When you're just starting to learn Korean, you'll find words that help you express how much or how little of something there is. 전혀 (jeonhyeo) is one such word. It means 'not at all' or 'completely.' You'll almost always use 전혀 with a negative verb or phrase to emphasize a complete lack of something.
For example, if you want to say 'I don't understand at all,' you would use 전혀. It really makes your negation stronger. Think of it as adding extra emphasis to 'no' or 'not.'
When you use 전혀 with a negative verb or adjective, it means 'not at all' or 'never.'
For example, 전혀 몰라요 (Jeonhyeo mollayo) means 'I don't know at all.' You can also use it to emphasize a complete lack of something, like 전혀 관심 없어요 (Jeonhyeo gwansim eopseoyo), which means 'I have no interest at all.'
It’s a strong way to express a total absence or an emphatic 'no.'
You're diving into some more advanced Korean, which is great! Let's talk about 전혀 (jeonhyeo). At the C1 level, you'll encounter this adverb frequently, and understanding its nuances is key to sounding more natural.
While it primarily means "not at all" when used with a negative verb or adjective, it can also mean "completely" or "entirely" in certain contexts, even without an explicit negation, implying an extreme or absolute state. For example, if someone says "저는 한국어를 전혀 못 해요" (jeoneun hangugeo-reul jeonhyeo mot haeyo), they mean, "I can't speak Korean at all." But in a phrase like "전혀 새로운 경험" (jeonhyeo saeroun gyeongheom), it means "a completely new experience." Pay close attention to the surrounding words to grasp its precise meaning.
전혀 en 30 segundos
- 전혀 is an adverb.
- It means 'not at all' or 'completely.'
- Always used with negative verbs/adjectives.
§ Understanding 전혀 (jeonhyeo)
The Korean adverb 전혀 (jeonhyeo) is a very useful word for emphasizing negation. It means "not at all" or "completely" when used with a negative verb or adjective. Think of it as adding extra punch to your "no" statements.
- Korean Word
- 전혀 (jeonhyeo)
- CEFR Level
- A1
- Definition
- Not at all (used with negation); completely.
§ How to Use 전혀
You will almost always find 전혀 (jeonhyeo) paired with a negative expression. This could be a verb ending in -지 않다 (-ji anta), a negative adjective, or a negative phrase like 없다 (eopda - to not have/exist).
§ Examples with Verbs
저는 한국어를 전혀 이해하지 못해요. (I don't understand Korean at all.)
오늘은 전혀 먹고 싶지 않아요. (I don't want to eat at all today.)
§ Examples with Adjectives
그 영화는 전혀 재미없어요. (That movie is not at all fun.)
날씨가 전혀 춥지 않아요. (The weather is not at all cold.)
§ Examples with 없다 (eopda)
저는 돈이 전혀 없어요. (I have no money at all.)
그것은 문제가 전혀 없어요. (That is not a problem at all.)
§ Similar Words and When to Use 전혀
Korean has several adverbs that express degrees of negation, but 전혀 (jeonhyeo) is distinct in its strong emphasis. Let's look at some alternatives and when to choose 전혀 (jeonhyeo).
- 별로 (byeollo): This means "not very" or "not particularly." It's a milder form of negation compared to 전혀 (jeonhyeo). You might use it when something isn't great, but not terrible either.
그 영화는 별로 재미없어요. (That movie is not very fun.)
Compare this to: 그 영화는 전혀 재미없어요. (That movie is not at all fun.) Here, 전혀 (jeonhyeo) indicates a complete lack of fun, while 별로 (byeollo) suggests it's just a bit boring.
- 하나도 (hanado): This means "not even one" or "not a single one," and it's also used with negation to emphasize the completeness of the absence or non-occurrence. It's very similar to 전혀 (jeonhyeo) in strength.
저는 하나도 안 피곤해요. (I'm not at all tired.)
In many situations, 전혀 (jeonhyeo) and 하나도 (hanado) can be used interchangeably to express strong, complete negation. However, 하나도 (hanado) sometimes has a nuance of "not even a single instance/part," which can be more literal than 전혀 (jeonhyeo).
When you want to express absolute, complete negation, 전혀 (jeonhyeo) is your go-to word. It leaves no room for doubt. If something is truly not happening, not existing, or not true, use 전혀 (jeonhyeo) to make your point clear.
For example, if someone asks if you're a little bit hungry and you're absolutely not, you'd say:
저는 전혀 배고프지 않아요. (I am not at all hungry.)
