Key Facts
- Hangul: 뜻; Revised Romanization: tteut
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral and common; the native counterpart of Sino-Korean 의미.
Meaning in Korean: How Do You Pronounce 뜻?
뜻 starts with tense ㄸ and ends in an unreleased t sound: [뜯]. Before the subject marker 이, the written ㅅ links forward as an s sound, so 뜻이 is pronounced [뜨시] (tteusi). This follows the standard Korean pronunciation rules for final consonants and liaison, or linking between syllables.
Example Sentences with 뜻
이 단어의 뜻이 뭐예요?
I daneoui tteusi mwoyeyo?
What is the meaning of this word?
The standard dictionary question. The first part says "this word's" and the end is the polite "what is it".
무슨 뜻이에요?
Museun tteusieyo?
What does that mean?
The shortest way to ask for a meaning. 무슨 literally asks "what kind of" and the copula closes it.
그 말에는 깊은 뜻이 있어요.
Geu mareneun gipeun tteusi isseoyo.
There is a deep meaning in those words.
A statement about depth. 깊은 means "deep", so the speaker says the phrase carries a hidden weight.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 뜻이 있다 | to have meaning |
| 뜻을 모르다 | to not know the meaning |
| 뜻을 알다 | to know the meaning |
뜻을 알다 and 뜻을 모르다 are opposites, and 뜻이 있다 is the positive statement.
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: [tteut-i] for 뜻이, keeping the t sound of the bare word.
Correct: tteusi. Before a vowel, the final ㅅ links to the next syllable and keeps its s sound. The same happens with the object particle: 뜻을 is tteuseul.
뜻 Compared with Similar Words
The synonym 의미 is Sino-Korean, and the other related words stretch the idea.
| Word | Meaning | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|---|
| 뜻 | meaning | This page's word |
| 의미 | meaning | Sino-Korean synonym; slightly more formal/abstract. |
| 의도 | intention | What someone meant to do. |
| 뜻밖 | unexpected | Literally "outside the intention"; it describes a surprise, not a meaning. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
뜻 is a native Korean word with no hanja form.
Asking about a Word in Class
Alex has underlined 고향 in a reading passage. Jisu explains it in Korean instead of giving an English translation.
Alex
이 단어는 무슨 뜻이에요?
I daneoneun museun tteusieyo?
What does this word mean?
Jisu
고향은 태어나서 자란 곳이에요.
Gohyangeun taeeonaseo jaran gosieyo.
A hometown is the place where you were born and grew up.
Alex
아, 이제 뜻을 알겠어요.
A, ije tteuseul algesseoyo.
Oh, now I understand the meaning.
이 단어는 makes “this word” the topic, so the question points clearly to the unfamiliar vocabulary. The final reply uses 뜻을 because the meaning is what Alex now understands. You can reuse the exchange with a word on a sign, in a message or in a textbook.
What Does 뜻 Mean beyond a Dictionary Definition?
뜻 can refer to the message someone intended, as well as the definition of an individual word. In a conversation about a confusing comment, 무슨 뜻이에요? asks what the speaker means by it. The listener may understand every word and still need the person's intention explained.
그런 뜻이 아니에요 means “That is not what I mean”. Literally, it denies “that kind of meaning”. A character in a drama might say it after a friend takes a remark the wrong way. The phrase corrects the intended message; it does not necessarily withdraw the words that were actually spoken.
뜻이 통하다 means that people understand each other or share an outlook. 통하다 carries the idea of getting through, so the expression goes beyond knowing a vocabulary definition. 뜻을 모으다 literally means “gather intentions”; in practice, people agree on a shared purpose. You may meet it in an account of colleagues or neighbours working toward the same goal.
뜻대로 means “as intended” or “as one wishes”. In a story about a plan, it concerns whether events followed someone's wishes. The meaning is tied to intention, which is why translating every occurrence of 뜻 as “definition” gives an awkward result.
Where Will You Hear 뜻, and How Direct Is the Question?
뜻 appears in classroom questions, vocabulary explanations and everyday conversations about what someone meant. On a dictionary page, 단어의 뜻 is the meaning of a word. In a disagreement, the same noun can concern the intention behind a whole sentence. Read the surrounding words before choosing an English translation.
무슨 뜻이에요? has a polite ending, but tone and context still matter. Said sharply after an upsetting remark, it can sound like a challenge: “What do you mean by that?” When asking a teacher about vocabulary, name the word or point to the passage. That makes the learning question clear without changing the noun 뜻.
의미 also works for word meanings; it is not restricted to academic writing. 뜻 is an easy everyday choice, while 의미 often suits discussion of significance or interpretation. 의도 focuses more closely on what someone aimed to do. A person's 의도 can be good even when their words are misunderstood.
Words That Help You Ask a Better Question
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 단어 | word | Use it to identify a vocabulary item. |
| 문장 | sentence | Ask about this when the whole sentence is unclear. |
| 설명 | explanation | An explanation may be longer than a translation. |
| 번역 | translation | This gives the message in another language. |
| 발음 | pronunciation | Ask about the sound rather than the meaning. |
The classroom vocabulary lesson teaches words for discussing language. Distinguishing 뜻 from 발음 helps you ask for the kind of help you actually need.
Quick Self-Test
- What sound returns when ㅅ links forward in 뜻이?
- Does 그런 뜻이 아니에요 deny the intended meaning or ask for a dictionary?
- Which word names a translation: 번역 or 발음?
Show answers
- An s sound: 뜻이 is pronounced [뜨시].
- It denies that intended meaning: “That is not what I mean.”
- 번역. 발음 means pronunciation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "meaning" in Korean?
Say 뜻 (tteut).
How do I ask what a word means?
Say 무슨 뜻이에요?, meaning "What does that mean?"
Is 뜻 the same as 의미?
They are close. 의미 is the Sino-Korean synonym and sounds slightly more formal or abstract.
Can 뜻 mean intention?
Yes, as a secondary sense; for a clear "intention", 의도 is the more specific word.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Classroom word list groups 뜻 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.