간절하다 in 30 Sekunden
- A powerful adjective for deep, sincere longing.
- Commonly used in prayers, wishes, and desperate requests.
- More intense and serious than 'wanting' (원하다).
- Often appears as the adverb '간절히' (earnestly).
The Korean adjective 간절하다 (ganjeolhada) is a profound expression of human desire that transcends simple wanting. Rooted in the Hanja characters 懇 (간 - sincere/earnest) and 切 (절 - urgent/sharp), the word literally describes a feeling so sincere and sharp that it cuts through one's soul. When a Korean speaker says they feel '간절하다', they are not merely expressing a preference; they are describing a deep-seated, desperate longing that often stems from a place of necessity, hope, or even spiritual yearning.
- Emotional Depth
- Unlike '원하다' (to want), which can be used for trivial things like wanting an ice cream, '간절하다' is reserved for significant life events: the desire for a loved one to recover from illness, the hope for peace, or the desperate wish to succeed after years of failure.
합격을 간절하게 바라고 있습니다.
The word is frequently used in the context of prayers (기도), wishes (소원), and requests (부탁). If someone asks for a favor '간절하게', it implies they have no other options and are putting their full sincerity into the request. It is also used to describe physical or mental states where a certain relief is desperately needed, such as needing rest (휴식) after an exhausting period of work.
- The 'Sharpness' of Desire
- The '절' (切) character in the word also appears in '절단' (cutting). This suggests that the desire is so intense it feels like a physical sensation, pressing upon the heart. It is a 'pressing' sincerity.
In modern Korean society, this word is often used in sports broadcasts (describing a team's desperate wish for a goal) or in job interviews (expressing an earnest desire to join a company). It carries a weight of maturity and seriousness that younger slang terms lack. To understand '간절하다' is to understand the Korean emphasis on 'jeong' (sincerity/affection) and the cultural value placed on perseverance and deep-felt hope.
부모님은 자식의 행복을 간절히 원하십니다.
- Synonymous Nuance
- While '절실하다' (urgent/desperate) is very close, '간절하다' leans more towards the 'sincerity' and 'heart-felt' side of longing, whereas '절실하다' often highlights the 'necessity' or 'lack' of something.
Using 간절하다 correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility as an adjective. While in English we might use an adverb ('earnestly') or a verb ('to long for'), in Korean, the adjective form describes the state of the mind or the nature of the wish itself. It can be used as a predicate at the end of a sentence or as a modifier for a noun.
- Predicate Usage
- When ending a sentence, it often follows a noun + '이/가'. For example, '도움이 간절하다' (Help is desperately needed/earnest). This structure places the emphasis on the intensity of the need.
지금 저에게는 따뜻한 위로가 간절합니다.
The adverbial form 간절히 (ganjeolhi) is perhaps the most common way you will encounter this concept. It is used to modify verbs like '바라다' (to wish), '원하다' (to want), '기도하다' (to pray), and '부탁하다' (to request). This adds a layer of deep emotion to the action being performed. Instead of just wishing, you are wishing with every fiber of your being.
- Noun Modification
- To describe a heart or a wish, use '간절한'. For example, '간절한 마음' (an earnest heart) or '간절한 소망' (a desperate hope/desire). This is common in literature and formal speeches.
In more complex sentences, you might see the noun form 간절함 (ganjeolham). This refers to the 'earnestness' or 'desperation' itself. For instance, '그의 간절함이 통했다' (His earnestness worked/was felt) implies that someone’s sincere efforts finally moved someone else's heart or led to success.
그녀의 간절한 눈빛을 잊을 수 없어요.
When using this word, consider the social context. It is a 'high-energy' emotional word. If you use it for something very minor, it might sound like hyperbole or even sarcastic. However, in the right context—such as talking about life goals, family, or health—it is one of the most powerful and respected words in the Korean language.
The word 간절하다 is a staple of emotional storytelling in Korea. You will hear it frequently in K-Dramas, especially during pivotal scenes where a character is facing a life-or-death situation or a major heartbreak. When a character prays for a loved one to wake up from a coma, the narrator or the character will often use the word '간절히' to describe their state of mind.
