Korean word

사정

Pronunciation

Romanizationsajeong

Meaning

  • nouncircumstances

Example

사정이 있어서 약속에 못 갔어요.sa jeong i i sseo seo yak sso ge mot ka sseo yo

I couldn't go to the appointment because of personal circumstances.

Illustration for 사정 (circumstances)

More examples

동료가 제 사정을 봐줘서 하루 휴가를 얻었어요.tong nyo ga che sa jeong eul pwa jwo seo ha ru hyu ga reul eo deo sseo yo

My colleague took my circumstances into account, so I got a day off.

Core concept

The personal or outside conditions behind a decision, action, or change of plan.

Common phrases

  • 사정이 생기다sa jeong i saeng gi da

    circumstances arise

  • 사정을 봐주다sa jeong eul pwa ju da

    take circumstances into account

  • 사정 때문에sa jeong ttae mu ne

    because of circumstances

Similar words

이유iyu: A clear cause explains an action, choice, or event.
형편hyeongpyeon: A person's financial and living conditions affect what is possible.
상황sanghwang: The surrounding conditions show what is happening at a particular time.

Definition in Korean

사정은 어떤 일이 생긴 까닭이나 처한 형편을 가리키며 개인적이거나 외부적인 이유로 행동이나 계획이 바뀌는 상황을 뜻한다sa jeong eun eo tteon i ri saeng gin kka dal gi na cheo han hyeong pyeo neul ka ri ki myeo kae in jeo gi geo na oe bu jeo gin i yu ro haeng dong i na kye hoe gi pa kkwi neun sang hwang eul tteu tan da

Word origin

The Sino-Korean compound combines a word for an affair with a word for circumstances, forming a noun for the conditions surrounding an event.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this word can explain a change of plans without requiring the speaker to share private details.

Other meanings

  • situationnoun
  • reasonnoun

Related words

  • 사정하다sajeonghadapleadverb

Word lists with this word