Korean word

고백하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkobaekada

Meaning

  • verbconfess

Example

그에게 고백했어요.keu e ge ko bae kae sseo yo

I confessed to him.

Illustration for 고백하다 (confess)

More examples

사랑을 고백했어요.sa rang eul ko bae kae sseo yo

I confessed my love.

Core concept

A hidden feeling or fact is brought out and told to another person.

Common phrases

  • 사랑을 고백하다sa rang eul ko bae ka da

    confess one's love

  • 마음을 고백하다ma eu meul ko bae ka da

    confess one's feelings

Similar words

털어놓다teoreonota: Speaking honestly about a worry or secret can lessen the strain of keeping it inside.
인정하다injeonghada: Accepting that a fact is true or that an error was made is an act of admission.

Definition in Korean

자신이 숨겨온 마음이나 사실을 털어놓아 다른 사람에게 알리는 동사로, 죄나 비밀을 말할 때도 쓰임.cha si ni sum gyeo on ma eu mi na sa si reul teo reo no a ta reun sa ra me ge al li neun tong sa ro choe na pi mi reul mal hal ttae do sseu im

Word origin

It combines a Sino-Korean noun meaning an open confession with a common verb-forming element, producing a verb for confessing.

Usage tips

  • The word is useful when someone reveals something previously kept private, not only when expressing romantic feelings.

Other meanings

  • confideverb
  • declare one's loveverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word