- K-Pop Lyrics
- Many ballads use '간절하다' to describe the pain of longing for an ex-lover or the hope for a future meeting. It adds a poetic weight to the lyrics, suggesting that the singer's feelings are deep and sincere rather than fleeting.
다시 만날 날을 간절히 기다려요.
In the world of sports and competition, '간절함' is often cited as the deciding factor between winning and losing. Commentators might say, '어느 팀이 더 간절한가?' (Which team is more earnest/desperate?), implying that the team with the stronger mental desire and 'hunger' for victory will prevail. It is seen as a virtue—the ability to want something so badly that you are willing to give everything for it.
- News and Documentaries
- When news reports cover families of missing persons or victims of disasters, '간절하다' is the primary word used to describe the families' pleas for help or information. It conveys a level of tragedy and sincerity that other words cannot match.
Religion is another domain where this word is omnipresent. Whether in Buddhist temples or Christian churches, the act of praying is almost always described as being '간절히'. This emphasizes that the prayer is not just a ritual, but a deep, sincere communication of the soul's needs. If you visit a mountain where people stack stones to make wishes, the atmosphere there is often described as '간절함이 느껴지는 곳' (a place where earnestness is felt).
그의 간절함이 하늘에 닿았나 봅니다.
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is using 간절하다 for casual or minor desires. Because English often translates '간절하다' as 'really want' or 'desperately want', students might say '피자가 간절해요' (I desperately want pizza) in a casual setting. While technically understandable, it can sound overly dramatic or even humorous, like saying 'My soul aches for pizza'. Unless you are literally starving, '피자 먹고 싶어요' is more appropriate.
- Confusing with '절실하다' (Jeolsilhada)
- While both mean 'desperate', '절실하다' is more about the objective necessity (e.g., 'I desperately need money to pay rent'), whereas '간절하다' is more about the subjective, emotional longing (e.g., 'I earnestly wish to see my mother'). Using '간절하다' for a business loan might feel slightly out of place compared to '절실하다'.
❌ 커피가 간절해요. (Too dramatic for a regular coffee break)
Another mistake is the confusion between the adjective form and the adverb form. Some learners use '간절하다' to modify a verb directly without changing it to '간절히'. Remember: 간절히 기도하다 (Adverb + Verb) is correct, while 간절하다 기도하다 is grammatically incorrect. Adjectives in Korean must be conjugated to adverbs with '-히' or '-게' to modify verbs.
- Misusing the Particle
- When using the predicate form, the object of your desire should take the subject particle '-이/가', not the object particle '-을/를'. For example: '도움이(O) 간절하다' vs '도움을(X) 간절하다'.
Lastly, some learners forget that '간절하다' implies a positive or neutral 'longing'. It is rarely used for 'desperately wanting' something negative to happen to someone else. It carries a sense of purity and sincerity, so using it in a malicious context would feel linguistically discordant to a native speaker.
✅ 성공을 간절히 바라고 있습니다.
To truly master 간절하다, it is helpful to compare it with its close relatives in the Korean vocabulary of desire and need. Each word has a specific flavor and register.
- 절실하다 (Jeolsilhada)
- This is the closest synonym. While '간절하다' emphasizes the sincerity of the heart, '절실하다' emphasizes the urgency and necessity of the situation. You use '절실하다' when you lack something vital. Example: '식량이 절실하다' (Food is desperately needed).
비교: 간절한 기도 (Sincere prayer) vs 절실한 필요 (Urgent need).
Another common alternative is 애타다 (Aetada). This verb literally means 'one's organs are burning'. It describes the anxious and desperate feeling of waiting for something or someone. While '간절하다' is a steady state of earnestness, '애타다' is more about the nervous, burning anxiety of the moment.
- 열망하다 (Yeolmanghada)
- This is a more formal, literary term meaning 'to desire passionately'. It is often used in political or social contexts, such as 'freedom' (자유를 열망하다). It sounds more active and powerful than the relatively soft and inward-looking '간절하다'.
In terms of opposites, you might consider 무관심하다 (Mugwansimhada), which means to be indifferent. A lack of 'ganjeolham' is a lack of caring or desire. If someone is '간절하다', they are fully engaged and invested; if they are '무관심하다', they couldn't care less.
