Korean word

열중하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationyeoljunghada

Meaning

  • verbbe absorbed in

Example

어제 저녁에 책에 열중해서 밥도 못 먹었어.eo je cheo nyeo ge chae ge yeol jung hae seo pap tto mot meo geo sseo

Yesterday evening, I was so absorbed in a book that I couldn't even eat.

Illustration for 열중하다 (be absorbed in)

More examples

취미에 열중하느라 약속을 잊어버렸어.chwi mi e yeol jung ha neu ra yak sso geul i jeo beo ryeo sseo

I got so absorbed in my hobby that I forgot our appointment.

Core concept

One activity takes over the mind so completely that attention cannot easily move to anything else.

Common phrases

  • 음악에 열중하다eu ma ge yeol jung ha da

    be absorbed in music

  • 취미에 열중하다chwi mi e yeol jung ha da

    be absorbed in a hobby

  • 프로젝트에 열중하다peu ro jek teu e yeol jung ha da

    be absorbed in a project

Similar words

몰두하다molduhada: Devoting the mind deeply to an activity for a sustained period.
집중하다chipjjunghada: Directing attention and effort toward one specific task or target.
빠지다ppajida: Becoming so caught up in something that pulling away feels difficult.

Definition in Korean

특정 대상이나 일에 정신과 관심을 온전히 기울여 다른 일을 돌보지 못할 만큼 몰두하는 것을 이르는 동사이다.teuk jjeong tae sang i na i re cheong sin gwa kwan si meul on jeon hi ki u ryeo ta reun i reul tol bo ji mo tal man keum mol du ha neun keo seul i reu neun tong sa i da

Word origin

The verb comes from a Sino-Korean compound linking the idea of heat with the center, then adds a verb-forming element to express intense focus.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may connect deep focus mainly with serious tasks, but this word also works naturally for enjoyable hobbies and other everyday activities.

Other meanings

  • be enthusiastic aboutverb
  • concentrate onverb

Opposites

  • 딴짓하다ttanjitadado something elseverb

Related words

Word lists with this word