Korean word

사이

Pronunciation

Romanizationsai

Meaning

  • nounbetween

Example

테이블 사이에 컵이 있어요.te i beul sa i e keo bi i sseo yo

There is a cup between the tables.

Illustration for 사이 (between)

More examples

오랜만에 만났더니 사이가 좀 멀어졌다.o raen ma ne man nat tteo ni sa i ga chom meo reo jeot tta

When we met again after a long time, we had grown a little distant.

Core concept

The middle space separating two things or the connection linking two people or groups.

Common phrases

  • 사이를 유지하다sa i reul yu ji ha da

    maintain a distance

  • 사이가 멀어지다sa i ga meo reo ji da

    grow apart

  • 사이를 좁히다sa i reul cho pi da

    close the gap

Similar words

거리keori: A feeling of being emotionally far from someone.
관계kwangye: The connection linking people or things together.
틈teum: A small opening or uncomfortable break in a conversation or relationship.

Definition in Korean

물건이나 사람 둘 사이에 있는 틈이나 거리, 그리고 두 사람 또는 집단 사이의 관계나 간격을 가리키는 말.mul geo ni na sa ram tul sa i e in neun teu mi na keo ri keu ri go tu sa ram tto neun chip ttan sa i ui kwan gye na kan gyeo geul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

This native Korean noun developed from the physical space between things to also describe distance and relationships between people or groups.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the English word between, this word can name the relationship itself, so it is useful when talking about how people or groups are connected.

Other meanings

  • relationshipnoun
  • gapnoun

Word lists with this word