그는 간절함 없이 그저 시간만 때우고 있다.
Finally, 지극하다 (Jigeukhada) is an adjective used for feelings that are 'extreme' or 'utmost' in sincerity, often used with '정성' (devotion). While '간절하다' is a longing for something, '지극하다' is the quality of the effort or devotion you put into something.
How Formal Is It?
Wusstest du?
The character 切 (절) is the same one used in 'cutting' (절단). This implies that 'ganjeolhada' is a feeling so strong it 'cuts' into the heart.
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing 'jeol' as 'jol' or 'jul'. It's a mid-central vowel.
- Dropping the 'h' in 'hada' too much. While it can weaken in fast speech, 'kan-jeol-a-da' sounds too informal/dialectal.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
The word itself is common, but it appears in complex emotional contexts.
Requires understanding of adjective-to-adverb transformation and proper particles.
Beispiele nach Niveau
저는 간절히 바라고 있어요.
I am wishing earnestly.
간절히 is an adverb modifying 바라고 있어요.
엄마가 보고 싶어서 간절해요.
I miss my mom so much it's earnest/desperate.
간절해요 is the polite present tense.
간절한 소원이 있어요.
I have an earnest wish.
간절한 is the noun-modifying form of 간절하다.
도움이 간절해요.
I desperately need help.
Noun + 이/가 간절하다 indicates a strong need.
우리는 간절히 기도해요.
We pray earnestly.
간절히 modifies the verb 기도해요.
그는 간절한 마음으로 기다려요.
He waits with an earnest heart.
간절한 마음 is a common phrase.
휴식이 간절한 날이에요.
It's a day when I desperately need rest.
간절한 modifies the noun 날.
간절히 부탁합니다.
I ask you earnestly.
Formal polite style used for serious requests.
성공하고 싶은 마음이 간절해요.
My heart wanting to succeed is earnest.
마음이 간절하다 describes the state of the mind.
그는 간절하게 도움을 요청했습니다.
He requested help earnestly.
간절하게 is another adverbial form (adjective stem + 게).
간절한 눈빛으로 저를 보았어요.
They looked at me with an earnest gaze.
눈빛 (gaze/look in eyes) often goes with 간절한.
비가 오기를 간절히 원해요.
I earnestly want it to rain.
-기를 원하다 (to want something to happen).
그녀의 간절한 목소리가 들려요.
I can hear her earnest voice.
목소리 (voice) modified by 간절한.
가족의 건강이 가장 간절해요.
My family's health is what I desire most earnestly.
Superlative sense implied by '가장'.
간절히 원하면 이루어질 거예요.
If you want it earnestly, it will come true.
-면 (if) conditional structure.
그는 간절한 편지를 썼어요.
He wrote an earnest letter.
편지 (letter) modified by 간절한.
합격 소식을 간절히 기다리고 있습니다.
I am earnestly waiting for the news of passing.
-고 있다 (continuous action).
지금 우리에게는 평화가 간절합니다.
Right now, peace is desperately needed for us.
Formal style (-습니다).
그의 간절함이 마침내 통했습니다.
His earnestness finally worked/reached them.
간절함 is the noun form (earnestness).
간절한 요청을 거절하기 힘들었어요.
It was hard to refuse the earnest request.
-기 힘들다 (to be hard to do something).
새로운 기회가 간절한 시기입니다.
It is a time when a new opportunity is desperately needed.
시기 (period/time) modified by 간절한.
그녀는 간절히 바랐던 꿈을 이루었어요.
She achieved the dream she had earnestly wished for.
Past tense modifier (-았던).
간절한 마음이 담긴 선물이에요.
It is a gift filled with an earnest heart.
-이 담긴 (filled with/containing).
그는 간절히 용서를 구했습니다.
He earnestly sought forgiveness.
용서를 구하다 (to seek forgiveness).
난민들에게는 깨끗한 물이 간절한 상황입니다.
For refugees, clean water is a desperately needed situation.
상황 (situation) often used with 간절한.
부모님의 간절한 기도가 자식을 살렸습니다.
The parents' earnest prayers saved the child.
Subject is '기도' (prayer).
그는 간절히 원하던 직장에 취직했어요.
