믿다
mitda[mit̚t͈a̠]
The English phrase 'believe' is translated into Korean as 믿다 (mitda).
The verb 믿다 is used both for believing a fact/statement and for trusting a person. Other related terms include 신뢰하다, which means 'to trust or have faith in' and 확신하다, which means 'to be convinced or have conviction'. To describe something that is believable/reliable, you can use 믿을 만하다 or the phrase 믿을 수 있다, which is used to express the ability to believe or that something is believable.
Meaning: to accept as true (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite present tense form of 믿다 is 믿어요. The informal present tense form of 믿다 is 믿어. The informal past tense form of 믿다 is 믿었어.
How do you pronounce it?
mitda
Did you know?
- The English concept of 'believing in someone's potential' is often expressed in Korean using words related to 'expecting' or 'looking forward to', rather than the literal verb for 'believe'.
- The word 믿다 is so old that it was recorded in the 15th-century epic poem Yongbi eocheon'ga, a work written to celebrate the glory of the Joseon Dynasty.
- While English speakers might say 'I believe you', in Korean, using 믿다 to mean 'I believe your words' can sometimes sound too heavy or serious, as if you are addressing a profound truth rather than a simple statement.
Examples in context
- 저는 그의 말을 믿습니다.I believe in his words.
- 제가 당신을 믿어요.I believe in you.
- 나 새로운 시작을 믿어.I believe in new beginnings.
- 너를 믿어. 열심히 할 수 있어.I believe in you. You can do it.
- 믿지 못해요.I can't believe it.
- 믿어도 돼요.You can believe it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “believe” translations and entries 믿다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 믿다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
