Explanation at your level:
You use 기억나다 when you remember something. If a friend asks, 'Do you know this place?', you can say '네, 기억나요!' (Yes, I remember!). It is a very useful word for beginners.
At this level, you can use it to describe past events. '그때 일이 기억나요' (I remember what happened then). It is the most natural way to talk about things coming back to your mind during a conversation.
You can use it to express degrees of memory. Use '기억이 잘 안 나요' (I don't remember well) to be polite when you have forgotten a detail. It helps you navigate social situations where you need to admit you forgot something.
Use this in storytelling. When recounting a complex narrative, you might say '갑자기 그 순간이 기억났어요' (Suddenly, that moment came back to me). It adds a sense of immediacy and realism to your anecdotes.
In formal writing or sophisticated speech, you might contrast 기억나다 with 회상하다 (to reminisce). While 회상하다 is an active, reflective process, 기억나다 remains the standard for the sudden, involuntary emergence of memory, providing a specific nuance of spontaneity.
Mastery of this word involves understanding the subtle boundary between involuntary recall and active retrieval. In literary contexts, it is often used to signify a character's psychological breakthrough, where a repressed memory finally 'comes out' (기억나다) despite their efforts to suppress it, highlighting the power of the subconscious.
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- 기억나다 means 'to recall' or 'to come to mind'.
- It is a passive/intransitive verb.
- Use the subject particle -이/가.
- Very common in daily conversation.
Hey there! Let's talk about 기억나다. Think of it as your brain's 'aha!' moment. Unlike the verb 기억하다 (to remember/actively keep in mind), 기억나다 is more passive. It’s when a memory just pops into your head.
It literally translates to 'memory comes out.' It’s that feeling when you see an old photo and suddenly, the story behind it comes rushing back. It’s not something you force; it’s something that happens to you!
The word is a compound of 기억 (memory, from Sino-Korean characters 記憶) and 나다 (to come out/to sprout). In Korean, 나다 is a very versatile verb used for things appearing, like tears (눈물이 나다) or anger (화가 나다).
Historically, this reflects the Korean way of viewing memories as entities that 'emerge' from the subconscious. It’s a beautiful, naturalistic way to describe cognitive processes, treating thoughts like plants that sprout when the conditions are right.
You’ll use this in daily life constantly! It’s very common to say 기억나요? (Do you remember?) when asking someone if they recall a shared experience. It’s neutral and works in almost any social setting.
Commonly, you pair it with the particle -이/가. For example, 이름이 기억나요 (The name comes to mind). Notice how the 'name' is the subject that is 'coming out' of your memory bank.
1. 기억도 안 나다: To not remember at all. Example: 어제 일은 기억도 안 나요. (I don't even remember yesterday.)
2. 가물가물하다: To have a fuzzy memory. Example: 기억이 가물가물해요. (My memory is hazy.)
3. 기억을 되살리다: To revive a memory. Example: 옛 사진을 보며 기억을 되살렸어요. (I revived memories by looking at old photos.)
4. 기억에 남다: To remain in memory. Example: 그 영화는 기억에 남아요. (That movie stays in my memory.)
5. 깜빡하다: To have a temporary memory lapse. Example: 깜빡하고 기억이 안 났어요. (I had a brain fart and couldn't remember.)
Grammatically, 기억나다 is an intransitive verb. It doesn't take an object in the traditional sense; rather, the thing being remembered is marked with -이/가. It is often used in the past tense 기억났어요 to indicate the moment of realization.
Pronunciation tip: The 'ㄱ' sounds are crisp. Focus on the transition from 'eok' to 'na'. It rhymes loosely with 'pioneer' if you stretch the sounds, but keep it punchy. The stress is usually flat, typical of Korean word structure.
Fun Fact
The 'na' part is the same as in 'sun comes out'.
Pronunciation Guide
Korean phonetics apply.
Korean phonetics apply.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the final ㄱ
- Dropping the 'n' sound
- Stressing the wrong syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Subject Particle -이/가
이름이 기억나요
Verb Negation -안
기억 안 나요
Past Tense -었/았
기억났어요
Examples by Level
기억나요?
Remember?
Question form
네, 기억나요.
Yes, I remember.
Simple response
기억이 안 나요.
Memory does not come.
Negation
이름이 기억나요.
Name comes to mind.
Subject particle
그거 기억나요?
Remember that?
Demonstrative
기억났어요!
It came to mind!
Past tense
하나도 기억 안 나요.
Not one bit remembered.
Emphasis
어디서 기억나요?
Where do you remember from?
Location
이 노래 기억나요?
어제 일이 기억나요?
갑자기 기억났어요.
이거 기억나세요?
얼굴은 기억나요.
전혀 기억 안 나요.
다 기억나요.
기억나면 말해줘요.
어렸을 때가 기억나요.
그때 그 장면이 기억나요.
기억이 가물가물해요.
이름은 잘 기억 안 나요.
기억나는 대로 말해볼게요.
정말 기억이 안 나시나요?
그게 왜 기억나요?
기억나는 게 하나 있어요.
그때의 감정이 생생히 기억나요.
