Korean word

그리움

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeurium

Meaning

  • nounnostalgia

Example

오랜만에 옛날 사진을 보니 그리움이 밀려왔다.o raen ma ne yen nal sa ji neul po ni keu ri u mi mil lyeo wat tta

Seeing old photos after so long brought on a wave of nostalgia.

Illustration for 그리움 (nostalgia)

More examples

오래된 편지를 읽고 그리움에 젖었다.o rae doen pyeon ji reul il kko keu ri u me cheo jeot tta

After reading an old letter, nostalgia washed over me.

Core concept

A tender ache that remains when a loved person, familiar place, or earlier time feels far away.

Common phrases

  • 그리움에 젖다keu ri u me cheot tta

    be immersed in nostalgia

  • 그리움을 느끼다keu ri u meul neu kki da

    feel nostalgia

  • 그리움이 남다keu ri u mi nam tta

    have lingering nostalgia

Similar words

향수hyangsu: A fond attachment to an earlier time or a faraway place.
아련함aryeonham: A faint sadness that lingers as a vague feeling.
애틋함aeteutam: Tender affection for a dear person mixed with quiet sorrow.

Definition in Korean

사람이나 장소, 지난 일을 그리워하며 느끼는 애틋하고 마음에 남는 감정.sa ra mi na chang so chi nan i reul keu ri wo ha myeo neu kki neun ae teu ta go ma eu me nam neun kam jeong

Word origin

The noun is built from the Korean descriptive word for missing or yearning for someone or something with the noun-forming suffix -um, turning that feeling into a named emotional state.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may hear nostalgia as cozy and pleasant, but this word can sound more wistful, so it fits memories that bring both comfort and a quiet ache.

Other meanings

  • longingnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word