What does 진심 mean?
진심 (jin-sim) means: Sincerity, true feelings, or one's honest heart.
Speakers use this noun to describe feelings that are genuine, real, and free of deceit. It frequently appears in contexts involving congratulations, welcomes, apologies, or expressions of gratitude, often paired with the adverbial form 진심으로. It also combines with verbs like 숨기다 to hide true feelings or 전하다 to convey genuine emotions to another person. In direct address, speakers may ask whether a previous statement or action truly reflects someone's honest intentions.
When someone explicitly invokes their genuine intentions, it can carry an earnest weight that prompts listeners to take a statement with heightened seriousness.
When someone explicitly invokes their genuine intentions, it can carry an earnest weight that prompts listeners to take a statement with heightened seriousness.
Other sides of 진심
◆ hyperbolic — Speakers use this noun to describe a truthful, unfeigned heart or real intentions without falsehood. It appears in contexts concerning genuine emotion, such as offering heartfelt congratulations, giving sincere advice, or trying to convey true feelings to another person. It combines frequently with verbs of transmission and expression like 전하다 and 털어놓다, as well as adjectives indicating deep emotion.
While the core meaning involves serious intent, casual online usage and everyday speech often stretch the word playfully as an intensifier for trivial matters, stripping away its literal gravity to describe extreme enthusiasm for mundane things like snacks or hobbies.
◆ confessional — Speakers use this when moving past everyday small talk to reveal an unmasked feeling or intention. It turns up in moments of serious personal reckoning, such as when someone wants to clear the air or confess a hidden sentiment. It pairs with verbs of opening and delivering, such as 털어놓다 and 전하다, to mark that the words coming next are free of pretense.
Can signal a deliberate pause in the conversational flow, making the listener prepare for something heavier and more emotionally demanding than usual.
While the core meaning involves serious intent, casual online usage and everyday speech often stretch the word playfully as an intensifier for trivial matters, stripping away its literal gravity to describe extreme enthusiasm for mundane things like snacks or hobbies.
◆ confessional — Speakers use this when moving past everyday small talk to reveal an unmasked feeling or intention. It turns up in moments of serious personal reckoning, such as when someone wants to clear the air or confess a hidden sentiment. It pairs with verbs of opening and delivering, such as 털어놓다 and 전하다, to mark that the words coming next are free of pretense.
Can signal a deliberate pause in the conversational flow, making the listener prepare for something heavier and more emotionally demanding than usual.
How it's actually used
- 지수는 친구의 생일을 진심으로 축하했다.
ji-su-neun chin-gu-ui saeng-il-eul jin-sim-u-ro chu-ha-haet-da.
Jisoo sincerely congratulated her friend on her birthday.
💡 Shows the word used adverbially to express genuine congratulation. - 민준이는 승규와 화해를 하고 싶어 편지로 진심을 전하기로 했다.
min-jun-i-neun seung-gyu-wa hwa-hae-reul ha-go sip-eo pyeon-ji-ro jin-sim-eul jeon-ha-gi-ro haet-da.
Minjun wanted to reconcile with Seunggyu and decided to convey his sincere feelings through a letter.
💡 Shows the collocation of conveying true feelings to someone else. - 그가 날 도와주겠다고 한 말은 진심에서 나온 말이다.
geu-ga nal do-wa-ju-get-da-go han mal-eun jin-sim-e-seo na-on mal-i-da.
His offer to help me came from a sincere place.
💡 Shows the phrase describing a statement originating from real intent.