인내
innae[innɛ]
The English word patience can be translated into Korean as 인내 (innae) or 참을성.
Meaning: quality of being patient (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 인내 | innae | [innɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [inne̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 참을성 | chameulseong | [t͡ɕʰa̠mɯɭs͈ʌ̹ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
Both terms refer to the quality of being patient. You can use the phrase 참을성이 많다 to say someone has a lot of patience, or 참을성이 없다 to say someone has no patience.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 참을성 is derived from the verb 참다, which means to endure or to hold back and the noun 성, which means nature or quality. Together, they translate to the quality of being able to endure.
Which one should you use?
인내 is a formal and abstract noun often used in literary, philosophical or academic contexts to refer to the concept of patience as a virtue.
How do you pronounce it?
innae
Did you know?
- The word 인내 uses the Chinese character 忍, which depicts a 'blade' over a 'heart'. This visualizes the idea that true patience involves enduring the feeling of a blade pressing against one's heart.
- Korean culture emphasizes 인내 through the concept of 'Han', a collective feeling of unresolved grief and resentment that requires long-term patience to endure.
- In Korean, the opposite of having patience is often expressed by saying one is 'short-tempered', using the word 급하다 which literally means 'urgent' or 'hurried'.
Examples in context
- 인내는 참으로 중요한 덕목이다.Patience is truly an important virtue.This sentence uses 인내 to illustrate that patience is a significant virtue.
- 진정한 리더는 인내심을 갖추고 있어야 합니다.A true leader should possess patience.
- 그는 항상 인내심을 가지고 상황에 맞게 대처합니다.He always handles situations with patience according to the circumstances.
- 진짜로 기다리기 힘들었어, 정말 참아 냈어!It was really hard to wait, but I managed to be patient!
- 그는 인내를 가지고 끝까지 버텼다.geuneun innaereul gajigo kkeutkkaji beottyeotda.He endured until the end with patience.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Minjun are studying for a difficult exam.
- 서연 Seo-yeon공부가 너무 힘들어서 포기하고 싶어.gongbuga neomu himdeureoseo pogihago sipeo.Studying is so hard that I want to give up.
- 민준 Min-jun지금은 인내가 필요한 시점이야.jigeumeun innaega piryohan sijeomiya.Now is the time when patience is needed.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그렇지만 정말 스트레스 받는다.geureochiman jeongmal seuteureseu batneunda.But I'm really getting stressed.
- 민준 Min-jun조금만 더 버텨보자, 서연아.jogeumman deo beoteoboja, Seoyeona.Let's hang in there a bit longer, Seoyeon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “patience” translations and entries 인내, 참을성, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 인내, 참을성, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
