서서히 퍼지는
seoseohi peojineun
The English word "insidious" can be translated into Korean as 서서히 퍼지는 (seoseohi peojineun).
서서히 퍼지는 is used to describe things that spread in a stealthy, gradual or slow manner. It is commonly applied to the progression of diseases, social phenomena or negative influences that are not immediately obvious.
Meaning: causing harm in a stealthy, often gradual, manner (adj)
Which one should you use?
While 서서히 퍼지는 describes the slow, stealthy manner of spreading, the term 악의적인 is used when you want to emphasize that something is being done with malicious motives or ill intentions.
How do you pronounce it?
seoseohi peojineun
Did you know?
- The term 서서히 is composed of the Hanja characters 徐 and 徐, which both represent the concept of 'slowly' or 'leisurely'.
- In Korean, the concept of something being 'insidious' often shifts between 서서히 퍼지는 and 잠행성, depending on whether the focus is on the spreading process or the 'hidden' nature of a disease.
- Korean uses different expressions for 'insidious' depending on if the harm is biological or social, often using verbs for 'seeping' or 'soaking' to describe the gradual infiltration of a bad influence.
Examples in context
- 그의 음흉한 계획은 미리 감지되지 못했습니다.His insidious plan was not detected in advance.
- 이 문제에는 악의적인 요소가 존재합니다.This issue contains insidious elements.
- 이 병은 서서히 퍼지는 특징이 있습니다.i byeong-eun seoseohi peojineun teukjing-i isseumnida.This disease has a characteristic of spreading gradually.
- 서서히 퍼지는 가짜 뉴스를 조심하세요.seoseohi peojineun gajja nyuseu-reul josim-haseyo.Be careful of the gradually spreading fake news.
- 그는 서서히 퍼지는 공포를 느꼈다.geu-neun seoseohi peojineun gongpo-reul neukkyeotda.He felt a gradually spreading fear.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a mysterious illness in a cafe.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그 병은 서서히 퍼지는 것 같아요.geu byeong-eun seoseohi peojineun geot gat-ayo.That disease seems to be spreading gradually.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 무서운 일이네요, 서연 씨.jeongmal museoun ir-ineyo, Seoyeon ssi.That is a truly scary thing, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon맞아요, 지훈 씨도 조심해야 해요.majayo, Jihun ssi-do josim-haeya haeyo.That's right, Jihun, you should be careful too.
- 지훈 Ji-hun알겠어요, 건강 관리에 유의할게요.alget-seoyo, geongang gwallie yu-ui-halgeyo.I understand, I will be careful with my health.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 서서히, CC BY-SA 4.0.
