Korean word

설렘

Pronunciation

Romanizationseollem

Meaning

  • nounexcitement

Example

첫 데이트를 앞두고 설렘을 느꼈다.cheot te i teu reul ap ttu go seol le meul neu kkyeot tta

I felt a flutter before my first date.

Illustration for 설렘 (excitement)

More examples

무대에 서자 설렘에 가슴이 뛰었다.mu dae e seo ja seol le me ka seu mi ttwi eot tta

When I stepped onto the stage, my heart raced with excitement.

Core concept

A rising sense of eager expectation for a pleasant or unfamiliar experience.

Common phrases

  • 설렘에 가슴이 뛰다seol le me ka seu mi ttwi da

    feel one's heart race with excitement

  • 설렘이 생기다seol le mi saeng gi da

    feel a flutter arise

  • 설렘을 안고 있다seol le meul an kko it tta

    carry excitement in one's heart

Similar words

기대kidae: A positive feeling held while waiting for something welcome to happen.
흥분heungbun: A highly stirred emotional state that can make reactions stronger than usual.
떨림tteollim: A repeated, gentle shaking felt in the body or heard in the voice.
긴장kinjang: A nervous feeling that can make ordinary actions difficult at an important moment.

Definition in Korean

설렘은 낯선 일이나 즐거운 일이 곧 시작될 것 같다는 생각에 마음이 설레고 기대되는 상태를 나타내는 명사다.seol le meun nat sseon i ri na cheul geo un i ri kot si jak ttoel kkeot kat tta neun saeng ga ge ma eu mi seol le go ki dae doe neun sang tae reul na ta nae neun myeong sa da

Word origin

Its formation from a native Korean expressive verb preserves the idea of an emotionally stirred heart, turning a lively reaction into a name for the feeling.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Korean, it can describe the mood around a new plan or experience as well as romantic feelings, so a romantic-only gloss can mislead learners.

Other meanings

  • flutternoun
  • anticipationnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word