Korean word

겨우

Pronunciation

Romanizationkyeou

Meaning

  • adverbbarely

Example

시험에 겨우 합격했어요.si heo me kyeo u hap kkyeo kae sseo yo

I barely passed the exam.

Illustration for 겨우 (barely)

More examples

아파도 겨우 일하러 갔어요.a pa do kyeo u il ha reo ka sseo yo

Even though I was sick, I barely managed to go to work.

Core concept

Success comes with almost no room to spare, so the result is achieved only just.

Common phrases

  • 겨우 합격하다kyeo u hap kkyeo ka da

    barely pass

  • 겨우 버티다kyeo u peo ti da

    barely hold out

  • 겨우 살다kyeo u sal da

    barely get by

Similar words

간신히kansinhi: Reaches a goal only after struggling through a difficult situation.
가까스로kakkaseuro: Overcomes a major obstacle with almost no margin for error.
겨우겨우kyeougyeou: Finishes a task through repeated, painstaking effort with barely enough leeway.

Definition in Korean

필요한 기준이나 목표를 아주 가까스로 맞추어 어떤 일이 성립하거나 완료되었음을 나타내는 부사.pi ryo han ki ju ni na mok pyo reul a ju ka kka seu ro mat chu eo eo tteon i ri seong ni pa geo na wal lyo doe eo sseu meul na ta nae neun pu sa

Word origin

The origin of this native Korean adverb is uncertain, so it is best remembered through its long-standing use for an outcome achieved with almost no margin.

Usage tips

  • 겨우 (gyeou, "with barely enough margin") can appear with a successful outcome, but it highlights the effort or difficulty behind that outcome rather than making it sound easy.

Other meanings

  • at lastadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 겨우겨우kyeougyeoubarelyadverb

Word lists with this word