Korean word

경위

Pronunciation

Romanizationkyeongwi

Meaning

  • nounbackground

Example

그 일의 경위를 듣고 싶습니다.keu i rui kyeong wi reul teut kko sip sseum ni da

I would like to hear the background of that incident.

Illustration for 경위 (background)

More examples

경찰이 사고의 경위를 밝히고 있다.kyeong cha ri sa go ui kyeong wi reul pal ki go it tta

The police are clarifying the circumstances of the accident.

Core concept

The whole story behind an event, followed through from what happened to why it happened.

Common phrases

  • 경위를 밝히다kyeong wi reul pal ki da

    reveal the circumstances

  • 경위를 파악하다kyeong wi reul pa a ka da

    grasp the circumstances

Similar words

경과kyeonggwa: The way an event or situation develops over time.
전말cheonmal: A detailed account that covers an event from its beginning to its end.
사정sajeong: The circumstances or reasons behind a situation, action, or change of plan.
내막naemak: The hidden facts and real reasons behind a situation.

Definition in Korean

일어난 일의 전말과 그에 얽힌 여러 사정이나 이유를 포괄적으로 가리키는 명사.i reo nan i rui cheon mal gwa keu e eol kin yeo reo sa jeong i na i yu reul po gwal jeo geu ro ka ri ki neun myeong sa

Word origin

The word comes from Sino-Korean terms for the warp and weft of fabric, whose interwoven pattern became a metaphor for the connected course of events.

Usage tips

  • A request using this word usually expects a careful account, so answering with only the final outcome can sound incomplete.

Other meanings

  • circumstancesnoun
  • detailsnoun

Word lists with this word