TOPIK · Level 117
15 words
Korean word
자기
Pronunciation
Romanizationchagi
Meaning
- pronounoneself
Example
자기를 믿어.cha gi reul mi deo
Believe in yourself.
More examples
솔직하게 자기 생각을 말해.sol ji ka ge cha gi saeng ga geul mal hae
Speak honestly about your own thoughts.
Core concept
A compact pointer to one's own self that can also signal closeness when used to address another person in everyday speech.
Common phrases
자기 생각cha gi saeng gak
one's own thoughts
자기 마음cha gi ma eum
one's own feelings
자기 편cha gi pyeon
one's own side
Similar words
나na: The casual first-person pronoun used in everyday conversation.
저cheo: The respectful first-person pronoun used to speak modestly about oneself.
자신chasin: The self viewed as the person who acts or feels.
본인ponin: The actual person involved in an official matter or identity check.
Definition in Korean
자신을 가리키는 대명사로, 필요할 때는 '자기 자신'처럼 반사적 강조에 쓰이며 구어에서는 친밀한 2인칭 호칭으로도 쓰인다.cha si neul ka ri ki neun tae myeong sa ro pi ryo hal ttae neun cha gi cha sin cheo reom pan sa jeok kang jo e sseu i myeo ku eo e seo neun chin mil han 2 in ching ho ching eu ro do sseu in da
Word origin
The word comes from a Sino-Korean term meaning one's own self, so its central idea remains the self in both its reflexive and familiar address uses.
Usage tips
- The familiar address use is a useful register clue: it can sound warm among close people but too intimate in a formal setting, where a name is often more natural.
Other meanings
- youpronoun
- porcelainnoun
Related words
- 자기확신chagihwakssinself-confidencenoun
- 자기중심적chagijungsimjeokself-centeredadjective
- 자기반성chagibanseongself-reflectionnoun