Korean word

가장

Pronunciation

Romanizationkajang

Meaning

  • adverbmost

Example

이 사람은 가장 친절해요.i sa ra meun ka jang chin jeol hae yo

This person is the kindest.

Illustration for 가장 (most)

More examples

이 중에서 가장 친절한 사람을 골라 주세요.i chung e seo ka jang chin jeol han sa ra meul kol la chu se yo

Please choose the kindest person among these.

Core concept

It puts a quality at the top of a scale, giving the sense of the greatest degree.

Common phrases

  • 가장 친절한ka jang chin jeol han

    the kindest

  • 가장 좋아하는ka jang cho a ha neun

    favorite

  • 가장 먼저ka jang meon jeo

    first

Similar words

제일cheil: Marks the top place among several choices or the greatest degree of a quality.
더teo: Marks an increase beyond the present amount or level.
훨씬hwolssin: Strongly emphasizes a large difference in degree or amount.

Definition in Korean

서열이나 강도에서 최상임을 나타내는 부사로, 주로 형용사·부사를 수식하고 명사를 직접 수식하지 않는다.seo yeo ri na kang do e seo choe sang i meul na ta nae neun pu sa ro chu ro hyeong yong sa pu sa reul su si ka go myeong sa reul chik jjeop su si ka ji an neun da

Word origin

This is a long-established native Korean adverb whose superlative use developed separately from the Sino-Korean word for a family head.

Usage tips

  • English-speaking learners may expect a superlative to sit beside a noun, but this Korean adverb normally comes before a describing word instead.

Word lists with this word