You'll often hear Koreans use the word 그저 (geujeo) to express the idea of "just" or "merely." It implies that something is simply the case, without any special reason or additional factors involved. For example, you might say 그저 좋아요 (geujeo johayo) to mean "it's just good," suggesting it's good in a simple, straightforward way. It can also be used to indicate that an action is done without a specific purpose, like 그저 걷고 싶어요 (geujeo geotgo sipeoyo), meaning "I just want to walk." Think of it as a way to simplify a situation or an emotion.
How Formal Is It?
"저희는 단지 사실을 전달할 뿐입니다. (We are merely delivering the facts.)"
"그는 그저 학생일 뿐이다. (He is just a student.)"
"나 걍 집에 갈래. (I'll just go home.)"
"그냥 이거 먹자! (Let's just eat this!)"
"걍 대충 해. (Just do it roughly.)"
Guía de pronunciación
- short
Patrones gramaticales
Patrones de oraciones
그저 [VERB] 싶다 (geujeo [VERB] sipda)
저는 그저 쉬고 싶어요. (Jeoneun geujeo swigo sipeoyo.)
그저 [ADJECTIVE] (geujeo [ADJECTIVE])
이것은 그저 작은 선물이에요. (Igeoseun geujeo jageun seonmurieyo.)
그저 [NOUN]이다 (geujeo [NOUN]ida)
그는 그저 학생이에요. (Geuneun geujeo haksaengieyo.)
그저 [VERB] 뿐이다 (geujeo [VERB] ppunida)
저는 그저 묻고 싶었을 뿐이에요. (Jeoneun geujeo mutgo sipeosseul ppunieyo.)
그저 [STATE/SITUATION] (geujeo [STATE/SITUATION])
그녀는 그저 조용히 앉아 있었어요. (Geunyeoneun geujeo yongyonghi anja isseosseoyo.)
그저 [REASON/EXPLANATION] (geujeo [REASON/EXPLANATION])
그저 바빠서 연락 못 했어요. (Geujeo bappaseo yeollak mot haesseoyo.)
그저 [EMPHASIS/FEELING] (geujeo [EMPHASIS/FEELING])
그저 감사합니다. (Geujeo gamsahamnida.)
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Imagine you're 'just' at a 'geu-jeo' (grocery) store, only getting the essentials.
Asociación visual
Picture a sign saying 'JUST THE BARE MINIMUM' with the Korean word 그저 written largely underneath it.
Word Web
Desafío
Try to say what you are 'just' doing right now using 그저. For example: 저는 그저 한국어를 공부하고 있어요. (I'm just studying Korean.)
Ponte a prueba 6 preguntas
Write a short sentence in Korean using '그저' to describe something that is simply a fact or without much effort.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저는 그저 학생이에요. (I am just a student.)
Write a sentence in Korean using '그저' to express that you are merely observing something without participating.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저는 그저 지켜볼 뿐이었어요. (I was just watching.)
Form a Korean sentence with '그저' to convey a feeling of simply being or existing.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
그는 그저 방에 있었어요. (He was just in the room.)
What did the person want to do in the park?
Read this passage:
오늘 아침에 공원에 갔어요. 날씨가 너무 좋아서 그저 앉아서 쉬고 싶었어요. 아무것도 하지 않고 그냥 있었어요.
What did the person want to do in the park?
The passage states, '그저 앉아서 쉬고 싶었어요' which means 'I just wanted to sit and rest.'
The passage states, '그저 앉아서 쉬고 싶었어요' which means 'I just wanted to sit and rest.'
How did the person feel about their exam results?
Read this passage:
시험 결과가 나왔어요. 저는 열심히 공부했지만, 그저 평균 점수를 받았어요. 다음번에는 더 잘해야겠어요.
How did the person feel about their exam results?
Receiving 'just an average score' ('그저 평균 점수를 받았어요') after studying hard implies disappointment, especially with the following sentence '다음번에는 더 잘해야겠어요' (I need to do better next time).
Receiving 'just an average score' ('그저 평균 점수를 받았어요') after studying hard implies disappointment, especially with the following sentence '다음번에는 더 잘해야겠어요' (I need to do better next time).
What is the speaker's opinion of the singer's voice?
Read this passage:
그 가수는 노래를 잘해요. 하지만 저는 그의 목소리가 그저 그랬어요. 특별히 좋지도 나쁘지도 않았어요.
What is the speaker's opinion of the singer's voice?
The phrase '그저 그랬어요' means it was just so-so or average, and the following sentence '특별히 좋지도 나쁘지도 않았어요' (It wasn't particularly good or bad) confirms this.
The phrase '그저 그랬어요' means it was just so-so or average, and the following sentence '특별히 좋지도 나쁘지도 않았어요' (It wasn't particularly good or bad) confirms this.
/ 6 correct
Perfect score!
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