Korean word

아무

Pronunciation

Romanizationamu

Meaning

  • determinerany

Example

나는 아무것도 몰라.na neun a mu geot tto mol la

I don't know anything.

Illustration for 아무 (any)

More examples

아무 사람한테 물어봐.a mu sa ram han te mu reo bwa

Ask any person.

Core concept

아무 (amu, "any") comes before a noun to leave the choice open, and with a negative word it helps mean not even one.

Common phrases

  • 아무것도a mu geot tto

    anything

  • 아무 사람a mu sa ram

    any person

  • 아무 때나a mu ttae na

    any time

Similar words

어떤eotteon: Placed before a noun to ask about the kind or quality of something, or to mention an unspecified one.
무슨museun: Placed before a noun to ask what kind of thing or group is meant.
어느eoneu: Placed before a noun to select one item from a limited, known group.

Definition in Korean

명사를 앞에서 한정하지 않고 불특정함을 나타내는 연체사로, 단독으로 서술어가 될 수 없어 반드시 명사와 결합하여 쓰이며 부정과 만나면 결핍의 의미를 만든다.myeong sa reul a pe seo han jeong ha ji an ko pul teuk jjeong ha meul na ta nae neun yeon che sa ro tan do geu ro seo su reo ga toel ssu eop sseo pan deu si myeong sa wa kyeol ha pa yeo sseu i myeo pu jeong gwa man na myeon kyeol pi bui ui mi reul man deun da

Word origin

아무 (amu, "any") has been used in Korean for a long time, but its exact origin is uncertain; when it meets a negative word, the combination can mean that nothing is included.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English any, 아무 (amu, "any") needs a following word that names what it refers to, so it cannot be used alone as a short answer.

Other meanings

  • any kind ofdeterminer

Opposites

  • 특정한teukjjeonghana particulardeterminer

Related words

Word lists with this word