At the A1 level, you should recognize '그립다' as a word meaning 'to miss.' You will mostly encounter it in simple sentences or song titles. The most important thing to learn at this stage is that it is an adjective, so you use '이/가' with the thing you miss. You should also learn its basic polite present tense form: '그리워요.' Even if you don't use it often yet, knowing it helps you understand the emotional tone of many Korean songs and basic stories about family or home.
At the A2 level, you need to master the conjugation of '그립다.' Since it is a 'ㅂ' irregular adjective, the 'ㅂ' changes to '우' before vowels (그리워요, 그리웠어요). You should be able to distinguish '그립다' from '보고 싶다.' Use '그립다' when you feel a deeper sense of nostalgia for things like your hometown (고향), your childhood (어린 시절), or a past time (옛날). You should also be comfortable using it in simple past tense sentences to describe how you felt when you were away from home.
At the B1 level, you should start using the verb form '그리워하다' when talking about other people. Remember that '그리워하다' is a verb, so it takes the object marker '을/를.' You should also be able to use the adjective form to modify nouns, such as '그리운 고향' (the hometown I miss). You can use this word in more complex sentences to express nuanced emotions in journals or letters. You should also understand that '그립다' is often used for abstract concepts like '자유' (freedom) or '평화' (peace).
At the B2 level, you should understand the literary and poetic nuances of '그립다.' You will see it in novels and poetry where it expresses 'han' (한), a deep Korean sentiment of longing and sorrow. You should be able to use it in various grammatical structures, such as '그리운 나머지' (out of longing) or '그립기만 하다' (to do nothing but miss). You should also be able to discuss the cultural significance of longing in Korean history, such as the longing for a unified peninsula or for family members separated by war.
At the C1 level, you should have a native-like grasp of when '그립다' is more appropriate than its synonyms. You can use it to describe complex psychological states and in formal writing or speeches. You should be familiar with idiomatic expressions and the way '그립다' interacts with other emotional adjectives like '애틋하다' (to be heart-wrenching) or '허전하다' (to feel empty). Your ability to use the word should reflect an understanding of the subtle social and emotional contexts in which Koreans express deep longing.
At the C2 level, you can use '그립다' with full mastery in any context, including academic analysis of literature or high-level creative writing. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its relationship to the verb '그리다' (to draw/paint). you can manipulate the word to create specific emotional atmospheres in your writing and can explain its nuances to other learners. You are also sensitive to the register, knowing exactly when '그립다' might sound too formal, too poetic, or perfectly apt for a given moment.

그립다 در ۳۰ ثانیه

  • Korean adjective meaning 'to miss' or 'to long for'.
  • Uses subject markers (이/가) for the target of longing.
  • ㅂ-irregular: conjugates to 그리워요, 그리웠어요.
  • Expresses deep nostalgia and emotional yearning.

The Korean word 그립다 (geuripda) is a quintessential emotional adjective that captures the profound sense of longing, nostalgia, and missing someone or something. While English often uses the active verb 'to miss,' Korean treats this emotion as a descriptive state. When you say something is '그립다,' you are describing the target of your affection as being in a state of 'miss-able-ness' or 'longed-for-ness.' This distinction is crucial for learners to understand because it dictates the grammatical structure of the sentence. In Korean, the person or thing you miss is the subject of the sentence, often marked with the particles 이/가.

Emotional Depth
Unlike the more casual '보고 싶다' (bogo sipda), which literally means 'want to see,' 그립다 carries a heavier, more poetic weight. It is used for deep nostalgia, such as missing one's hometown, a deceased loved one, or a past era of one's life that can never be returned to. It encompasses a sense of 'han' (한), a uniquely Korean sentiment of sorrow and longing.

고향의 냄새가 그립다.

Translation: I miss the smell of my hometown.

Usage of this word peaks in literature, song lyrics (K-ballads), and reflective conversations. It is rarely used for trivial things. For example, you wouldn't usually say you '그립다' a sandwich you ate yesterday unless it represents a significant memory. It is reserved for things that have left an imprint on your heart. In modern society, it is frequently used by the older generation looking back at their youth or by expatriates living far from Korea.

The 'B' Irregularity
As a 'ㅂ' irregular adjective, the 'ㅂ' changes to '우' when meeting a vowel. Thus, '그립다' becomes '그리워요' (geuriwoyo) in polite speech and '그리웠어' (geuriwosseo) in the past tense. Mastering this conjugation is a milestone for A2 learners.

어머니의 손맛이 정말 그리워요.

Translation: I really miss my mother's home-cooked food.

