Korean word

되돌아보다

Pronunciation

Romanizationtoedoraboda

Meaning

  • verblook back

Example

계단을 오르다 갑자기 소리가 나서 나는 되돌아봤다.kye da neul o reu da kap jja gi so ri ga na seo na neun toe do ra bwat tta

While climbing the stairs, I suddenly looked back because I heard a sound.

Illustration for 되돌아보다 (look back)

More examples

지난 한 해를 되돌아보니 감사한 일이 많았다.chi nan han hae reul toe do ra bo ni kam sa han i ri ma nat tta

When I looked back on the past year, I found many things to be grateful for.

Core concept

A person mentally revisits the past and looks at it again from the perspective of the present.

Common phrases

  • 어렸을 적 일을 되돌아보다eo ryeo sseul jjeok i reul toe do ra bo da

    look back on childhood

  • 지난 한 해를 되돌아보다chi nan han hae reul toe do ra bo da

    look back on the past year

Similar words

회상하다hoesanghada: Recalling people, events, or experiences from the past.
되새기다toesaegida: Thinking repeatedly about an event or someone's words to understand them more clearly.
반성하다panseonghada: Recognizing faults in one's own actions and resolving to improve.

Definition in Korean

주로 마음속에서 지난 일을 다시 생각해 정리하거나 후회·회상을 표현하는 동사로 쓰인다.chu ro ma eum so ge seo chi nan i reul ta si saeng ga kae cheong ni ha geo na hu hoe hoe sang eul pyo hyeon ha neun tong sa ro sseu in da

Word origin

Its meaning grows from the literal image of returning and looking back, making the figurative sense of reviewing past events easy to remember.

Usage tips

  • The word often carries a thoughtful or emotional tone, so it fits personal reflection and memories more naturally than a simple report about seeing something behind.

Other meanings

  • turn aroundverb
  • think backverb

Opposites

  • 미래를 바라보다miraereul parabodalook toward the futureverb

Related words

Word lists with this word