Korean word

처음

Pronunciation

Romanizationcheoeum

Meaning

  • adverbfor the first time

Example

저는 한국 음식을 처음 먹어봤어요.cheo neun han guk eum si geul cheo eum meo geo bwa sseo yo

I tried Korean food for the first time.

Illustration for 처음 (for the first time)

More examples

처음에는 이해하기 어려웠어요.cheo eu me neun i hae ha gi eo ryeo wo sseo yo

It was difficult to understand at first.

Core concept

One clear beginning moment when something happens for the first time.

Common phrases

  • 처음에는cheo eu me neun

    at first

  • 처음부터cheo eum bu teo

    from the beginning

  • 처음 배우다cheo eum pae u da

    learn for the first time

Similar words

처음에cheoeume: Describes the opening stage of an event or action.
처음으로cheoeumeuro: Emphasizes that an action has never happened before.
처음부터cheoeumbuteo: Shows that something has lasted from its beginning onward.
애초에aechoe: Refers to the original situation or starting point of something.

Definition in Korean

처음은 어떤 일이 일어나거나 어떤 행동을 하는 첫 번째 때나 상황을 나타내는 부사.cheo eu meun eo tteon i ri i reo na geo na eo tteon haeng dong eul ha neun cheot peon jjae ttae na sang hwang eul na ta nae neun pu sa

Word origin

처음 (cheoeum, "first time") has traditionally been used in spoken Korean for both a beginning and the first occurrence of an action.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this word makes personal stories more precise by showing that an experience is new rather than merely unusual.

Other meanings

  • firstnoun
  • beginningnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word