열정
yeoljeong[jʌ̹ʎt͡ɕ͈ʌ̹ŋ]
The English word 'passion' is translated into Korean as 열정 (yeoljeong).
열정 is a noun meaning an object of passionate love or a strong interest. If you want to use the word as an adjective to describe a person or an action, such as saying someone is 'passionate', you should use the form 열정적이다.
Meaning: object of passionate love or strong interest (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
yeoljeong
Did you know?
- In modern Korean corporate culture, the term 열정 페이 or 'passion pay' is a sarcastic slang term. It refers to the practice of paying interns or young workers very little under the guise that they should work for the 'passion' of the experience.
- The word 열정 is composed of two Chinese characters: 熱 meaning 'heat' and 情 meaning 'feeling' or 'emotion'.
- The word 정 (affection/feeling), which is part of 열정, is a foundational cultural concept in Korea that describes a unique type of communal attachment.
Examples in context
- 열정이 넘치는 가수Singer bursting with passionThis sentence is useful for illustrating how to describe a singer bursting with passion using 열정.
- 저는 음악에 열정을 가지고 있어요.I have a passion for music.
- 그는 사업에 대한 열정을 보여줬어요.He showed passion for business.
- 그는 열정이 넘친다.He is overflowing with passion.
- 그는 예술에 대한 열정이 있어요.geuneun eseul-e daehan yeoljeongi isseoyo.He has a passion for art.
- 새로운 일에 대한 열정을 보여주세요.saeroun il-e daehan yeoljeongeul boyeojuseyo.Please show passion for your new work.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a new project at the office.
- 지은 Ji-eun민준 씨는 이 프로젝트에 열정이 있나요?Minjun ssineun i peurojekteue yeoljeongi innayo?Minjun, do you have passion for this project?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 정말 큰 열정을 가지고 있어요.Ne, jeongmal keun yeoljeongeul gajigo isseoyo.Yes, I have a lot of passion.
- 지은 Ji-eun그 열정을 높게 평가해요.Geu yeoljeongeul nopge pyeong-gahae-yo.I highly value that passion.
- 민준 Min-jun감사합니다, 열심히 하겠습니다.Gamsahamnida, yeolsimhi hagesseumnida.Thank you, I will work hard.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 열정, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 열정, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
