Nuance Dictionary / Luck, Fate, & Superstition

악연 ak-yeon

An ill-fated, toxic, or bad relationship that brings pain and cannot easily be severed

What does 악연 mean?

악연 (ak-yeon) means: An ill-fated, toxic, or bad relationship that brings pain and cannot easily be severed.

The terrible, inescapable opposite of a good In-yeon. You are fated to torture each other.
🎙️ 악연은 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [아견]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →

How it's actually used

  • 너랑 나는 정말 안 끊어지는 지독한 악연인가 봐.
    neorang naneun jeongmal an kkeun-eojineun jidokhan ag-yeonin-ga bwa.
    I guess you and I have a toxic, inescapable ill-fated connection that just won't break.
    💡 Used when you keep crossing paths with someone who brings you pain.
  • 그 사람과의 만남은 내 인생 최대의 악연이었어.
    geu saramgwaui mannameun nae inseng choedae-ui ag-yeonieosseo.
    Meeting that person was the worst toxic relationship of my life.
    💡 Can refer to a past ex or a deeply troubled relationship.
  • 우리는 전생에 어떤 악연이었길래 이렇게 계속 얽히는지 모르겠어.
    urineun jeonsaenge eotteon ayeonieotgillae ireoke gyesok eolhineunji moreugesseo.
    I wonder what kind of toxic fate we shared in a past life to keep getting entangled like this.
    💡 Used to express frustration over an inescapable, painful connection with someone.

Related words in Luck, Fate, & Superstition

팔자 pal-jja터(를) 잡다 teo-reul-jap-da액땜(하다) aek-ttaem-ha-da천생연분 cheon-saeng-yeon-bun재수(가) 없다 jae-su-ga-eop-da

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