Nuance Dictionary / Love & Affection
애틋하다 ae-teut-ha-da
A bittersweet, deeply fond longing or affection that makes your heart ache slightly
What does 애틋하다 mean?
애틋하다 (ae-teut-ha-da) means: A bittersweet, deeply fond longing or affection that makes your heart ache slightly.
The emotion parents feel looking at their sleeping child, or the feeling you get thinking of your first love. It's a mix of deep love, slight pity, and a wish to protect them. It's warm, but it makes your heart ache just a tiny bit.
◆ Protective aching fondness — Used when missing someone or something not just with sadness, but with a protective, aching fondness that makes your chest feel delicate and bruised. It is the exact emotion of looking at an old photo of a time that was fragile and irreplaceable.
◆ Protective aching fondness — Used when missing someone or something not just with sadness, but with a protective, aching fondness that makes your chest feel delicate and bruised. It is the exact emotion of looking at an old photo of a time that was fragile and irreplaceable.
🔊 From part 2’s story
그리다 — Geu-ri-da
애틋하다 — Ae-teut-ha-da
공허하다 — Gong-heo-ha-da
허전하다 — Heo-jeon-ha-da
아쉽다 — A-swip-da
후회하다 — hu-hoe-ha-da, "to regret with a sense of fault"
네가 너무 그리워서 잠을 못 자겠어 — listen & repeat
그때 우리가 참 애틋했지 — listen & repeat
Read the full story → · More on this word (part 2) →
🎙️ 애틋하다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [애트타다]로 소리나요 (격음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 자고 있는 아이의 얼굴을 보니 새삼 애틋한 마음이 들었다.
jago inneun aiui eolgureul boni saesam aeteuthan maeumi deureotda.
Looking at my sleeping child, I felt a sudden, tender wave of affection.
💡 Often used for family, children, or deep, enduring bonds. - 오랜만에 옛날 사진첩을 보는데 그 시절 우리가 참 애틋하게 느껴졌다.
oranman-e yetnal sajincheop-eul boneun-de geu sijeol uri-ga cham aet-eut-hage neukkyeojet-da.
Looking through an old photo album after a long time made me feel a bittersweet fondness for who we were back then.
💡 Used for a warm, slightly painful ache of nostalgia or deep affection. - 오랜만에 옛날 사진들을 들춰보는데 그 시절 우리가 참 애틋하게 느껴졌다.
oranman-e yetnal sajindeureul deulchwoboneunde geu sijeol uriga cham aetuthage neukkyeojyeotda.
Looking through old photos after a long time, I felt a bittersweet fondness for how we were back then.
💡 Used for warm, poignant nostalgia or deeply tender affection.
Related words in Love & Affection
애교 ae-gyo애정하다 ae-jeong-ha-da사랑스럽다 sa-rang-seu-reop-da정들다 jeong-deul-da살갑다 sal-gap-da