Korean word

목격하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationmokkkyeokada

Meaning

  • verbwitness

Example

어제 공원에서 싸움을 목격했어요.eo je kong wo ne seo ssa u meul mok kkyeo kae sseo yo

I witnessed a fight in the park yesterday.

Illustration for 목격하다 (witness)

More examples

어제 길에서 교통사고를 목격했어요.eo je ki re seo kyo tong sa go reul mok kkyeo kae sseo yo

I witnessed a traffic accident on the road yesterday.

Core concept

Seeing an event happen directly and remembering it well enough to describe it later.

Common phrases

  • 사건을 목격하다sa geo neul mok kkyeo ka da

    witness an incident

  • 교통사고를 목격하다kyo tong sa go reul mok kkyeo ka da

    witness a traffic accident

  • 현장을 목격하다hyeon jang eul mok kkyeo ka da

    witness the scene

Similar words

보다poda: Recognizing people, objects, and scenes through sight is seeing.
지켜보다chikyeoboda: Steady watching keeps attention on a person or thing as its condition changes.
관찰하다kwanchalhada: Carefully examining a person or thing over time helps identify its qualities and changes.

Definition in Korean

어떤 사건이나 일을 직접 눈으로 보고 그 장면을 기억하거나 증언하는 행위를 이르는 동사이다.eo tteon sa geo ni na i reul chik jjeop nu neu ro po go keu chang myeo neul ki eo ka geo na cheung eon ha neun haeng wi reul i reu neun tong sa i da

Word origin

목격하다 (mokkkyeokada, "to witness") uses 목격 (mokkkyeo, "a firsthand sighting") with 하다 (kada, "to do or make"), creating the verb meaning to witness something directly.

Usage tips

  • This verb suits reports about events seen firsthand, while information heard from other people calls for a different expression.

Opposites

Related words

  • 목격mokkkyeokwitnessingnoun
  • 목격자mokkkyeokjjawitnessnoun
  • 목격담mokkkyeokttameyewitness accountnoun

Word lists with this word