Korean word

짐승

Pronunciation

Romanizationchimseung

Meaning

  • nounbeast

Example

그는 짐승처럼 행동했다.keu neun chim seung cheo reom haeng dong haet tta

He behaved like a beast.

Illustration for 짐승 (beast)

More examples

산속에서 짐승을 마주쳤다.san so ge seo chim seung eul ma ju cheot tta

I encountered a beast in the mountains.

Core concept

A creature ruled by raw instinct rather than gentle human control, with the same image sometimes applied to a person.

Common phrases

  • 짐승처럼 굴다chim seung cheo reom kul da

    behave like a beast

  • 짐승의 흔적chim seung ui heun jeok

    a beast's tracks

Similar words

동물tongmul: A nonhuman living creature, including pets, farm animals, and wild creatures.
야수yasu: A fierce animal with an aggressive and dangerous nature.
야생동물yasaengdongmul: An animal that lives freely in nature rather than being kept by people.

Definition in Korean

주로 동물을 가리키는 명사로, 문학적·구어체에서 야수성이나 본능적 행동을 강조할 때 사람을 비유적으로 가리키는 용법이 있음chu ro tong mu reul ka ri ki neun myeong sa ro mun hak jjeok ku eo che e seo ya su seong i na pon neung jeok haeng dong eul kang jo hal ttae sa ra meul pi yu jeo geu ro ka ri ki neun yong beo bi i sseum

Word origin

The word is native Korean and has no established Chinese-character spelling, while its animal meaning extended naturally to describe fierce or inhuman behavior.

Usage tips

  • The pattern meaning like a beast is useful in conversation because it signals wild or brutal behavior, not merely unusual behavior.

Other meanings

  • animalnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word