He got a job at the workplace he had earnestly wanted.
-던 (retrospective modifier).
간절함이 없으면 목표를 달성하기 어렵습니다.
Without earnestness, it is difficult to achieve goals.
-이 없으면 (if there is no...).
우리는 통일을 간절히 염원하고 있습니다.
We are earnestly longing for reunification.
염원하다 (to long for/desire - formal).
그의 간절한 호소가 사람들의 마음을 움직였다.
His earnest appeal moved people's hearts.
호소 (appeal/plea).
변화를 간절히 바라는 사람들이 많아졌어요.
People who earnestly wish for change have increased.
-는 사람들 (people who...).
그녀의 눈에는 간절함이 가득 차 있었다.
Her eyes were filled with earnestness.
가득 차 있다 (to be full of).
작가는 간절한 필치로 시대의 아픔을 그려냈다.
The author depicted the pain of the era with an earnest touch.
필치 (stroke/style of writing/painting).
그의 간절함은 단순한 욕심과는 차원이 다르다.
His earnestness is on a different level from simple greed.
-와는 차원이 다르다 (to be on a different level from).
간절히 바라면 온 우주가 돕는다는 말이 있다.
There is a saying that if you want something earnestly, the whole universe helps.
Quotation form (-는다는 말이 있다).
실패를 딛고 일어서려는 간절한 의지가 돋보였다.
The earnest will to overcome failure and stand up stood out.
의지 (will/determination).
그는 간절히 사모하던 여인에게 고백했다.
He confessed to the woman he had earnestly adored.
사모하다 (to adore/love - formal/literary).
간절함이 지나치면 오히려 독이 될 수도 있다.
If earnestness is excessive, it can actually become poison.
오히려 (rather/actually).
그녀는 간절한 심정으로 편지의 답장을 기다렸다.
She waited for the reply to the letter with an earnest feeling/heart.
심정 (feelings/heart).
민중들의 간절한 외침이 역사를 바꾸어 놓았다.
The earnest cries of the people changed history.
외침 (cry/shout).
그의 연기에는 삶에 대한 간절한 통찰이 담겨 있다.
His acting contains an earnest insight into life.
통찰 (insight).
간절함이라는 동력 없이 위대한 성취는 불가능하다.
Great achievement is impossible without the motive power called earnestness.
-이라는 동력 (the motive power called...).
숭고한 목적을 향한 간절한 집념이 느껴지는 작품이다.
It is a work in which an earnest tenacity toward a sublime purpose is felt.
집념 (tenacity/persistence).
그는 간절히 원하던 진리를 깨닫고 눈물을 흘렸다.
He realized the truth he had earnestly wanted and shed tears.
진리 (truth).
간절함이 결여된 형식적인 태도는 금방 탄로 난다.
A formal attitude lacking earnestness is quickly revealed/exposed.
결여된 (lacking).
생존을 향한 간절한 몸부림이 처절하게 느껴졌다.
The earnest struggle for survival felt agonizingly desperate.
몸부림 (struggle/writhing).
그의 간절한 호소는 논리를 넘어선 감동을 주었다.
His earnest appeal gave an emotion that transcended logic.
논리를 넘어서다 (to transcend logic).
간절함의 깊이가 곧 그 사람의 그릇을 결정한다.
The depth of one's earnestness determines the size of their character (vessel).
그릇 (vessel/character).
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
— If you want it earnestly, it will come true. A common motivational phrase.
간절히 원하면 이루어진다는 말을 믿어 보세요.
— One's earnestness reaches the heavens. Used when a sincere wish is finally granted.
그의 간절함이 하늘에 닿아 병이 나았다.
— To desperately need a rest. Used when one is extremely exhausted.
오늘은 정말 휴식이 간절한 하루네요.
— To be in desperate need of help.
수재민들에게 구호 물품이 간절한 상황입니다.
— An earnest appeal or plea.
그녀의 간절한 호소가 판사의 마음을 움직였다.
— With an earnest/pleading look in one's eyes.
강아지가 간절한 눈빛으로 간식을 쳐다본다.
— To pray or beg earnestly.
그는 무릎을 꿇고 간절히 빌었다.
— A dream one longs for deeply.
