빛나다
binnada[pinna̠da̠]
To say shine in Korean, use 빛나다 (binnada) for something that gives off light or glows. 비추다 and 비치다 cover shining light onto something and light coming through. If unsure, use 빛나다.
Meaning: to emit light (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 빛나다 | binnada | [pinna̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 비추다 | bichuda | [pit͡ɕʰuda̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 비치다 | bichida | [pit͡ɕʰida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
빛나다 describes the inherent quality of something glowing or shining, such as a star or a bright eye.
Which one should you use?
빛나다 is for something that shines by itself. 비추다 is used when a person or object shines light onto a target, like a flashlight shining on a path. 비치다 is used when light is reflected off a surface or shines through something, like a reflection in a mirror or moonlight through a window.
How does it change in a sentence?
빛난다 is the plain present tense, often used in written descriptions and narration. 빛났다 is the past tense. 빛나는 is the form placed before a noun, as in a shining star.
How do you pronounce it?
빛나다 is romanized as binnada.
Did you know?
- The word 비치다 can describe not just light, but also a feeling or intention that 'shines through' or is faintly revealed in someone's expression.
- Because 빛나다 can describe a 'shining eye', it is often used metaphorically to describe someone's passion or intelligence.
- Even though they look different today, the verbs 비추다 and 비치다 both originated from the same Middle Korean word 비취다 in the 15th century.
Examples in context
- 산 정상에서 해가 떠오르자 산자락이 환하게 빛난다.As the sun rises over the mountain peak, the mountainsides shine brightly.빛난다 is the plain present tense used in narration to say the mountainsides shine brightly.
- 이 다이아몬드는 차가운 빛을 내고 있어요.This diamond is shining with a cold light.
- 오늘 태양이 반짝반짝 빛났어요!The sun was shining brightly today!
- 그 학생은 참 반짝반짝 빛나는 매력을 가지고 있어.That student has a dazzling charm.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shine” translations and entries 빛나다, 비추다, 비치다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 비추다, 비치다, 빛나다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
