Korean word

이심전심

Pronunciation

Romanizationisimjeonsim

Meaning

  • noununspoken understanding

Example

한 말도 없었는데 이심전심으로 서로 알았다.han mal do eop sseon neun de i sim jeon si meu ro seo ro a rat tta

Although we hadn't said a word, we understood each other's feelings.

Illustration for 이심전심 (unspoken understanding)

More examples

둘은 오랜 친구라서 작은 신호만으로도 이심전심이라고 느꼈다.tu reun o raen chin gu ra seo cha geun sin ho ma neu ro do i sim jeon si mi ra go neu kkyeot tta

Because they were longtime friends, the two sensed an unspoken understanding through even the smallest signals.

Core concept

People understand each other's feelings or intentions without speaking because they are in tune.

Common phrases

  • 이심전심이다i sim jeon si mi da

    share an unspoken understanding

  • 이심전심으로 느껴지다i sim jeon si meu ro neu kkyeo ji da

    sense an unspoken understanding

Similar words

공감konggam: Empathy that comes from feeling and understanding another person's emotions.
교감kyogam: A mutual emotional connection in which people naturally sense each other's mood.
눈치nunchi: Quick awareness of unspoken feelings or social signals that guides appropriate behavior.

Definition in Korean

말하지 않아도 서로의 마음이나 뜻이 통하는 상태mal ha ji a na do seo ro ui ma eu mi na tteu si tong ha neun sang tae

Word origin

Its origin lies in a Chinese Buddhist term for transmitting insight from teacher to student through the mind rather than through speech.

Usage tips

  • The expression suggests a strong connection in a particular situation, not a general ability to read anyone's thoughts.

Opposites

  • 불화pulhwadiscordnoun

Word lists with this word