정신
jeongsin[t͡ɕʌ̹ŋɕʰin]
In Korean, spirit is expressed as 정신 (jeongsin). Wiktionary also lists 넋 (neok) and 얼 (eol).
Meaning: soul (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 정신 | jeongsin | [t͡ɕʌ̹ŋɕʰin] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 넋 | neok | /nʌ̹ks͈/ |
| 얼 | eol | [ɘ(ː)ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ʌ̹ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term 정신 is used to describe a mental or emotional state, or a psychological and philosophical concept such as a spirit of cooperation or the mind.
Which one should you use?
While 정신 refers to the mind or a psychological state, 넋 is a literary term specifically referring to the soul or spirit of a deceased person, such as a ghost. In contrast, 얼 is a poetic term used to describe the core essence or spirit of a person, a nation or a culture.
How do you pronounce it?
jeongsin
Did you know?
- The word 얼 originally referred to the 'gallbladder' in ancient Korean. It only evolved to represent a person's core essence or spiritual spirit over time.
- The word 정신 is used in a common idiomatic expression to tell someone to 'wake up' or 'get their act together' when they are spacing out.
- In Korean folklore, the 넋 is sometimes believed to be something that can be 'called back' to a body through a specific ritual.
Examples in context
- 모든 인간은 태어날 때부터 자유로우며 그 존엄과 권리에 있어 동등하다. 인간은 천부적으로 이성과 양심을 부여받았으며 서로 형제애의 정신으로 행동하여야 한다.All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.This sentence demonstrates the use of 정신 to describe a spirit of brotherhood.Tatoeba #532207 by cueyayotl, translation #338182 by sysko
- 그의 정신은 언제나 안정되어 있다.His spirit is always calm.
- 이번 주말엔 기운을 모아 즐겁게 놀아보자.Let's gather our spirits and have a fun weekend.
- 그는 도전 정신이 아주 강해요.geuneun dojeon jeongsin-i aju ganghaeyo.He has a very strong spirit of challenge.
- 우리 팀은 협동 정신을 발휘해야 합니다.uri tim-eun hyeopdong jeongsin-eul balhuihaeya hamnida.Our team must demonstrate a spirit of cooperation.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Dohyun are studying for a difficult exam together.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 너무 힘들어서 정신이 없어요.Dohyun ssi, neomu himdeureoseo jeongsin-i eopseoyo.Dohyun, I'm so exhausted I'm losing my spirit.
- 도현 Do-hyeon조금만 더 힘내세요, 서연 씨.jogeumman deo himnaeseyo, Seoyeon ssi.Hang in there a little more, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정신을 집중해서 빨리 끝낼게요.jeongsin-eul jipjung-haeseo ppalli kkeunneulgeyo.I'll focus my spirit and finish this quickly.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 우리 같이 힘내요.ne, uri gachi himnaeyo.Yes, let's do our best together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spirit” translations and entries 정신, 넋, 얼, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 넋, 얼, 정신, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
