Explanation at your level:
When you are very angry, you need to 진정하다. It means to stop being angry and feel happy again. You can say this to your friend when they are sad.
Use 진정하다 when you want to tell someone to relax. It is like saying 'breathe' or 'take it easy.' It is a very helpful word for daily life in Korea.
This verb is used to describe stabilizing emotions or situations. If a market is going up and down, we say it is 진정되는 중이다. It is useful for describing change over time.
Beyond just personal emotions, 진정하다 is used in professional contexts to describe the mitigation of crises. It implies a conscious effort to restore order.
In advanced usage, it carries a nuance of 'suppressing' or 'subduing.' It can refer to the pacification of a riot or the cooling of a heated public debate, highlighting the transition from volatility to equilibrium.
Mastering this word involves understanding its etymological roots in 鎭 (to press) and 靜 (stillness). It is often used in literary or academic prose to describe the 'sublimation' of intense human passions into a state of reflective composure.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to calm down.
- Used for both people and situations.
- Has Sino-Korean roots.
- Essential for daily communication.
The word 진정하다 is a foundational Korean verb used to describe the return to a state of calm. Whether you are dealing with a tantrum, a stressful situation, or your own racing heart, this word captures the transition from chaos to peace.
Think of it as the emotional equivalent of a storm passing. When someone is upset, you might tell them to 진정하세요 (please calm down). It is a vital tool for de-escalation in everyday communication.
The word is rooted in Hanja (Sino-Korean characters). 진(鎭) means 'to suppress' or 'to press down,' while 정(靜) means 'quiet' or 'still.'
Historically, it was used in contexts of military pacification or restoring order to a region. Over centuries, the meaning shifted to apply to personal psychology, reflecting how we 'press down' our wild emotions to find inner stillness.
You will hear this in both casual and formal settings. In a casual setting, you might say 진정해 to a friend. In a formal setting, like a news report, it might describe a market 진정세 (stabilizing trend).
Commonly paired with 마음 (heart/mind) or 상태 (state), it is a versatile verb for any situation requiring a return to normalcy.
While not strictly an idiom, the phrase 진정을 찾다 (to find one's calm) is a common expression. Another is 진정 기미를 보이다 (to show signs of stabilizing), often used in economic or medical contexts.
These expressions help speakers describe the process of calming down rather than just the state itself.
As a regular verb, it follows standard conjugation rules. It is often used as 진정하다 (dictionary form) or 진정하세요 (polite command).
Pronunciation is straightforward: jin-jeong-ha-da. Ensure the 'ng' sounds are clear to distinguish it from similar-sounding words.
Fun Fact
The character 鎭 implies a heavy weight, suggesting calmness is a grounding force.
Pronunciation Guide
Standard Korean phonetics.
Standard Korean phonetics.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'ng'
- Ignoring double consonants
- Flat intonation
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Verb conjugation
진정하다 -> 진정해요
Polite imperative
진정하세요
Causative verbs
진정시키다
Examples by Level
진정하세요.
Please calm down.
Polite imperative.
마음을 진정하세요.
그는 진정했다.
이제 진정해.
진정하는 중이야.
모두 진정하세요.
상황이 진정되었다.
진정하기 어렵다.
잠시 진정해.
시장이 진정세를 보입니다.
그는 화를 진정하려고 노력했다.
사태가 곧 진정될 것이다.
호흡을 진정하세요.
흥분을 진정시키다.
진정하고 다시 생각해보자.
조금 진정된 것 같아요.
소란이 진정되었다.
사태를 진정시키기 위해 노력했다.
그녀는 감정을 진정시키려 애썼다.
경제 상황이 진정 국면에 접어들었다.
폭동은 곧 진정되었다.
마음을 진정시키고 들어보세요.
그의 목소리는 진정되어 있었다.
진정할 시간이 필요하다.
상황이 진정되기를 기다립시다.
정부는 사태를 진정시키기 위한 조치를 취했다.
그의 말에 분노가 진정되었다.
시장의 혼란은 점차 진정되는 기미를 보였다.
그녀는 깊은 숨을 들이마시며 마음을 진정했다.
감정을 진정시키는 것은 쉽지 않다.
소요 사태가 진정 국면으로 접어들었다.
그는 침착하게 상황을 진정시켰다.
진정된 목소리로 대답했다.
그는 내면의 격동을 진정시키며 명상에 잠겼다.
정치적 갈등이 진정될 기미가 보이지 않는다.
사태를 진정시키려는 당국의 노력은 무위로 돌아갔다.
그의 진정된 어조가 청중을 안심시켰다.