Understanding the syntax of 그립다 is the most common hurdle for English speakers. In English, 'I' is the subject and 'you' is the object: 'I miss you.' In Korean, because '그립다' is an adjective, the thing being missed takes the subject marker 이/가. The person who feels the emotion is often omitted if it is 'I', or marked with 은/는 or 에게는 for emphasis.

The Subject-Adjective Pattern
Structure: [Missed Object] + 이/가 + 그립다. Example: '친구가 그립다' (I miss my friend / My friend is missed).

옛날이 그립다.

Translation: I miss the old days.

If you want to turn this into an active verb to say 'to miss someone' (where you are the active agent of missing), you use the form 그리워하다. This is a transitive verb and takes the object marker 을/를. This form is often used when talking about a third person's feelings. For example, '그는 고향을 그리워한다' (He misses his hometown).

Tense changes are also vital. To express that you missed someone in the past, use 그리웠다. To express a continuing state, you might use 그리워하고 있다 (using the verb form). In poetic contexts, you might see 그리운 (the adjective form modifying a noun), such as '그리운 얼굴' (a missed/longed-for face).

그리운 시절로 돌아가고 싶어요.

Translation: I want to go back to those missed (nostalgic) times.

If you listen to Korean music, you have likely heard 그립다 or its conjugated forms hundreds of times. It is a staple of the K-Pop ballad genre. Songs often dwell on the pain of separation, making this word central to the lyrical narrative. When a singer belts out '그리워, 그리워' (I miss you, I miss you), they are tapping into a deep, resonant sadness that the listener is expected to share.

Cultural Media
In K-Dramas, '그립다' is used during emotional reunions or in internal monologues where a character reflects on a lost parent or a childhood home. It signifies a longing that is more permanent than just wanting to see someone for a coffee.

죽은 친구가 너무 그립습니다.

Translation: I miss my deceased friend so much.

In daily life, you might hear this word during traditional holidays like Chuseok or Seollal. Families gather, and they might speak of relatives who couldn't make it or those who have passed away. An elderly person might look at a developing city and say '옛날 풍경이 그립네' (I miss the old scenery), expressing a sense of loss for the simplicity of the past. It is also common in travel contexts; after a long trip, Koreans often say '집밥이 그립다' (I miss home-cooked meals), highlighting the emotional comfort of home.

자유가 그리웠던 순간들이 있었습니다.

Translation: There were moments when I longed for freedom.

The most frequent error for English speakers is treating 그립다 as a transitive verb. Because we say 'I miss you' (object), learners instinctively want to say '너를 그립다'. This is grammatically incorrect in Korean because '그립다' is an adjective. Adjectives describe a subject; they do not take an object.

Mistake #1: Wrong Particles
Incorrect: 너를 그립다. Correct: 네가 그립다. The target of your longing must take the subject marker.

❌ 한국을 그립다. (Wrong)
✅ 한국이 그립다. (Right)

Another mistake is using '그립다' for casual, short-term situations. If you just saw your friend two hours ago and you want to say you miss them, '그립다' sounds overly dramatic, almost as if you'll never see them again or as if they've died. In these cases, '보고 싶다' is the appropriate, lighter term. Using '그립다' for a missed bus or a missed opportunity is also a mistake; for those, you would use '놓치다' (to miss/lose out on).

Finally, learners often forget the 'ㅂ' irregular conjugation. They might say '그립어요' instead of '그리워요'. Remember that the 'ㅂ' is fragile and turns into a '우' when it meets the '어/아' ending. This is a rule that applies to many common adjectives like '춥다' (cold) and '덥다' (hot), so '그립다' is a great word to practice this pattern.

While 그립다 is a powerful word, Korean offers several alternatives depending on the specific nuance of 'missing' you wish to convey. Choosing the right one will make your Korean sound much more natural and emotionally accurate.

그립다 vs. 보고 싶다
'보고 싶다' literally means 'want to see.' It is the most common way to say 'I miss you' to friends, family, and partners. It implies a desire for a physical meeting. '그립다' is more about the internal ache and nostalgia, often used when a meeting is impossible or when missing an abstract concept.

여자친구가 보고 싶다 vs. 어린 시절이 그립다.

그립다 vs. 아쉽다
'아쉽다' means to feel bad about something being missing or a situation being 'a pity.' You use '아쉽다' when you miss a chance or when a party ends too early. It's about a lack of satisfaction, whereas '그립다' is about emotional longing.

Another related term is 생각나다 (to come to mind). If you suddenly remember something and feel a slight pang of missing it, you might say '고향 생각이 나요' (Thoughts of my hometown are coming to mind). This is less heavy than '고향이 그립다'. Also, 그리워하다 is the active verb form used when the subject is actively performing the act of longing, especially necessary for third-person subjects.

