What it means
정 (jeong) is one of the most uniquely Korean concepts — the deep emotional bond and attachment that forms between people through shared experiences over time. Almost untranslatable.
Nuance & when to use
정이 들다 = to develop jeong / to become attached. 정이 많다 = to have a lot of emotional warmth (positive). 정때문에 = because of the bond/attachment. Koreans form 정 with people, places, and even objects. Leaving a place you have 정 with is described as 정이 많이 들어서 떠나기 힘들어 (hard to leave because of the attachment formed). 헤어지면 정 들어 = "you develop attachment when you separate" — the paradox of getting close when ending something.
⚠ Common mistake
정 is not just love or like. It's the accumulation of shared time and experience. Even someone you argue with can have 정 — sometimes you're attached to difficult relationships because of 정.
Example sentences
See also
FAQ
When is this used?
정이 들다 = to develop jeong / to become attached. 정이 많다 = to have a lot of emotional warmth (positive). 정때문에 = because of the bond/attachment. Koreans form 정 with people, places, and even objects. Leaving a place you have 정 with is described as 정이 많이 들어서 떠나기 힘들어 (hard to leave because of the attachment formed). 헤어지면 정 들어 = "you develop attachment when you separate" — the paradox of getting close when ending something.
What's a common mistake?
정 is not just love or like. It's the accumulation of shared time and experience. Even someone you argue with can have 정 — sometimes you're attached to difficult relationships because of 정.
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