Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 참되다 | chamdoeda | [t͡ɕʰa̠mt͈we̞da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [t͡ɕʰa̠mt͈ø̞da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 바르다 | bareuda | [pa̠ɾɯda̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 진실의 | jinsirui |
The way you express being 'true' in Korean depends heavily on whether you are referring to moral integrity, factual correctness or the quality of being genuine. You can also use the noun 참 to describe a state of being in alignment.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific nuance of 'true':
– Use 참되다 when referring to being true in a moral or spiritual sense, such as sincerity or integrity. – Use 바르다 when 'true' means something is correct, right or physically straight and aligned. – Use 진실의 as a formal attributive adjective meaning 'of truth' or 'genuine', such as when describing 'true love'. – Use 진짜 to mean 'true' in the sense of being 'real' or 'genuine' in everyday, informal contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form 참되다 is an adjective that functions like a verb in Korean, requiring conjugation to be used in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
chamdoeda
Did you know?
- One form of 바르다 is actually a softened version of the word 빠르다, which means 'fast'.
Examples in context
- 그는 항상 진실한 말로 사람들을 설득합니다.He always persuades people with true words.
- 이 문서에는 참된 정보만 포함되어 있습니다.This document only contains true information.
- 오늘 진짜 추워요. 외투를 꼭 입으세요.It's really cold today. Make sure to wear a coat.
- 진짜로 그렇게 생각해요?Do you really think so?
- 생각했던 것보다 어렵더라.It was harder than I thought.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “true” translations and entries 참되다, 바르다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 바르다, 참되다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
