Korean word

고유

Pronunciation

Romanizationkoyu

Meaning

  • noununique

Example

이 제품은 고유의 디자인으로 유명하다.i che pu meun ko yu ui ti ja i neu ro yu myeong ha da

This product is famous for its unique design.

Illustration for 고유 (unique)

More examples

이 지역에는 고유한 문화가 아직도 남아 있다.i chi yeo ge neun ko yu han mun hwa ga a jik tto na ma it tta

This region still retains its distinctive culture.

Core concept

A quality that belongs naturally to something and helps show what makes it itself.

Common phrases

  • 고유의 특성ko yu ui teuk sseong

    intrinsic characteristics

  • 고유한 가치ko yu han ka chi

    intrinsic value

  • 고유한 문화ko yu han mun hwa

    distinctive culture

Similar words

특징teukjjing: A noticeable quality or point that makes a person or thing stand out.
특성teuksseong: A defining quality that shows what a person or thing is essentially like.

Definition in Korean

어떤 대상이 본래부터 가지고 있는 특징이나 성질.eo tteon tae sang i pol lae bu teo ka ji go in neun teuk jjing i na seong jil

Word origin

The word is a Sino-Korean compound built from meanings related to being fixed and having something, pointing to a quality naturally belonging to a thing.

Usage tips

  • English unique often suggests being the only one of its kind, but this word can describe a defining quality even when similar qualities exist elsewhere.

Other meanings

  • inherentadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 고유성koyuseonguniquenessnoun
  • 고유어koyueonative Korean wordnoun
  • 고유명사koyumyeongsaproper nounnoun

Word lists with this word