Korean word

마음먹다

Pronunciation

Romanizationmaeummeoktta

Meaning

  • verbdecide

Example

마음먹었어요 내일부터 금연할 거예요.ma eum meo geo sseo yo nae il bu teo keu myeon hal kkeo ye yo

I've decided to quit smoking as of tomorrow.

Illustration for 마음먹다 (decide)

More examples

마음먹고 매일 아침 조깅을 시작했어요.ma eum meok kko mae il a chim cho ging eul si ja kae sseo yo

Having made up my mind, I started jogging every morning.

Core concept

A person makes a firm decision in the heart and moves forward from it.

Common phrases

  • 금연을 마음먹다keu myeo neul ma eum meok tta

    decide to quit smoking

  • 마음먹고 시작하다ma eum meok kko si ja ka da

    decide to start

  • 마음먹고 노력하다ma eum meok kko no ryeo ka da

    decide to make an effort

Similar words

결심하다kyeolsimhada: Firmly deciding what to do brings a course of action into focus.
다짐하다tajimhada: A personal vow is formed to carry out a chosen plan or achieve a goal.
결정을 내리다kyeoljeongeul naerida: Making a decision means selecting one possibility from several choices.
마음을 정하다maeumeul cheonghada: Settling the mind makes an intention or feeling definite.

Definition in Korean

마음속으로 어떤 일을 하기로 굳게 정하다.ma eum so geu ro eo tteon i reul ha gi ro kut kke cheong ha da

Word origin

The expression joins 마음 (maeum, "mind or heart") and 먹다 (meoktta, "to eat"), portraying a decision as something taken in and firmly held.

Usage tips

  • It presents a decision as a commitment to follow through, rather than a passing thought.

Other meanings

  • resolveverb
  • be determinedverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word