Korean word

별로

Pronunciation

Romanizationpyeollo

Meaning

  • adverbnot very

Example

그는 별로 관심이 없어요.keu neun pyeol lo kwan si mi eop sseo yo

He isn't very interested.

Illustration for 별로 (not very)

More examples

저는 그 영화를 별로 좋아하지 않아요.cheo neun keu yeong hwa reul pyeol lo cho a ha ji a na yo

I don't like that movie very much.

Core concept

A quiet signal that something is not much or not especially so.

Common phrases

  • 별로 좋아하지 않다pyeol lo cho a ha ji an ta

    not like very much

  • 별로 좋지 않다pyeol lo cho chi an ta

    not be very good

  • 별로 신경 쓰지 않다pyeol lo sin gyeong sseu ji an ta

    not care much

Similar words

그다지keudaji: Says in a negative sentence that a quality or state falls short of being very strong.
전혀cheonhyeo: Says that something is not present or happening even a little.
아예aye: Excludes an action or state entirely from the start.

Definition in Korean

양이나 정도가 많지 않음을 낮은 강도로 말할 때 쓰는 부사.yang i na cheong do ga man chi a neu meul na jeun kang do ro mal hal ttae sseu neun pu sa

Word origin

The adverb developed from an older idea of being special, with negative contexts shifting it toward the meaning of not especially.

Usage tips

  • The word usually works with a negative expression and does not normally serve as a positive booster, a useful difference from many English intensifiers.

Opposites

Word lists with this word