Korean word

눈길

Pronunciation

Romanizationnungil

Meaning

  • nounlook

Example

그가 나에게 눈길을 보냈다.keu ga na e ge nun gi reul po naet tta

He gave me a look.

Illustration for 눈길 (look)

More examples

겨울에는 눈길이 미끄럽다.kyeo u re neun nun gi ri mi kkeu reop tta

Snowy roads are slippery in winter.

Core concept

A short movement of attention as the eyes turn toward a person or thing.

Common phrases

  • 눈길을 주다nun gi reul chu da

    give a look

  • 눈길을 끌다nun gi reul kkeul da

    attract attention

  • 눈길이 가다nun gi ri ka da

    draw one's gaze

Similar words

시선siseon: The line of sight that shows where a person is looking or directing attention.
눈빛nunbit: An expression in the eyes that communicates feeling or purpose without words.

Definition in Korean

사람의 눈이 향하는 방향이나 그 짧은 한 번의 바라봄을 가리키며, 주로 순간적인 시선을 뜻한다.sa ra mui nu ni hyang ha neun pang hyang i na keu jjal beun han peo nui pa ra bo meul ka ri ki myeo chu ro sun gan jeo gin si seo neul tteu tan da

Word origin

눈길 (nungil, "look") joins 눈 (nun, "eye") with 길 (gil, "road"), suggesting the path that the eyes take toward what draws attention.

Usage tips

  • The word is useful for understanding why English may choose gaze, look, or attention in different contexts, even though Korean uses one noun across this range.

Other meanings

  • snowy roadnoun
  • attentionnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word