Key Facts
- Hangul: 감정 (gamjeong)
- Meaning: emotion, feeling
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Hanja: 感情 (感 feel + 情 emotion)
- Syllables: two (gam-jeong)
- Register: Neutral to formal; used for emotions in general.
- Level: A2
Emotion in Korean: What Does 감정 Mean?
감정 is a Sino-Korean noun, 感情, from feel and emotion. It covers emotions and feelings in general: anger, joy, sadness, all of them. Register runs from neutral to formal, so you find it in essays, interviews and therapy talk as well as in conversation. A different 감정 (鑑定) means appraisal, but that is not the sense here.
How Do You Pronounce 감정?
Two syllables: gam-jeong. The ㅁ closes the first syllable, so keep the lips together before moving to the soft j. The final ㅇ is ng. RR writes gamjeong, and with 을 it joins as gamjeongeul.
How Do You Use 감정 in a Sentence?
감정을 표현해요.
I express my emotions.
gamjeongeul pyohyeonhaeyo. 을 marks 감정 as the object of 표현해요, which means express. The sentence works as a general statement.
그의 감정이 복잡해요.
His emotions are complicated.
geuui gamjeongi bokjapaeyo. 의 links 그 and 감정, so it reads as his emotions. 복잡해요 means complicated, and the subject marker 이 follows the consonant-final noun.
감정을 조절하기 어려워요.
It is hard to control emotions.
gamjeongeul jojeolhagi eoryeowoyo. 기 turns the verb into a noun phrase, so 조절하기 means controlling, and 어려워요 means is hard. The structure is a standard way to say it is hard to do something.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 감정을 표현하다 | to express emotions |
| 감정을 조절하다 | to control emotions |
| 감정이 풍부하다 | to be emotionally rich |
Three verb phrases cover most use: 감정을 표현하다 to express, 감정을 조절하다 to control, and 감정이 풍부하다 to be emotionally rich. The marker changes: 을 for things you do to your emotions, 이 for a quality they have.
Common Mistake
Wrong: Using 감정 for a physical feeling such as cold or an ache.
Correct: 느낌 or 감각 for sensations; 감정 for emotions.
감정 is about the heart. A sensation in the body is a different category.
How Does 감정 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How to tell it from 감정 |
|---|---|---|
| 기분 | mood | A temporary mood. 감정 is the wider word for emotions. |
| 느낌 | feeling or impression | A sensation or impression, not necessarily an emotion. |
Talking after an Argument
Two friends talk privately after a disagreement. One friend wants to explain the feeling without starting the argument again.
Mina
지금 기분이 어때요?
Jigeum gibuni eottaeyo?
How are you feeling now?
Alex
아직 화가 나요.
Ajik hwaga nayo.
I’m still angry.
Mina
어떤 감정인지 말해 봐요.
Eotteon gamjeonginji malhae bwayo.
Try saying what emotion it is.
Alex
화도 나고 슬프기도 해요.
Hwado nago seulpeugido haeyo.
I feel both angry and sad.
기분 asks about the person’s current state. 감정 then invites them to identify the emotion more specifically. 화가 나요 names anger directly; the speaker does not need to add 감정 to every sentence about a feeling. The final line allows two feelings to coexist.
Phrases for Expressing, Hiding and Hurting Feelings
감정을 숨기다 means to hide your feelings. The feelings still exist, but the person keeps them from showing. 감정을 드러내다 means to reveal or show feelings. You may meet this contrast in descriptions of a quiet character who finally lets another person see their anger or affection.
감정이 상하다 means to have your feelings hurt or to feel offended. 상하다 can describe something becoming damaged; here the damage is emotional. 감정을 상하게 하다 shifts attention to causing that hurt. In a conversation about a disagreement, these phrases concern the effect on a person rather than the truth of the disputed claim.
좋은 감정 can mean positive feelings toward someone. In a dating conversation, having 좋은 감정 toward a person may suggest romantic interest. The phrase alone does not declare love: the relationship and the speaker’s explanation tell you how strong the feeling is.
감정 표현 means emotional expression. You will see it when people discuss acting, writing or communication. An actor praised for 감정 표현 conveys the character’s feelings convincingly. The phrase describes what reaches the audience, whereas 감정 조절 concerns managing an emotional response.
Where Will You Hear 감정?
감정 is useful when emotions themselves are the topic: a discussion after an argument, an interview about a difficult experience, or a review of an actor’s performance. In a drama, a character may struggle to hide feelings while their face tells the audience otherwise. 감정을 숨기다 fits that specific situation.
For a quick report about your day, a named feeling is often more direct. Saying you are happy, sad or angry tells the listener more than simply saying you have an emotion. 감정 provides the category; individual emotion words provide the detail.
Treat the question in the dialogue as an invitation for a willing friend, rather than a fixed line to use with anyone who looks upset. 말해 봐요 is a polite suggestion, but it still asks someone to disclose something personal. With a colleague you barely know, the situation matters as much as the sentence ending.
Related Feelings to Name Next
| Related word | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 기쁨 | joy | A particular positive emotion, within the category 감정. |
| 슬픔 | sadness | The noun for sadness, useful in descriptions of a character. |
| 화 | anger | Often used in 화가 나다, to feel angry. |
| 감각 | sensation / sense | Useful for bodily senses rather than emotional reactions. |
The emotions vocabulary lesson gives you words for identifying the feelings behind the broad noun 감정.
Quick Self-Test
- Which means hiding feelings: 감정을 숨기다 or 감정을 드러내다?
- Does 감정이 상하다 describe physical damage?
- Which word names a mood: 감정 or 기분?
Show answers
- 감정을 숨기다. 드러내다 means to reveal them.
- No. It means feelings are hurt or someone feels offended.
- 기분. 감정 is the broader emotion noun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 감정 the Same as 기분?
No. 기분 is a passing mood and 감정 is emotion in general.
How Do I Say I Express My Emotions?
Say 감정을 표현해요. 을 follows the consonant ending.
Can 감정 Mean a Physical Feeling?
No. Use 느낌 or 감각 for sensations.
Is 감정 Formal?
It is neutral to formal, and fits both writing and conversation.
Where to Go Next
Find feelings in context on the people emotions vocabulary page. Compare it with mood in Korean and then learn sadness in Korean. To practise, try the vocabulary flashcard decks or return to Korean words A to Z.