چقدر رسمی است؟

نکته جالب

The link between 'drawing' and 'longing' suggests that when you miss someone, you 'draw' their image in your mind.

راهنمای تلفظ

UK /ɡɯ.ɾip.t͈a/
US /ɡɯ.ɾip.t͈a/
In Korean, stress is generally even across syllables, but the second syllable 'rip' feels slightly heavier due to the final consonant.
هم‌قافیه با
어렵다 (to be difficult) 두렵다 (to be afraid) 부럽다 (to be envious) 가렵다 (to be itchy) 더럽다 (to be dirty) 반갑다 (to be glad) 즐겁다 (to be joyful) 가볍다 (to be light)
خطاهای رایج
  • Pronouncing 'eu' as 'u' (guripda).
  • Failing to tense the 'd' in 'da' after the 'p' consonant.
  • Misconjugating the 'ㅂ' irregular as '그립어요' instead of '그리워요'.

سطح دشواری

خواندن 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts but requires understanding context.

نوشتن 4/5

Tricky due to the subject-adjective structure and ㅂ-irregularity.

صحبت کردن 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but usage nuance is key.

گوش دادن 2/5

Very common in songs, making it easy to hear.

بعداً چه یاد بگیریم؟

پیش‌نیازها

보고 싶다 좋다 슬프다 고향 친구

بعداً یاد بگیرید

그리워하다 아쉽다 추억 기억하다 헤어지다

پیشرفته

애틋하다 사무치다 향수병 실향민 망향

مثال‌ها بر اساس سطح

1

고향이 그립다.

I miss my hometown.

고향 (hometown) is the subject.

2

엄마가 그리워요.

I miss my mom.

Polite present tense '그리워요'.

3

친구가 그리웠어요.

I missed my friend.

Past tense '그리웠어요'.

4

집이 정말 그립다.

I really miss home.

정말 (really) emphasizes the feeling.

5

옛날이 그립다.

I miss the old days.

옛날 (old days/past) is the subject.

6

한국 음식이 그리워요.

I miss Korean food.

Korean food is the target of longing.

7

선생님이 그립습니다.

I miss my teacher (formal).

Formal ending '-습니다'.

8

그 사람이 그립다.

I miss that person.

그 사람 (that person) is the subject.

1

어린 시절의 친구들이 그리워요.

I miss my childhood friends.

Nouns connected by '의' (childhood's friends).

2

따뜻한 날씨가 그립다.

I miss the warm weather.

Adjective '따뜻한' modifying '날씨'.

3

어머니의 손맛이 그리웠어요.

I missed my mother's cooking.

'손맛' literally means 'hand taste,' referring to cooking skill.

4

학교 생활이 가끔 그립다.

I sometimes miss school life.

가끔 (sometimes) indicates frequency.

5

그곳의 풍경이 정말 그리워요.

I really miss the scenery of that place.

그곳 (that place) + 의 (possessive).

6

가족과 함께 보낸 시간이 그립다.

I miss the time spent with my family.

Past participle '보낸' modifying '시간'.

7

조용한 시골 마을이 그리워요.

I miss the quiet countryside village.

Descriptive adjectives '조용한' and '시골'.

8

그때 그 시절이 너무 그립다.

I miss those days so much.

너무 (too/so) used for emphasis.

1

헤어진 연인이 문득 그리워질 때가 있다.

There are times when I suddenly miss my ex-lover.

-어질 때가 있다 (there are times when something becomes...).

2

그리운 고향을 향해 편지를 썼다.

I wrote a letter to my missed hometown.

'그리운' modifies '고향'.

3

자유롭게 여행하던 때가 그립네요.

I miss the times when I used to travel freely.

-던 (retrospective marker) shows a repeated past action.

4

그는 돌아가신 할머니를 몹시 그리워한다.

He misses his late grandmother very much.

Using '그리워하다' for a third-person subject.

5

아무 걱정 없던 어린 날이 그립다.

I miss the childhood days when I had no worries.

Relative clause '아무 걱정 없던'.

6

서울의 밤거리가 그리워질 것 같아요.

I think I will miss the night streets of Seoul.

-ㄹ 것 같다 (it seems like/I think).

7

우리는 모두 평화로운 일상을 그리워하고 있다.

We are all longing for a peaceful daily life.

-고 있다 (progressive form of the verb).

8

그리운 마음을 담아 노래를 불렀다.

I sang a song filled with longing.

그리운 마음 (longing heart/mind).

