겸손한
gyeomsonhan
The English adjective humble is translated into Korean as 겸손한 (gyeomsonhan). Wiktionary also lists 경멸한 (gyeongmyeolhan).
Meaning: thinking lowly of oneself (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 겸손한 | gyeomsonhan |
| 경멸한 | gyeongmyeolhan |
겸손한 is used to describe someone who possesses the quality of thinking lowly of oneself. It is the most straightforward translation for the English word humble.
How do you pronounce it?
gyeomsonhan
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 경멸한 to mean humble. This word actually means 'contemptuous' or 'despising'.
Did you know?
- Korean has specific 'humble verbs' that change entirely, such as using 드리다 instead of 'to give', to show that the speaker is lowering their own status.
- While 겸손한 is a virtue, being too humble in a professional job interview in modern Korea can sometimes be viewed as a lack of confidence.
- In traditional Korean etiquette, a 겸손한 posture involves slightly bowing the head and avoiding direct, prolonged eye contact with a superior.
Examples in context
- 그의 겸손한 자세는 인상적이다.His humble attitude is impressive.
- 겸허한 태도는 중요하다.A humble attitude is important.
- 그는 정말 겸손한 사람이에요.geuneun jeongmal gyeomsonhan saramieyo.He is a truly humble person.
- 그녀는 항상 겸손한 태도를 유지해요.geunyeoneun hangsang gyeomsonhan taedoreul yujihaeyo.She always maintains a humble attitude.
- 그의 겸손한 말투가 마음에 들어요.geuui gyeomsonhan maltuga maeume deureoyo.I like his humble way of speaking.
Example conversation
Subin praises Hyunwoo for his modest reaction to a compliment.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우 씨는 정말 겸손한 성격이네요.Hyeon-u ssinun jeongmal gyeomsonhan seonggyeogineyo.Hyunwoo, you have such a humble personality.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니에요, 아직 배울 게 많아요.anieyo, ajik baeul ge manayo.No, I still have a lot to learn.
- 수빈 Su-bin그런 모습이 더 멋져 보여요.geureon moseubi deo meotjyeo boyeoyo.That side of you looks even cooler.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그렇게 말씀해 주셔서 감사합니다.geureoke malsseumhae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida.Thank you for saying that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “humble” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
