Korean word

세월

Pronunciation

Romanizationsewol

Meaning

  • nountime

Example

벌써 세월이 이렇게 흘렀다.peol sseo se wo ri i reo ke heul leot tta

So much time has already passed.

Illustration for 세월 (time)

More examples

오래된 사진을 보니 세월이 느껴진다.o rae doen sa ji neul po ni se wo ri neu kkyeo jin da

Looking at the old photo, I can sense the passage of time.

Core concept

The years and months move steadily forward and cannot be brought back.

Common phrases

  • 세월이 흐르다se wo ri heu reu da

    time goes by

Similar words

시간sigan: Time that marks when something happens or how long it lasts.
시절sijeol: A distinct time in the past remembered as a stage of life.
나이nai: A person's age measured by the years lived.
기간kigan: A defined span during which an event or state continues.

Definition in Korean

흘러간 달과 해, 되돌릴 수 없는 시간의 흐름을 가리키는 명사로, 세월이 흐르다 등으로 쓰인다.heul leo gan tal gwa hae toe dol lil ssu eom neun si ga nui heu reu meul ka ri ki neun myeong sa ro se wo ri heu reu da teung eu ro sseu in da

Word origin

The word comes from Sino-Korean elements meaning years and months, which together express the passage of time.

Usage tips

  • For English speakers, this word often adds a reflective feeling about years gone by rather than referring only to clock time.

Opposites

Word lists with this word