기억나지 않는 척하지 마세요.
어떻게 그걸 기억나요?
기억나는 사람 있어요?
그 사건이 기억나요.
기억나게 도와줄게요.
기억나는 대로 적었어요.
기억나지 않을 리가 없어요.
그 시절의 향기가 기억나요.
기억나는 대목이 있나요?
그의 말이 갑자기 기억났어요.
기억나는 대로 서술하세요.
기억나지 않는 기억이 있어요.
어렴풋이 기억나요.
기억나는 게 기적이에요.
기억나게 해줘서 고마워요.
무의식 중에 기억났어요.
기억나는 파편들이 모여요.
기억나지 않는 것이 다행일지도.
기억나는 대로 재구성했어요.
그때의 충격이 기억나요.
기억나는 대로 답하세요.
기억나지 않는 과거.
기억나는 대로 기록하세요.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"기억이 가물가물하다"
Memory is hazy/fading.
기억이 가물가물해요.
neutral"기억을 되살리다"
To revive a memory.
기억을 되살려 보세요.
neutral"기억에 남다"
To be memorable.
기억에 남는 여행이었어요.
neutral"기억을 더듬다"
To grope for a memory.
기억을 더듬어 봤어요.
neutral"기억이 나지 않다"
To not remember.
기억이 나지 않아요.
neutral"기억이 새록새록 나다"
Memories coming back one by one.
기억이 새록새록 나네요.
neutralEasily Confused
Both relate to memory.
Active vs Passive.
기억해요 vs 기억나요.
Both mean 'come to mind'.
Broader (thoughts) vs Specific (memories).
그가 생각나요 vs 그날이 기억나요.
Opposite concept.
To forget vs To remember.
잊어버렸어요 vs 기억나요.
Both mean recall.
Formal vs Casual.
상기합니다 vs 기억나요.
Sentence Patterns
[Subject] + -이/가 + 기억나요
이름이 기억나요.
[Subject] + -이/가 + 잘 기억나요
얼굴이 잘 기억나요.
[Subject] + -이/가 + 전혀 기억 안 나요
전혀 기억 안 나요.
[Subject] + -이/가 + 어렴풋이 기억나요
어렴풋이 기억나요.
[Subject] + -이/가 + 기억나는 대로 말하세요
기억나는 대로 말하세요.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
It's a verb, not a noun.
It's an intransitive verb.
Redundant object.
Wrong causative usage.
More natural phrasing.
Tips
When to use
Use it when something pops into your head.
Particle rule
Always use -이/가.
Did you know?
It's the same 'na' as in 'tears come out'.
Study smart
Practice with '기억나요?'
Say it right
Keep the 'ㄱ' sounds sharp.
Avoid this
Don't use object particles.
Cultural insight
It reflects a passive view of memory.
Memory trick
Imagine a sprout (na) of memory.
Practice
Keep a memory journal.
Native tip
Use it for sudden realizations.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Memory 'comes out' like a 'na' (sprout) from the ground.
Visual Association
A seed sprouting in your brain.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try saying '기억나요' to 3 people today.
Wortherkunft
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: Keep in the mind
Kultureller Kontext
None
Direct translation is 'come to mind'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At school
- 답이 기억나요
- 공식 기억나요
- 내용 기억나요
With friends
- 그때 기억나요?
- 우리 만난 거 기억나요?
- 이거 기억나요?
At work
- 내용이 기억나요
- 지시사항 기억나요
- 회의 내용 기억나요
Travel
- 길이 기억나요
- 식당 기억나요
- 풍경 기억나요
Conversation Starters
"어릴 적 가장 기억나는 일은 무엇인가요?"
"사람 이름이 잘 기억나나요?"
"어제 저녁에 뭐 먹었는지 기억나요?"
"가장 기억에 남는 여행지는 어디인가요?"
"시험 볼 때 답이 기억나지 않았던 적이 있나요?"
Journal Prompts
오늘 기억나는 가장 행복한 순간을 적어보세요.
기억나지 않는 어린 시절의 한 장면을 상상해 보세요.
왜 어떤 것들은 기억나고 어떤 것들은 잊혀질까요?
기억나는 사람에게 편지를 써보세요.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenYes, 기억하다 is active, 기억나다 is passive.
Yes, if you remember the object.
It depends on the ending.
Because the memory 'emerges'.
No, it's for past memories.
No, it's very intuitive.
Use -이/가.
Yes, it means 'help me remember'.
Teste dich selbst
이름이 ___.
Natural verb form.
Which means 'I don't remember'?
Correct negation.
기억나다 is an active verb?
It is passive/intransitive.
Word
Bedeutung
Nuance check.
Standard order.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
기억나다 is the natural, spontaneous way to say something has come back to your mind.
- 기억나다 means 'to recall' or 'to come to mind'.
- It is a passive/intransitive verb.
- Use the subject particle -이/가.
- Very common in daily conversation.
When to use
Use it when something pops into your head.
Particle rule
Always use -이/가.
Did you know?
It's the same 'na' as in 'tears come out'.
Study smart
Practice with '기억나요?'
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