1

타지 생활을 하다 보니 부모님의 잔소리마저 그립다.

Living in a foreign land, I even miss my parents' nagging.

-마저 (even) emphasizes that even something negative is missed.

2

그리운 나머지 눈물이 왈칵 쏟아졌다.

Out of so much longing, tears suddenly burst out.

-ㄴ 나머지 (as a result of/out of...).

3

치열하게 공부했던 그 시절이 이제는 그립기까지 하다.

I even miss those days when I studied so fiercely.

-기까지 하다 (to even go as far as to...).

4

그녀는 고국에 대한 그리운 마음을 시로 표현했다.

She expressed her longing for her homeland through poetry.

-에 대한 (about/towards).

5

떠나온 지 10년이 지났지만 여전히 그곳이 그립다.

It's been 10 years since I left, but I still miss that place.

-ㄴ 지 (since).

6

그리운 사람을 다시 만날 수 있다면 얼마나 좋을까.

How good would it be if I could meet the person I miss again.

Conditional -다면 and exclamation 얼마나 -까.

7

아버지는 젊은 시절의 열정이 가끔 그립다고 하셨다.

My father said he sometimes misses the passion of his youth.

Indirect quotation -다고 하다.

8

그리움이 깊어지면 병이 된다는 말도 있다.

There is a saying that if longing deepens, it becomes an illness.

Nominalized '그리움' (longing).

1

도시의 소음 속에 있다 보면 적막한 산사가 그립기 마련이다.

Being in the noise of the city, one is bound to miss a quiet mountain temple.

-기 마련이다 (it is natural/bound to...).

2

그리운 감정은 시간의 흐름에 따라 퇴색되기 마련이다.

The feeling of longing is bound to fade as time passes.

퇴색되다 (to fade/discolor).

3

이미 사라진 것들에 대한 막연한 그리움이 밀려왔다.

A vague longing for things already gone washed over me.

막연한 (vague/hazy).

4

그리운 얼굴들을 떠올리며 홀로 술잔을 기울였다.

Recalling missed faces, I tilted my glass alone.

Idiom '술잔을 기울이다' (to drink alcohol).

5

그 시절의 순수함이 그립지만 이제는 돌아갈 수 없는 길이다.

I miss the innocence of those days, but it's a road I can no longer return to.

순수함 (innocence).

6

작가는 소설을 통해 잃어버린 공동체에 대한 그리움을 토로했다.

The author expressed longing for the lost community through the novel.

토로하다 (to speak one's mind/express).

7

그리움이라는 감정은 인간 존재의 본질적인 부분이다.

The emotion called longing is an essential part of human existence.

-라는 (called/named).

8

만날 수 없는 이에 대한 그리움은 형언할 수 없는 고통이다.

Longing for someone you cannot meet is an indescribable pain.

형언할 수 없는 (indescribable).

1

그리움의 미학은 한국 문학에서 중요한 비중을 차지한다.

The aesthetics of longing occupy a significant portion of Korean literature.

미학 (aesthetics).

2

망향의 한 서린 그리움은 실향민들에게는 씻을 수 없는 상처다.

The sorrowful longing for one's lost home is an unerasable wound for displaced people.

망향 (longing for home), 실향민 (displaced people).

3

그리움은 때로 창조적 영감의 원천이 되기도 한다.

Longing sometimes becomes a source of creative inspiration.

원천 (source/root).

4

그리운 이를 향한 일편단심은 수많은 가사의 주제가 되어 왔다.

Single-hearted devotion toward a missed person has been the theme of countless lyrics.

일편단심 (sincere heart/devotion).

5

그리움이 사무칠 때면 밤잠을 설치곤 했다.

When longing became bone-deep, I used to lose sleep at night.

사무치다 (to pierce/penetrate/be deep-seated).

6

그리움은 과거를 미화시키는 안경과도 같다.

Longing is like glasses that beautify the past.

미화시키다 (to beautify/glorify).

7

우리는 늘 결핍된 무언가를 그리워하며 살아가는 존재들이다.

We are beings who live while always longing for something we lack.

결핍된 (lacking/deficient).

8

그리움의 끝에는 결국 자기 자신과의 대면이 기다리고 있다.

At the end of longing, a confrontation with oneself eventually waits.

대면 (confrontation/meeting face-to-face).

ترکیب‌های رایج

고향이 그립다
어머니가 그립다
옛날이 그립다
손맛이 그립다
사무치게 그립다
목소리가 그립다
시절이 그립다
집밥이 그립다
품이 그립다
자유가 그립다

عبارات رایج

그리운 얼굴

— A missed face; someone you long to see.

