TOPIK · Level 247
15 words
Korean word
과연
Pronunciation
Romanizationkwayeon
Meaning
- adverbreally
Example
이 계획이 과연 성공할지 모르겠다.i kye hoe gi kwa yeon seong gong hal ji mo reu get tta
I wonder if this plan will really succeed.
More examples
이런 결과가 과연 나올 수 있을까?i reon kyeol gwa ga kwa yeon na ol ssu i sseul kka
Could such a result really occur?
Core concept
A dramatic spotlight on the question of whether something is actually true.
Common phrases
과연 믿을까kwa yeon mi deul kka
really believe
과연 가능할까kwa yeon ka neung hal kka
really be possible
Similar words
정말cheongmal: Strongly emphasizes a speaker's feeling, judgment, agreement, surprise, or admiration.
설마seolma: Raises a very unlikely possibility with surprise or disbelief.
혹시hokssi: Introduces a possible situation gently, often making a question less pushy.
아마ama: Shows that something is considered likely but is not stated as certain.
Definition in Korean
문어적·연극적 어감이 있어 말할 때는 비꼬거나 강조하는 뉘앙스로 쓰일 수 있는 부사로, 주로 의문형에서 사실 여부를 묻는 역할을 한다.mu neo jeok yeon geuk jjeok eo ga mi i sseo mal hal ttae neun pi kko geo na kang jo ha neun nwi ang seu ro sseu il ssu in neun pu sa ro chu ro ui mun hyeong e seo sa sil yeo bu reul mun neun yeo ka reul han da
Word origin
The word is a Sino-Korean borrowing linked to the idea that a result turns out to be as expected, which explains its meanings of indeed and really.
Usage tips
- For TOPIK reading, notice that this adverb often signals a pointed question about whether something is truly the case rather than a neutral question.
Other meanings
- indeedadverb