고백하다
gobaekhada
To confess in Korean is 고백하다 (gobaekhada).
The verb 고백하다 is used to admit to the truth. It is the standard verb used when confessing romantic feelings to someone.
Meaning: to admit to the truth (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun form of the verb is 고백, which means 'confession'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense form of the verb is 고백했다. To say 'confess' in a polite, non-formal way, use 고백해요.
How do you pronounce it?
gobaekhada
Did you know?
- Korean has a specific term called 썸 (some), which describes the flirtatious stage before a 고백 officially happens.
- While 고백하다 is used for romantic love, it is rarely used for admitting a crime. In legal contexts, Koreans use the word 자백하다 to describe a criminal confession.
- The characters in 고백 literally mean 'to announce' and 'white'. This refers to the idea of making one's hidden intentions as clear and white as day.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 고백하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