가수가 되는 것은 그녀의 간절한 꿈이었다.
— To lack earnestness or 'hunger'.
이번 경기에서는 우리 팀의 간절함이 부족했다.
— To apologize earnestly.
그는 피해자 가족에게 간절히 사죄했다.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
— To be extremely worried or anxious (often related to earnest longing).
아들을 기다리는 어머니의 간이 녹아내렸다.
Informal/Literary— To wait for something so earnestly that your neck stretches out.
그의 편지를 목이 빠지게 기다렸어요.
Neutral— To stamp one's feet in anxiety or earnest desire for something to happen.
결과가 나오지 않아 발을 굴렀다.
Neutral— To be deeply felt in one's heart (often an earnest feeling).
고향에 대한 그리움이 가슴에 사무쳤다.
Literary— To touch the heartstrings (often by an earnest appeal).
그의 간절한 연설은 대중의 심금을 울렸다.
Formal/Literary— The heavens are moved (by one's earnestness).
그의 효심에 하늘이 감동했는지 기적이 일어났다.
Literary— To be felt to the bone (intense, earnest feeling).
추위 속에서 따뜻한 방이 뼈에 사무치게 간절했다.
Literary— To be very anxious or impatient (burning with earnestness).
연락이 안 되니 정말 애가 타네요.
Neutral— To be extremely worried (one's blood dries up).
합격 발표를 기다리느라 피가 마르는 것 같다.
Informal— To beg so earnestly that your hands are used like feet (total submission).
그는 잘못을 빌며 손이 발이 되도록 빌었다.
InformalWortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Verwandt
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'GAN' as 'Gonna' and 'JEOL' as 'Jolt'. You're 'Gonna' get a 'Jolt' of earnestness in your heart! Or remember 'GAN' (간 - liver). In Korean, the liver is seen as a place of deep emotion. 'GAN-JEOL' is a feeling deep from your organs.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine someone kneeling in the rain, hands clasped, looking up with a face full of hope and desperation. That 'look' is 간절하다.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to write three sentences about your biggest life goal using '간절히 바라다', '간절한 마음', and '간절함'.
Wortherkunft
From Hanja 懇切. 懇 (간) means 'earnest, sincere, devout' and 切 (절) means 'urgent, sharp, close, pressing'.
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: A sincerity that is so intense it feels urgent or sharp.
Sino-Korean (Hanja-based).Kultureller Kontext
Avoid using this word for very trivial or selfish things in a formal setting, as it might seem disrespectful to the weight of the word.
English speakers might use 'desperate' in a negative sense (e.g., 'he looks desperate'), but '간절하다' is usually more positive or neutral, focusing on the beauty of sincerity.
Summary
Use '간절하다' when you want to express a desire that comes from the depths of your heart. For example, '간절히 기도하다' (to pray earnestly) shows much more sincerity than just saying you are praying. It is a word of weight and emotion.
- A powerful adjective for deep, sincere longing.
- Commonly used in prayers, wishes, and desperate requests.
- More intense and serious than 'wanting' (원하다).
- Often appears as the adverb '간절히' (earnestly).
Beispiel
나는 고향에 돌아가고 싶어 간절했다.
Verwandte Inhalte
Dieses Wort in anderen Sprachen
Mehr emotions Wörter
받아들이다
A2Akzeptieren, annehmen, aufnehmen.
아파하다
A2Schmerz oder Kummer empfinden (oft bei Dritten beobachtet).
감탄스럽다
A2Seine Ausdauer während des Marathons war wirklich bewundernswert.
감탄
A2Admiration or marvel; a feeling of wonder.
감탄하다
A2Bewundern oder staunen; seine Bewunderung für etwas Außergewöhnliches oder Schönes ausdrücken.
기특하다
B1Lobenswert für eine gute Tat oder einen reifen Gedanken.
충고
B1Ratschläge oder Empfehlungen, die im Hinblick auf kluges zukünftiges Handeln angeboten werden; aufrichtiger Rat.
애정
B1Zuneigung; ein sanftes Gefühl der Vorliebe oder des Mögens.
애틋하다
B2Ihre zärtliche und wehmütige Liebe berührte alle.
살갑다
B22