그리운 얼굴들을 다시 보니 기쁘다.

그리운 고향

— One's missed hometown.

꿈속에서도 그리운 고향을 보았다.

그리운 시절

— Missed times; the good old days.

그리운 시절로 돌아가고 싶다.

그리움에 젖다

— To be soaked in longing; to be very nostalgic.

옛 사진을 보며 그리움에 젖었다.

그리움이 깊다

— Longing is deep.

그에 대한 그리움이 깊어 잠을 못 이룬다.

그리움을 달래다

— To soothe one's longing.

술 한 잔으로 그리움을 달랬다.

그리움이 밀려오다

— Longing comes washing over one.

밤이 되면 그리움이 밀려온다.

그리움을 참다

— To endure/hold back longing.

그리움을 참고 편지를 쓰지 않았다.

사무치는 그리움

— Longing that pierces the heart.

사무치는 그리움을 안고 살아간다.

그리움의 눈물

— Tears of longing.

그리움의 눈물을 흘렸다.

اصطلاحات و عبارات

"눈에 밟히다"

— To be unable to forget someone; to keep seeing them in one's mind's eye.

두고 온 아이들이 눈에 밟혀서 발길이 떨어지지 않는다.

Informal/Neutral
"뼈에 사무치다"

— To be bone-deep (often used with longing or regret).

고향에 대한 그리움이 뼈에 사무친다.

Literary
"꿈에도 잊지 못하다"

— Cannot forget even in one's dreams.

그리운 님을 꿈에도 잊지 못한다.

Neutral
"간장을 녹이다"

— To melt one's liver/intestines (to cause extreme emotional distress/longing).

그리움이 내 간장을 녹인다.

Archaic/Poetic
"목이 빠지게 기다리다"

— To wait so long for someone you miss that your neck stretches out.

어머니는 아들을 목이 빠지게 기다리셨다.

Informal
"가슴에 묻다"

— To bury (a memory or longing) in one's heart.

그리운 사람을 가슴에 묻고 살아간다.

Neutral
"눈앞에 아른거리다"

— To shimmer before one's eyes (of a missed person/place).

고향 풍경이 눈앞에 아른거린다.

Neutral
"애가 타다"

— To be anxious or heart-burned with longing.

그리움에 애가 타서 잠을 못 잤다.

Neutral
"천 리 길도 멀다 않고"

— Not considering even a 1,000-ri journey too far (to see someone missed).

그리운 친구를 보러 천 리 길도 멀다 않고 달려갔다.

Literary
"그리움이 병이 되다"

— Longing becomes an illness (lovesickness).

그리움이 병이 되어 몸져누웠다.

Neutral

خانواده کلمه

اسم‌ها

그리움 (longing/nostalgia)

فعل‌ها

그리워하다 (to miss - transitive)
그리다 (to long for / to draw)

صفت‌ها

그립다 (to be missed)
그리운 (missed - modifier form)

مرتبط

보고 싶다
아쉽다
추억 (memory)
향수 (nostalgia)
그리워지다 (to become missed)

حفظ کنید

روش یادسپاری

Think of 'G-RIP'. When someone you love is 'RIP' (Rest In Peace), you '그립다' (Geuripda) them. It's a deep, sad kind of missing.

تداعی تصویری

Imagine a person 'drawing' (그리다) a face in the sand on a beach while looking at the horizon. This connects the root 'to draw' with the feeling of longing.

شبکه واژگان

고향 (Hometown) 엄마 (Mom) 옛날 (Old days) 추억 (Memory) 눈물 (Tears) 편지 (Letter) 보고 싶다 (Miss/Want to see) 그리워하다 (To miss)

چالش

Write three things you miss about your childhood using '...이/가 그립다.' Try to use the past tense '그리웠어요' at least once.

ریشه کلمه

Derived from the Middle Korean word '그리다' (geurida).

معنای اصلی: The root '그리-' originally meant both 'to draw/paint' and 'to long for.'

Koreanic

بافت فرهنگی

Be careful when using '그립다' with people you just met; it implies a very deep emotional history.

In English, 'I miss you' is versatile. In Korean, '그립다' is more specific and heavy. Using it for a missed bus or a missing sock is unnatural.

The song '보고 싶다' by Kim Bum-soo (often uses related themes of longing). The poem 'Azaleas' (진달래꽃) by Kim Sowol, which captures the essence of longing and separation. The movie 'Ode to My Father' (국제시장) which depicts the longing of a generation for lost family.

تمرین در زندگی واقعی

موقعیت‌های واقعی

Living abroad

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