On the other hand, if you're just not particularly hungry, you might say:
저는 별로 배고프지 않아요. (I am not very hungry.)
§ Practice Tip
Try to form five sentences using 전혀 (jeonhyeo) with different negative verbs or adjectives. The more you practice, the more natural it will feel to use this powerful adverb!
Guía de pronunciación
- Mispronouncing 'ㅈ' (j) as a hard 'z' sound instead of a soft 'ch' sound.
- Not emphasizing the aspiration in 'ㅎ' (h).
Ejemplos por nivel
저는 한국어를 전혀 몰라요.
I don't know Korean at all.
전혀 + negative verb (몰라요)
이 음식은 전혀 맵지 않아요.
This food is not spicy at all.
전혀 + negative adjective (맵지 않아요)
저는 어제 전혀 안 피곤했어요.
I wasn't tired at all yesterday.
전혀 + negative adjective (안 피곤했어요)
그 영화는 전혀 재미없었어요.
That movie was not fun at all.
전혀 + negative adjective (재미없었어요)
저는 그 사람을 전혀 좋아하지 않아요.
I don't like that person at all.
전혀 + negative verb (좋아하지 않아요)
이 문제는 전혀 어렵지 않아요.
This problem is not difficult at all.
전혀 + negative adjective (어렵지 않아요)
저는 오늘 전혀 바쁘지 않아요.
I'm not busy at all today.
전혀 + negative adjective (바쁘지 않아요)
이 옷은 전혀 비싸지 않아요.
These clothes are not expensive at all.
전혀 + negative adjective (비싸지 않아요)
이 문제에 대해서는 전혀 걱정할 필요가 없어요.
Regarding this problem, no need to worry at all.
전혀 + Negative verb (없어요) emphasizes 'not at all'.
저는 매운 음식을 전혀 못 먹어요.
I cannot eat spicy food at all.
전혀 + Negative verb (못 먹어요) for 'cannot do something at all'.
그 영화는 제가 기대했던 것과는 전혀 달랐어요.
That movie was completely different from what I had expected.
전혀 + Different (달랐어요) to mean 'completely different'.
그들은 서로 전혀 모르는 사이였어요.
They were complete strangers to each other.
전혀 + Don't know (모르는 사이) emphasizes 'not knowing at all'.
이번 계획은 전혀 예상치 못한 결과를 가져왔습니다.
This plan brought completely unexpected results.
전혀 + Unexpected (예상치 못한) to mean 'completely unexpected'.
저는 그 문제에 대해 전혀 아는 바가 없습니다.
I know nothing at all about that problem.
전혀 + Don't know (아는 바가 없습니다) for 'have no knowledge at all'.
그녀의 태도는 제가 생각했던 것과는 전혀 달랐습니다.
Her attitude was completely different from what I had thought.
전혀 + Different (달랐습니다) to emphasize 'completely different'.
그의 말은 전혀 이치에 맞지 않았어요.
His words made no sense at all.
전혀 + Make sense (이치에 맞지 않았어요) for 'made no sense at all'.
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
저는 영어를 전혀 못 해요.
I can't speak English (at all).
그는 나를 전혀 좋아하지 않아.
He doesn't like me (at all).
이 음식은 전혀 맵지 않아요.
This food is not spicy (at all).
저는 그 사실을 전혀 몰랐어요.
I didn't know that fact (at all).
오늘 숙제는 전혀 없어요.
There is no homework (at all) today.
우리는 서로 전혀 닮지 않았어.
We don't resemble each other (at all).
그 소식은 전혀 사실이 아니에요.
That news is not true (at all).
저는 그림을 전혀 그릴 줄 몰라요.
I don't know how to draw (at all).
이 영화는 전혀 재미없어요.
This movie is not fun (at all).
저는 매운 음식을 전혀 못 먹어요.
I can't eat spicy food (at all).
Cómo usarlo
전혀 (jeonhyeo) is a versatile adverb that primarily means “not at all” or “completely,” depending on how it’s used in a sentence. It’s almost always used with a negative verb or adjective to emphasize the negation. For example, 전혀 몰라요 (jeonhyeo mollayo) means “I don’t know at all.” It can also be used with positive verbs or adjectives to mean “completely” or “entirely.” For example, 전혀 새로운 (jeonhyeo saeroun) means “completely new.” The context usually makes the meaning clear.
