진심으로
jinsimeuro
The English word 'seriously' is translated into Korean as 진심으로 (jinsimeuro).
진심으로 is used to express deep, heartfelt emotions, such as 'I sincerely apologize' or 'I truly mean it' and is an expression that emphasizes sincerity used to convey the seriousness of thoughts or feelings.
Meaning: in a serious or literal manner (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
진심으로 is composed of 진심 (sincerity/true heart) and –으로 (a particle meaning 'with' or 'in a manner of'). Literally, it means 'in a sincere/true heart manner'.
Which one should you use?
While 진심으로 is an adverb meaning 'seriously/sincerely', 진심이야? is the common interrogative form used to ask 'Are you serious?' in a conversational context. In casual conversation, when someone says 'seriously?' to express disbelief or to mean 'for real?', the word 진짜로 is much more common than 진심으로.
How do you pronounce it?
jinsimeuro
Did you know?
- Korean has several words for 'seriously' that cannot be swapped. While 진심으로 is for deep emotion, 진짜로 is for factual truth, and 정말로 is for emphasis, meaning using 진심으로 to ask if a news report is true would sound strangely emotional.
- If you want to express that you are being serious during a heated debate, you might say 농담 아니야, which literally means 'it is not a joke'.
- In modern youth slang, the word 진심 is often used as an intensifier similar to 'totally' or 'so much' regardless of the emotional weight. A student might say they are 진심 tired, moving the word away from its formal 'heartfelt' origins.
Examples in context
- 우리는 이 문제를 진지하게 다루어야 합니다.We need to handle this issue seriously.
- 저는 진심으로 당신을 믿습니다.I genuinely trust you.
- 상황에 따라 진지한 태도로 대처해야 합니다.You should handle the situation with a serious attitude.
- 진짜? 그게 사실이야?Seriously? Is that true?
- 그는 진심으로 사과했어요.geuneun jinsimeuro sagwahayeosseoyo.He apologized sincerely.
- 그 말을 진심으로 한 거야?geu mareul jinsimeuro han geoya?Did you mean that seriously?
Example conversation
Subin and Dohyun are talking about a goal.
- 수빈 Su-bin이번에는 진심으로 노력할 거야.ibeone-neun jinsimeuro noryeokhal geoya.I am seriously going to try this time.
- 도현 Do-hyeon정말 믿어도 되는 거지?jeongmal mideodo doeneun geoji?I can really believe you, right?
- 수빈 Su-bin응, 절대 포기 안 할게.eung, jeoldae pogi an halge.Yes, I will never give up.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그렇다면 나도 응원할게.geureotdamyeon nado eungwonhalge.In that case, I will support you too.
