TOPIK · Level 276
15 words
Korean word
무려
Pronunciation
Romanizationmuryeo
Meaning
- adverbas many as
Example
그는 무려 10년 동안 같은 회사에 다녔다.keu neun mu ryeo 10 nyeon tong an ka teun hoe sa e ta nyeot tta
He worked at the same company for as many as 10 years.
More examples
무려 5년 만에 친구를 다시 만났다.mu ryeo 5 nyeon ma ne chin gu reul ta si man nat tta
I met my friend again after as many as five years.
Core concept
A number or amount stands out as surprisingly large.
Common phrases
무려 10년mu ryeo 10 nyeon
as many as 10 years
무려 100만 원mu ryeo 100 man won
as much as 1 million won
무려 한 시간mu ryeo han si gan
as long as an hour
Similar words
고작kojak: Limits an amount to a small total that seems disappointing.
겨우kyeou: Shows that an outcome is achieved only with great difficulty.
엄청eomcheong: Shows that something is extremely large, strong, or intense.
훨씬hwolssin: Shows a clear and sizable difference between two amounts, degrees, or qualities.
Definition in Korean
무려는 듣는 사람에게 놀라움을 주기 위해 실제 수치가 많거나 크다는 점을 강조할 때 쓰는 부사이다.mu ryeo neun teun neun sa ra me ge nol la u meul chu gi wi hae sil je su chi ga man keo na keu da neun cheo meul kang jo hal ttae sseu neun pu sa i da
Word origin
The exact historical origin of this established Korean adverb is uncertain, so its modern emphatic use is the safest way to learn it.
Usage tips
- In Korean, placing this word before a duration makes the length feel noteworthy, so it works naturally with years, months, and other periods.