사회적 불안이 진정되기까지는 시간이 걸릴 것이다.
감정의 소용돌이를 진정시키는 법을 배웠다.
폭풍이 지나가고 바다가 진정되었다.
그는 자신의 분노를 진정시키기 위해 노력했다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"진정을 찾다"
to regain composure
그는 심호흡을 하며 진정을 찾았다.
neutral"진정 기미를 보이다"
to show signs of stabilizing
경제 위기가 진정 기미를 보이고 있다.
formal"진정 국면에 접어들다"
to enter a phase of stability
사태가 진정 국면에 접어들었다.
formal"진정시키려 애쓰다"
to struggle to calm down
그는 화를 진정시키려 애썼다.
neutral"진정된 어조"
a calm tone
그는 진정된 어조로 말했다.
formal"진정할 필요가 있다"
to need to calm down
너는 지금 진정할 필요가 있어.
casualEasily Confused
Same spelling
Hanja origin
진정으로 사랑해 vs 마음을 진정하다
Similar sound
Stability vs Calming
상태가 안정하다
Similar meaning
State vs Action
침착함을 유지하다
Similar context
Physical vs Emotional
먼지가 가라앉다
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 마음을 + 진정하다
나는 마음을 진정했다.
Subject + 상황을 + 진정시키다
그는 상황을 진정시켰다.
Subject + 진정하는 중이다
나는 진정하는 중이다.
Subject + 진정해라
진정해라.
Subject + 진정된 어조로
그는 진정된 어조로 말했다.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Using plain form with elders is rude.
Learners often think they are different, but they are interchangeable.
It is a verb, not an adjective.
진정 can also mean 'sincerity'.
Variety makes speech natural.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a heavy anchor dropping into a quiet lake.
Native Context
Use it when someone is overreacting.
Cultural Insight
It is a polite way to de-escalate tension.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use with -세요 for politeness.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'ng' sound at the end of syllables.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it as a noun.
Did You Know?
It comes from ancient Chinese characters.
Study Smart
Pair it with '마음' (heart) to remember it better.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Jin (the person) is Jeong (quiet/still).
Visual Association
A stormy sea becoming flat and still.
Word Web
Challenge
Say '진정하세요' to a friend today.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: To press down and keep quiet.
Cultural Context
Can sound condescending if used incorrectly with a superior.
Equates to 'calm down' or 'settle down'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 사태를 진정시키다
- 진정된 분위기
- 마음을 진정하고 보고하세요
At home
- 이제 진정해
- 진정하고 말해
- 조금 진정했어?
In news
- 시장이 진정세로 돌아섰다
- 사태가 진정 국면에 접어들었다
In relationships
- 우리 진정하고 이야기하자
Conversation Starters
"How do you calm down when you are stressed?"
"Have you ever told someone to calm down?"
"What helps you find your calm?"
"Is it easy to stay calm in a crisis?"
"Why do people lose their calm?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you had to calm down.
What is your favorite way to reach a state of calm?
Write about a situation that needed to be calmed down.
How do you help others calm down?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsOnly to those older than you.
Yes, like a market or a situation.
진정하다 is the action of calming, 침착하다 is the state of being calm.
Use 진정하십시오.
Yes, it is a verb.
Yes, it is common in writing.
It can, but that is a different Hanja (眞情).
Yes, often in lyrics about heartbreak.
Test Yourself
화가 날 때는 ___ 하세요.
The context implies calming down.
Which means to calm down?
Correct definition.
진정하다 can mean to get angry.
It means the opposite.
Word
Meaning
Matching concepts.
Correct word order.
Score: /5
Summary
진정하다 is the perfect verb to describe the transition from emotional turbulence to peace.
- Means to calm down.
- Used for both people and situations.
- Has Sino-Korean roots.
- Essential for daily communication.
Memory Palace
Imagine a heavy anchor dropping into a quiet lake.
Native Context
Use it when someone is overreacting.
Cultural Insight
It is a polite way to de-escalate tension.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use with -세요 for politeness.
Example
화를 내지 말고 진정하세요.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More emotions words
받아들이다
A2To accept, to embrace, to take in.
아파하다
A2To feel pain or sorrow.
감탄스럽다
A2To be admirable or wonderful; to inspire awe.
감탄
A2Admiration or marvel; a feeling of wonder.
감탄하다
A2To admire or to marvel; to express wonder.
기특하다
B1Admirable for a good deed or thought; commendable.
충고
B1Guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action; advice.
애정
B1Affection; a gentle feeling of fondness or liking.
애틋하다
B2To be tender, fond, or wistful.
살갑다
B2To be warm, friendly, affectionate.
