What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 힘내 is composed of the noun 힘, meaning 'strength' or 'power' and the verb 내다, meaning 'to produce' or 'to emit'. Literally, it means 'produce strength'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality changes depending on the ending used. 힘내 is an informal way to say cheer up, commonly used among friends or peers. For polite situations, such as speaking to people older than you or in less intimate social settings, you can use 힘내요. The form 힘내세요 is a formal way to say cheer up and can be used to console a colleague or comfort a friend. For highly formal settings, such as professional environments or when addressing a large audience, use 힘내십시오.
How do you pronounce it?
himnae
When do people say it?
In Korea, you can use the expression 화이팅 to encourage and cheer someone on.
Did you know?
- If you use the formal 힘내십시오 in a casual setting with a close friend, it might sound like you are mockingly acting as a news anchor or a high-ranking official.
- In Korean culture, giving someone a high-calorie snack or a sweet treat often accompanies the phrase 힘내 to provide literal energy for the 'strength' they need.
- When using 화이팅 to cheer, Koreans often pair the word with a raised fist to visually signal the 'fighting' spirit.
Examples in context
- 힘내!Cheer up!Tatoeba #4708218 by rainbow4us, translation #239441 by CM
- 힘내.Cheer up.Tatoeba #8119580 by noget, translation #2946394 by alvations
- 친구야, 조금만 더 힘내.chinguya, jogeumman deo himnae.My friend, cheer up just a little more.
Example conversation
Minji tries to comfort Dohyun after he failed an exam.
- 민지 Min-ji도현아, 너무 슬퍼하지 말고 힘내.Dohyun-a, neomu seulpeohaji malgo himnae.Dohyun, don't be too sad and cheer up.
- 도현 Do-hyeon고마워, 민지야. 노력해 볼게.Gomawo, Minji-ya. noryeokhae bolge.Thanks, Minji. I will try.
- 민지 Min-ji다음에 더 잘할 수 있을 거야.Daeume deo jalhal su isseul geoya.You will be able to do better next time.
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 다시 힘내 볼게.Eung, dasi himnae bolge.Yeah, I'll try to cheer up again.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
