너를 잃는 것
The English phrase "losing you" is translated into Korean as 너를 잃는 것.
The phrase describes the act of losing someone, derived from the verb 잃어버리다, which means to lose.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the phrase more polite or formal, you can replace 너를 with 당신을 to get 당신을 잃는 것. Note that 당신 is frequently found in literature or song lyrics rather than in direct speech.
Did you know?
- The formal pronoun 당신 used in 당신을 잃는 것 is a 'double-edged' word. While it is beautiful in lyrics, using it to address a stranger in person can actually sound confrontational or aggressive.
- The word 것 was first attested in the 1447 text Seokbo sangjeol as 것 (Yale: kès).
- Because Korean is a pro-drop language, speakers often omit 너를 (you) entirely and simply say 잃는 것 if the context makes the target clear.
Examples in context
- 너를 잃어버렸어I lost you
- 너 없이는 안 돼I can't live without you
- 너를 잃는 것은 너무 무서워.neoreul ilneun geoseun neomu museowo.Losing you is so scary.
- 너를 잃는 것보다 더 힘든 건 없어.neoreul ilneun geotboda deo himdeun geon eopseo.There is nothing harder than losing you.
Example conversation
Minjun and Jieun are having a serious conversation about their relationship.
- 민준 Min-jun지은아, 나는 너를 잃는 것이 너무 무서워.Jieuna, naneun neoreul ilneun geosi neomu museowo.Jieun, I am so afraid of losing you.
- 지은 Ji-eun민준아, 왜 그런 생각을 해?Minjuna, wae geureon saenggageul hae?Minjun, why are you thinking that?
- 민준 Min-jun우리가 헤어지게 될까 봐 걱정돼.uriga heeojige doelkka bwa geokjeongdwae.I'm worried that we might break up.
- 지은 Ji-eun걱정하지 마, 나는 어디 안 가.geokjeonghaji ma, naneun eodi an ga.Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 것, CC BY-SA 4.0.
