Korean word

옛

Pronunciation

Romanizationyet

Meaning

  • determinerold

Example

그는 옛 친구를 만났다.keu neun yet chin gu reul man nat tta

He met an old friend.

Illustration for 옛 (old)

More examples

어제 집에서 옛 사진을 발견했다.eo je chi be seo yet sa ji neul pal gyeon haet tta

I discovered an old photo at home yesterday.

Core concept

A person, thing, or relationship that belongs to the past rather than the present.

Common phrases

  • 옛 사진yet sa jin

    photo from long ago

  • 옛 노래yet no rae

    song from long ago

  • 옛 기억yet ki eok

    memory from long ago

Similar words

옛날yennal: The old days as a broad period with its own way of life.
예전yejeon: An earlier period or condition, often used when describing how things were before.
전cheon: Former, used before a position or title for someone who held it in the past.

Definition in Korean

예전에 있었던 일이나 관계를 뜻하며 명사 앞에서 '이전의'라는 의미로 쓰이는 관형사.ye jeo ne i sseot tteon i ri na kwan gye reul tteu ta myeo myeong sa a pe seo i jeo nui ra neun ui mi ro sseu i neun kwan hyeong sa

Word origin

As a native Korean word for an earlier time, it developed a regular use before nouns for past conditions and relationships.

Usage tips

  • The word often means former when it describes people or relationships, so it does not always mean that something is physically old.

Other meanings

  • formerdeterminer

Opposites

Related words

  • 옛이야기yesiyagitale from long agonoun
  • 옛사람yetssarampeople from long agonoun

Word lists with this word