Trust & Security

Words in this collection

• 안전하다 (an-jeon-ha-da) — The plain, literal word for safety — used for everything from a locked door to a stable job. It's the baseline word the more emotional entries in this category (든든하다, 믿음직하다) are all built on top of.
• 보증하다 (bo-jeung-ha-da) — Formal enough to show up on legal documents (loan guarantors are '보증인'), but also used casually — '내가 보증할게' ('I'll vouch for it') is how you stake your own credibility on someone else's word.
• 든든하다 (deun-deun-ha-da) — Can be physical (feeling full after a hearty meal) or emotional. If you have to give a scary presentation, but your supportive mentor is sitting in the front row smiling at you, you feel '든든하다'. They are your solid emotional anchor.
• 뒤끝이 없다 (dwi-kkeut-i eop-da) — High praise in Korean social life. Someone who yells during an argument but is completely normal five minutes later, no cold shoulder and no resentment, has '뒤끝이 없다' — you can trust that a fight won't secretly follow you.
• 뒷배가 있다 (dwit-bae-ga it-da) — Literally 'to have a back-boat' — someone powerful or reliable standing behind you so you can take risks. A junior employee who pushes back on a bad decision because their mentor has their back has '뒷배가 있다'.
• 굳건하다 (gut-geon-ha-da) — Used for things that don't waver under pressure — a friendship, a resolve, a belief. A couple who stays together through a rough year has a '굳건한' relationship; it implies tested strength, not just calm.
• 미덥다 (mi-deop-da) — A quieter, more old-fashioned cousin of '믿음직하다' — you'll hear it more from an older relative describing someone's character ('그 사람 참 미더워') than in casual texting.
• 믿음직하다 (mi-deum-jik-ha-da) — This is about the impression someone gives off, not proven history yet. A new hire who stays calm and asks smart questions on day one comes across as '믿음직하다' before they've done anything to earn it — trust at first read.
• 신뢰하다 (sil-loe-ha-da) — The formal, deliberate verb for trust — used in relationships, business, and journalism alike. It implies a considered decision to trust, not just a warm gut feeling.
• 의지하다 (ui-ji-ha-da) — This is trust with weight on it — you're not just confident in someone, you're actually leaning your problems on them. Kids '의지하다' their parents; in a new city with no friends yet, you might only have your phone to '의지하다'.