A common mistake is using 전혀 with a positive verb when you mean “not at all.” Remember, if you want to say “not at all,” you need to pair 전혀 with a negative verb or adjective. For instance, you wouldn't say 전혀 좋아요 (jeonhyeo johayo) to mean “it’s not good at all.” Instead, you would say 전혀 안 좋아요 (jeonhyeo an johayo) or 전혀 좋지 않아요 (jeonhyeo jochi anhayo). Conversely, if you want to express “completely” in a positive sense, you can use it with a positive verb or adjective, but make sure the context supports this meaning.
Ponte a prueba 30 preguntas
저는 그 영화가 ___ 재미없었어요. (I didn't find that movie interesting at all.)
'전혀' is used with negative expressions to mean 'not at all'.
저는 한국어를 ___ 못 해요. (I can't speak Korean at all.)
'전혀' emphasizes the complete absence of an ability or state.
오늘 숙제가 ___ 어렵지 않아요. (Today's homework is not difficult at all.)
'전혀' is used with negation to mean 'not at all'.
저는 매운 음식을 ___ 안 먹어요. (I don't eat spicy food at all.)
'전혀' is used to express a complete lack of something or an action.
어제는 ___ 잠을 못 잤어요. (Yesterday, I couldn't sleep at all.)
'전혀' emphasizes that something did not happen even a little bit.
그것은 ___ 사실이 아니에요. (That is not true at all.)
'전혀' is used with negative statements to mean 'not at all'.
The speaker says they cannot do something at all.
The speaker is describing the spiciness of food.
The speaker is talking about understanding a movie.
Read this aloud:
한국 음식을 좋아해요?
Focus: 전혀
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
오늘 숙제가 어려웠어요?
Focus: 전혀
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
이 책을 읽어봤어요?
Focus: 전혀
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The speaker is expressing a complete lack of understanding of Korean.
The speaker is commenting on someone's unchanging appearance.
The speaker is reassuring someone that a problem is easy.
Read this aloud:
저는 매운 음식을 전혀 못 먹어요.
Focus: 전혀 (jeonhyeo)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
그 소식은 저에게 전혀 새로운 것이 아니었어요.
Focus: 전혀 (jeonhyeo)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
저는 전혀 예상하지 못했던 결과였어요.
Focus: 전혀 (jeonhyeo)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
그는 내 의견에 ___ 동의하지 않았다. (He did not agree with my opinion at all.)
'전혀'는 부정문과 함께 사용하여 '조금도', '아주'의 의미를 강조합니다.
이 문제는 ___ 어렵지 않아요. (This problem is not difficult at all.)
'전혀'는 부정의 의미를 강화하여 '전혀 ~하지 않다'로 사용됩니다.
나는 그 소식을 듣고 ___ 놀라지 않았다. (I was not surprised at all to hear the news.)
부정문에서 '전혀'는 '조금도 ~하지 않다'의 의미를 가집니다.
그는 그 상황에 대해 ___ 알지 못했다. (He knew nothing at all about the situation.)
'전혀'는 부정적인 표현과 결합하여 '조금도 ~하지 않다'는 의미를 나타냅니다.
우리의 계획은 ___ 예상과 달랐다. (Our plan was completely different from what we expected.)
여기서 '전혀'는 '완전히', '아주'의 의미로 사용되어 예상과 완전히 달랐음을 강조합니다.
이 두 가지는 ___ 다른 개념이다. (These two are completely different concepts.)
'전혀'는 긍정문에서 '완전히', '아주'라는 의미로도 사용될 수 있습니다.
Focus on how '전혀' emphasizes the lack of reaction.
Listen for '전혀' indicating a complete disconnect.
Pay attention to '전혀' conveying absolute agreement.
Read this aloud:
이 문제는 해결될 기미가 전혀 보이지 않는다.
Focus: 기미가 전혀 보이지 않는다
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
그의 말은 내 예상과 전혀 달랐다.
Focus: 예상과 전혀 달랐다
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
그는 전혀 낯선 환경에서도 당황하지 않았다.
Focus: 전혀 낯선 환경에서도 당황하지 않았다
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Remember that 전혀 always needs a negative verb or adjective to complete its meaning, indicating a complete lack of something.
- 전혀 is an adverb.
- It means 'not at all' or 'completely.'
- Always used with negative verbs/adjectives.
Contenido relacionado
Esta palabra en otros idiomas
Frases relacionadas
Más palabras de general
몇몇
A2An unspecified small number of; some or a few.
조금
A1A little/a bit
적게
A1A little / Few
약간
A2A little; slightly; somewhat.
많이
A1A lot/much
잠시
A2For a moment; briefly.
잠깐
A2For a short time; a moment.
아까
A2A little while ago, earlier.
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
