Nuance Dictionary / Abstract Concepts

비밀 bi-mil

Secret

What does 비밀 mean?

비밀 (bi-mil) means: Secret.

Speakers use this to refer to information that is hidden from others or facts that remain unknown. It appears frequently in contexts involving things kept private, such as actions hidden from family members, as well as in contexts involving unexplained natural phenomena, cosmic subjects, or the inner workings of the human body. It combines with verbs like 탄로 나다 and 누설하다, and pairs with expressions indicating that something is being kept in strict confidence or submitted to confidentiality.

Depending on the context, this can carry the weight of a heavy personal omission or the intrigue of an unresolved scientific mystery.

Other sides of 비밀

◆ relationship_secret — Speakers use this word when referring to matters kept hidden between two people who share a close bond, such as romantic partners or intimate friends. It appears in contexts where individuals want to ensure that private information or shared confidences do not spread outside their relationship. It combines with expressions about keeping things hidden or maintaining discretion between parties.

Sharing a 비밀 in this context can feel like an act of intimacy, signaling trust and a boundary that excludes outsiders.

◆ corporate_confidentiality — Speakers use this when referring to restricted data, formal non-disclosure obligations, and official matters kept from public knowledge. It frequently appears in institutional contexts alongside terms for leaking, official handling, and detection. For example, it pairs with nouns and verbs related to formal suppression or unauthorized release.

In professional contexts, invoking this term can establish strict operational boundaries and signal that administrative penalties attach to disclosure.

◆ playful_teasing — Speakers use this word when speaking to children or peers about a surprise, a gift, or something yet to be revealed. It often appears in casual phrases emphasizing that something must remain unsaid or hidden until the right moment. The expression is used to build anticipation or playfulness before sharing information.

When used playfully with children or peers, it can sound like a game of anticipation, creating a sense of shared excitement before a surprise is revealed.

How it's actually used

  • 비밀이 탄로 나다.
    bi-mil-i tan-ro na-da.
    A secret is exposed.
    💡 Shows a hidden matter coming to light.
  • 비밀을 누설하다.
    bi-mil-eul nu-seol-ha-da.
    To leak a secret.
    💡 Shows confidential information being revealed improperly.
  • 피라미드의 비밀은 현대 과학으로도 밝히지 못하고 있다.
    pi-ra-mi-deu-ui bi-mil-eun hyeon-dae gwa-hak-eu-ro-do balk-ji mot-ha-go it-da.
    Even modern science has failed to unlock the secrets of the pyramids.
    💡 Shows the word used for an unsolved historical mystery.

Related words in Abstract Concepts

진실 jin-sil거짓말 geo-jin-mal추억 chu-eok기억 gi-eok생각 saeng-gak

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