) due to similar pronunciation.
Did you know?
- The word 주의 is a homonym with two completely different sets of Chinese characters. One refers to 'attention' and the other refers to 'ideology' or '-ism'.
- When Koreans talk about paying attention, they use the verb 기울이다, which means 'to tilt'. This creates a mental image of physically leaning your focus toward a person or object.
- The words 주의 ('attention') and 주위 ('surroundings') are so phonetically similar that native speakers often confuse them in typing and speech.
Examples in context
- 주의를 기울여 주세요.Please pay attention.
- 주의를 기울여야 돼요.You have to pay attention.
- 운전할 때는 주의가 필요합니다.unjeonhal ttaeneun ju-ui-ga piryo-hamnida.Attention is needed when driving.
- 그는 주의를 기울여서 문제를 풀었어요.geuneun ju-ui-reul gi-ul-yeoseo mun-je-reul pul-eosseoyo.He solved the problem by paying attention.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “attention” translations and entries 주의, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 주의, CC BY-SA 4.0.
