소식을 듣다
Sosigeul deutda
Hear news
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this phrase to describe receiving updates about a person's life or a specific event you've been following.
- Means: To hear news or get an update about someone or something.
- Used in: Catching up with friends, professional updates, or hearing about events.
- Don't confuse: Don't use this for physically 'hearing' a noise; it's about information.
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
To receive information about recent events or people.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Korea, it is common to share news about others as a way to build rapport. This is not always seen as 'gossip' but as 'keeping the community informed.' In a Korean office, hearing news through the 'grapevine' is often faster than official announcements. Being the first to 'hear the news' can signify your social standing in the office hierarchy. With the rise of KakaoTalk, the phrase '{소식|消息}을 듣다' has expanded to include reading a status update or seeing a 'Story.' When hearing bad news (비보), it is polite to use a lower, more somber tone and often follow up with '삼가 고인의 명복을 빕니다' if it involves a death.
Drop the marker
In casual speech, just say '소식 들었어?' to sound more like a native speaker.
Irregular Verb
Remember that '듣다' changes to '들-' before vowels. '듣어요' is a common mistake!
Bedeutung
To receive information about recent events or people.
Drop the marker
In casual speech, just say '소식 들었어?' to sound more like a native speaker.
Irregular Verb
Remember that '듣다' changes to '들-' before vowels. '듣어요' is a common mistake!
Use with ~한테서
To sound more natural, always mention who you heard it from using '~한테서' or '~에게서'.
Modesty
If someone congratulates you on news they heard, it's polite to say '어떻게 들으셨어요?' (How did you hear?) with a smile.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '듣다'.
어제 친구의 결혼 {소식|消息}을 ______.
The sentence starts with '어제' (yesterday), so the past tense '들었어요' is required.
Which sentence is the most natural way to ask about a friend?
Choose the best option:
'소식' is the correct word for personal updates. '소리' is physical sound, '뉴스' is media news, and '소문' is rumor.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 유진 씨가 유학 간대요. 나: 아, 정말요? 저도 그 ______.
Person B is reacting to information just given, so 'I heard that news too' is the logical response.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You haven't heard from your brother in 3 months.
When contact is lost, we say the news is 'cut off' ({끊기다}).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
News vs. Rumor
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenTechnically yes, but '뉴스를 보다' (watch the news) is much more common for media.
소식 is generally factual news; 소문 is unverified gossip or rumors.
Yes, especially if you read it on social media, but '들었어요' is the standard idiom for receiving information.
Use '그 사람한테서 소식을 들었어요.' You can't just say '그 사람을 들었어요.'
It means 'I am curious about how [someone] is doing.'
Yes, '업계 소식' (industry news) is a very common professional term.
No, use '소리' for physical sounds.
It's a specific word for 'good news' or 'glad tidings.'
들었습니다 (past) or 듣습니다 (present).
Yes, it is neutral and can be used with anyone as long as you use the correct sentence ending.
Yes, that means 'to tell/let someone hear the news.'
Use '소식이 끊겼어요' or '통 소식이 없어요.'
Verwandte Redewendungen
{소식|消息}을 전하다
similarTo deliver news
{소문|所聞}을 듣다
similarTo hear a rumor
{안부|安否}를 묻다
relatedTo ask after someone
{소식|消息}이 끊기다
contrastTo lose touch
희소식
specialized formGood news
근황을 알다
similarTo know someone's current status
Wo du es verwendest
Meeting an old friend
A: 지수 {소식|消息} 좀 들었어?
B: 응, 지난달에 취직했대.
Workplace announcement
Manager: 김 대리님 퇴사 {소식|消息} 들었습니까?
Employee: 네, 아까 메일로 들었습니다.
Family gathering
Aunt: 삼촌 건강이 안 좋으시다는 {소식|消息} 들었니?
Nephew: 아니요, 처음 들었어요. 걱정되네요.
Social Media reaction
A: 너 인스타에서 그 {소식|消息} 들었어?
B: 어, 대박! 진짜 결혼한대?
Formal Interview
Interviewer: 우리 회사에 대한 최근 {소식|消息}을 들은 게 있나요?
Candidate: 네, 신제품 출시 {소식|消息}을 들었습니다.
Phone call with parents
Mom: 옆집 아들 장가간다는 {소식|消息} 들었다.
Son: 아, 그래요? 잘됐네요.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'So-Sik' as 'Social Seek'—you are seeking social updates by hearing them.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant ear (듣다) catching a paper airplane (소식) that has a friend's photo on it.
Rhyme
소식을 듣고, 마음이 두근두근 (Hear the news, heart goes pit-a-pat).
Story
You haven't seen your friend Minji in years. Suddenly, your phone pings. It's a message from another friend. You 'hear the news' ({소식|消息}을 듣다) that Minji is now a famous doctor. You feel the 'cycle' of her life has moved forward.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Go to a Korean news site or Instagram and find one update about a celebrity. Write a sentence: '[Celebrity Name] {소식|消息}을 들었어요.'
In Other Languages
消息を聞く (Shoushoku o kiku)
Japanese might use '便り' (tayori) more often for letters/personal news.
听到消息 (Tīng dào xiāoxī)
Chinese uses '消息' more broadly for any kind of information, including technical data.
To hear news / To hear from someone
English 'hear from' implies direct contact, while Korean '{소식|消息}을 듣다' often implies a third party.
Tener noticias de
The verb 'to have' is used instead of 'to hear' in the most common equivalent.
Avoir des nouvelles de
French uses the plural 'nouvelles' whereas Korean uses the singular '{소식|消息}'.
Neuigkeiten hören
German often uses 'von jemandem hören' (to hear from someone) for personal updates.
سمع أخبار (Sami'a akhbar)
Arabic 'akhbar' is the root for 'Al Jazeera' style news, making it feel slightly more formal.
Ouvir notícias
In casual speech, 'saber de' (to know about) is often more common than 'ouvir'.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'news' for personal updates.
Use '뉴스' for TV/Radio/Newspapers; use '{소식|消息}' for people and personal events.
Mixing up 'information' with 'physical sound'.
If you can record it with a microphone, it's '소리'. If you can write it in a letter, it's '{소식|消息}'.
FAQ (12)
Technically yes, but '뉴스를 보다' (watch the news) is much more common for media.
소식 is generally factual news; 소문 is unverified gossip or rumors.
Yes, especially if you read it on social media, but '들었어요' is the standard idiom for receiving information.
Use '그 사람한테서 소식을 들었어요.' You can't just say '그 사람을 들었어요.'
It means 'I am curious about how [someone] is doing.'
Yes, '업계 소식' (industry news) is a very common professional term.
No, use '소리' for physical sounds.
It's a specific word for 'good news' or 'glad tidings.'
들었습니다 (past) or 듣습니다 (present).
Yes, it is neutral and can be used with anyone as long as you use the correct sentence ending.
Yes, that means 'to tell/let someone hear the news.'
Use '소식이 끊겼어요' or '통 소식이 없어요.'
