Korean word

돌아보다

Pronunciation

Romanizationtoraboda

Meaning

  • verbturn around

Example

전화 소리에 돌아봤다.cheon hwa so ri e to ra bwat tta

I turned around at the sound of the phone.

Illustration for 돌아보다 (turn around)

More examples

자신의 행동을 돌아봤다.cha si nui haeng dong eul to ra bwat tta

I looked back on my actions.

Core concept

Turning to see what lies behind, with the same backward-looking movement used to review an earlier situation.

Common phrases

  • 뒤를 돌아보다twi reul to ra bo da

    turn around to look behind

  • 자신의 행동을 돌아보다cha si nui haeng dong eul to ra bo da

    reflect on one's actions

Similar words

뒤돌아보다twidoraboda: Look back by turning the body toward what is behind.
돌아서다toraseoda: Turn the body to face a new direction.
힐끗보다hilkkeutppoda: Look sideways or backward for only a moment.
되돌아보다toedoraboda: Review past experiences thoughtfully from the present.

Definition in Korean

머리나 몸을 돌려 뒤를 보거나, 지난 일이나 상황을 생각해 다시 살피는 동사.meo ri na mo meul tol lyeo twi reul po geo na chi nan i ri na sang hwang eul saeng ga kae ta si sal pi neun tong sa

Word origin

The form joins 돌아 (dora, "turn") and 보다 (boda, "see"), allowing a concrete act of looking behind to develop into reflection on the past.

Usage tips

  • The verb is useful in conversation because its past form can describe a brief response, while longer contexts can connect it with reviewing the past.

Other meanings

  • think backverb

Opposites

  • 앞을 보다apeul podalook aheadverb
  • 전진하다cheonjinhadamove forwardverb

Related words

Word lists with this word