친애하는 일기에게
chinaehaneun ilgiege
The English phrase "dear diary" is translated into Korean as 친애하는 일기에게 (chinaehaneun ilgiege).
This phrase is used as a traditional first line when starting a diary entry.
Meaning: traditional first line in a diary entry (phrase)
How do you pronounce it?
chinaehaneun ilgiege
Did you know?
- In actual Korean diaries, people rarely use the phrase 친애하는 일기에게 because it sounds like a translation from a Western novel.
- Instead of addressing the diary as a person, many Koreans simply write the date and the weather, such as 날씨: 맑음 (Weather: Sunny), as the opening.
- The word 친애하는 (chinaehaneun) is very formal and is more commonly found in diplomatic letters or academic speeches than in personal writings.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Minji are talking about their writing habits.
- 도현 Do-hyeon민지 씨는 일기를 어떻게 시작해요?Minji ssineun ilgireul eotteoke sijakaeyo?Minji, how do you start your diary entries?
- 민지 Min-ji저는 항상 '친애하는 일기에게'라고 써요.jeoneun hangsang 'chinaehaneun ilgiege'rago sseoyo.I always write 'Dear diary'.
- 도현 Do-hyeon정말 낭만적인 시작이네요.jeongmal nangmanjeogin sijagineyo.That is a very romantic start.
- 민지 Min-ji맞아요, 그렇게 쓰면 기분이 좋아져요.majayo, geureoke sseumyeon gibuni joajyeoyo.Right, I feel better when I write it that way.
