TOPIK · Level 243
15 words
Korean word
저절로
Pronunciation
Romanizationcheojeollo
Meaning
- adverbby itself
Example
문이 저절로 닫혔다.mu ni cheo jeol lo ta tyeot tta
The door closed by itself.
More examples
창문이 저절로 열렸다.chang mu ni cheo jeol lo yeol lyeot tta
The window opened by itself.
Core concept
Something happens on its own, without deliberate human action.
Common phrases
저절로 닫히다cheo jeol lo ta chi da
close by itself
저절로 되다cheo jeol lo toe da
happen by itself
저절로 나아지다cheo jeol lo na a ji da
get better by itself
Similar words
자동으로chadongeuro: A device performs an action through its built-in controls without human operation.
자연히chayeonhi: An outcome follows naturally from the surrounding circumstances.
절로cheollo: An event arises naturally as part of its normal course.
Definition in Korean
사람이 일부러 하지 않아도 물건이나 상황이 자연스럽게 이루어지거나 움직이는 모습을 나타내는 부사.sa ra mi il bu reo ha ji a na do mul geo ni na sang hwang i cha yeon seu reop kke i ru eo ji geo na um ji gi neun mo seu beul na ta nae neun pu sa
Word origin
저절로 (jeojeolro, "by itself") is an old native Korean formation in which final 로 (ro, "in the manner of") helps turn the idea into an adverb describing how something occurs.
Usage tips
- The word is useful when the important point is the absence of human control, even when the result looks orderly or predictable.
Other meanings
- automaticallyadverb
Opposites
- 일부러ilbureodeliberatelyadverb
- 고의로kouirointentionallyadverb