기억
gieok[kiʌ̹k̚]
In Korean, memory is 기억 (gieok).
기억 refers to the act of remembering or the specific thing that is remembered.
Meaning: ability to recall (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 기억 refers to the act of remembering or the thing remembered, the term 기억력 is used specifically to describe the capacity or ability of one's memory.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can turn the noun 기억 into the verb 'to remember' by adding the suffix –하다 to create 기억하다.
How do you pronounce it?
gieok
Did you know?
- If you want to say you 'retain' a memory in a way that it stays deeply embedded, you might use the verb 새기다, which literally means to 'engrave' or 'carve' something into a surface.
- When Koreans talk about 'making memories' together, they use the verb 쌓다, which means 'to pile up' or 'to stack'. This implies that memories are physical layers building over time.
- The phrase 기억이 안 나다 is the most common way to say 'I don't remember'. It literally translates to 'the memory does not come out', treating the memory as an object being retrieved.
Examples in context
- 좋은 기억력이 그의 무기이다.A good memory is his weapon.Tatoeba #11105434 by intertime, translation #20211 by CM
- 멀거나 기억 속의 물건을 가르켜 이름.A name indicating something far away or in distant memory.Tatoeba #2714631 by Natalia_Su, translation #3659402 by rbbrbb
- 너는 기억력이 좋아.You have a good memory.Tatoeba #1010416 by Sudajaengi, translation #69506 by CK
- 어제 너랑 함께한 기억, 잊지 않을게.I won't forget the memories we made together yesterday.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Dohyun are studying for an exam together.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨는 기억력이 정말 좋네요.Dohyun ssineun gieokryeogi jeongmal jonneyo.Dohyun, you have a really great memory.
- 도현 Do-hyeon아니에요. 저도 가끔 잊어버려요.Anieyo. Jeodo gakkeum ijeobeoryeoyo.No, I'm not. I forget things sometimes too.
- 서연 Seo-yeon이 많은 내용을 다 기억하다니 대단해요.I maneun naeyongeul da gieokhadani daedanhaeyo.It's amazing that you remember all this content.
- 도현 Do-hyeon반복해서 읽으니까 기억이 잘 돼요.Banbokhaeseo ilgeunika gieogi jal dwaeyo.Since I read it repeatedly, my memory of it is good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “memory” translations and entries 기억, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
