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A2 adjective 7 min read

기밀이다

gimirida
Examples Notes & Tips 기밀이다 in 30 Seconds
Explanation 기밀이다 in your Level:
At the A1 level, you usually learn the word '비밀' (secret). '기밀이다' is a more advanced version. Think of '비밀' as a secret you tell a friend. '기밀이다' is a secret that a company or a government keeps. Even though it's formal, you can remember it by looking at the word '기' (which can relate to machines or organizations) and '밀' (secret). At this stage, just recognize that if someone says '기밀이에요,' they mean it is a very serious secret that you should not tell anyone, often related to work or important rules. You might see it on a sign in a movie. Don't worry about using it yourself yet; just understand it means 'It is a strict secret.'
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At the A2 level, you can start to distinguish between different types of secrets. '기밀이다' is used when talking about official things. If you are watching a Korean drama about a company, you might hear a boss say '이건 기밀이야' (This is confidential). You should use '기밀이다' when you want to sound more professional or when the secret is about something important like a document, a password, or a business plan. For example, '이 비밀번호는 기밀이에요' (This password is confidential). It shows you understand that some secrets are more serious than others. You can also use it to be funny by acting like a secret agent with your friends, but usually, it's for serious situations.
By B1, you should be able to use '기밀이다' in professional or semi-formal contexts. You might encounter it in news articles or office settings. You should know how to conjugate it: '기밀입니다' (formal polite), '기밀이에요' (polite), and '기밀인' (modifier). You should also understand related words like '기밀 유지' (maintaining confidentiality). At this level, you should know that '기밀이다' implies a level of responsibility. If something is '기밀', there might be a rule or a law protecting it. You can use it in sentences like '회사의 기밀을 지키는 것은 중요합니다' (It is important to keep the company's secrets/confidentiality).
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At the B2 level, you should understand the legal and social implications of '기밀이다'. You will see this word in contracts (계약서) and legal discussions. You should be familiar with '영업 기밀' (trade secrets) and '국가 기밀' (state secrets). You should also be able to use it with more complex grammar patterns, such as '기밀로 분류되다' (to be classified as confidential) or '기밀을 누설하다' (to leak a secret). At this level, you should also be able to distinguish '기밀' from '대외비' (internal use only) and '극비' (top secret). You should understand that '기밀이다' is a statement of status—it defines the legal state of the information.
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At the C1 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of '기밀이다' in academic, legal, and political discourse. You should be able to discuss the ethics of '기밀' vs. '알 권리' (the right to know). You will encounter this word in deep-dive investigative journalism and historical texts (e.g., '해제된 기밀 문서' - declassified documents). You should be able to use the word in sophisticated ways, such as '기밀 유지 협약' (Non-Disclosure Agreement) or '기밀성' (confidentiality as a property). You should also understand how the word functions in the 'Personal Information Protection Act' (개인정보 보호법) and other specialized fields like cybersecurity.
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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of '기밀이다'. You understand the subtle differences in tone when '기밀' is used in different historical eras or political regimes. You can use it in high-level debates about national security, corporate espionage, and whistleblowing. You are comfortable with archaic or highly specialized variations and can interpret the weight of the word in supreme court rulings. You understand the administrative processes involved in '기밀 지정' (designation of confidentiality) and '기밀 해제' (declassification). Your usage is precise, distinguishing between '기밀', '보안', and '은폐' (concealment) with ease.
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Examples Notes & Tips

기밀이다 in 30 Seconds

  • Formal word for 'confidential' or 'classified'.
  • Used in business, government, and legal contexts.
  • More serious and official than the general word '비밀' (secret).
  • Describes information that has restricted access and legal protection.

The Korean term 기밀이다 (gimil-ida) is a formal and weighty expression used to describe information, documents, or operations that must be kept strictly confidential. While the English word 'secret' can cover both personal secrets and high-level government data, 기밀이다 is specifically reserved for contexts involving security, corporate trade secrets, or national defense. It is the combination of the noun 기밀 (機密), meaning 'confidentiality' or 'secrecy,' and the copula 이다, meaning 'to be.' Therefore, when you say something is 기밀이다, you are not just saying it's a private matter; you are asserting that its disclosure could lead to legal, professional, or national consequences.

Official Context
This word is most frequently encountered in government settings, intelligence agencies, and high-stakes business environments. For example, a military strategy or a new technological patent would be described as '기밀' rather than just '비밀' (a general secret).

이 프로젝트의 세부 사항은 일급 기밀이다.
The details of this project are top secret.

Distinction from 비밀
While '비밀' (bimil) refers to any secret (like a surprise party or a crush), '기밀' refers to information that is classified or restricted by an organization or authority. You wouldn't tell a friend '내 비밀이야' (it's my secret) using '기밀' unless you were joking that your secret is as serious as a government file.

그 정보는 외부인에게 기밀이다.
That information is confidential to outsiders.

The nuance of 기밀이다 suggests a barrier. It implies that there is a specific group of people who are allowed to know, and anyone outside that group is strictly barred. This is why it is often paired with terms like '누설' (leakage) or '해제' (declassification). In modern Korean society, with the rise of technology and data protection laws, the use of 기밀이다 has expanded from the military to include '개인정보 기밀' (personal data confidentiality) and '영업 기밀' (trade secrets).

Legal Weight
Using this word implies a level of legal protection. If a document is marked as '기밀', sharing it could lead to prosecution under the National Security Act or corporate espionage laws.

이것은 회사의 영업 기밀이다.
This is a trade secret of the company.

Using 기밀이다 effectively requires understanding its grammatical behavior as a predicate. Since it is a noun plus the copula '이다', it follows the conjugation rules for adjectives/descriptive verbs. In formal writing, it stays as '기밀이다'. In polite speech, it becomes '기밀이에요' or '기밀입니다'. In casual settings, '기밀이야' is used, though the word itself is rarely casual.

Subject Marking
The subject of the sentence (the information or document) is usually marked with the particle '은/는' or '이/가'. For example, '내용은 기밀이다' (The content is confidential).

조사 결과는 아직 기밀이다.
The investigation results are still confidential.

When you want to describe a noun using '기밀', you use the modifier form 기밀인. For example, '기밀인 문서' means 'a document that is confidential.' However, it is much more common to use the compound noun form '기밀 문서' (confidential document) without the '인'.

그는 기밀인 정보를 유출했다.
He leaked information that is confidential.

Negative Form
To say something is NOT confidential, you use '기밀이 아니다'. For example, '이것은 더 이상 기밀이 아니다' (This is no longer confidential).

그 비밀번호는 철저히 기밀이다.
That password is strictly confidential.

In professional reporting, you might see the phrase '기밀로 분류되다' (to be classified as confidential). While not using '기밀이다' directly as the ending, it shows the flexibility of the root noun. Another common structure is '기밀을 유지하다' (to maintain confidentiality).

이 계획은 국가 안보상 기밀이다.
This plan is confidential for national security reasons.

You are most likely to hear 기밀이다 in media that deals with high-stakes scenarios. In Korean news broadcasts (뉴스), the anchor might report on '국가 기밀 유출 사건' (national secret leak case). In these contexts, the word carries a sense of gravity and impending legal action. It’s also a staple of Korean political dramas and spy thrillers, where characters often whisper '이건 기밀이야' (This is confidential) before handing over a manila envelope.

Corporate World
In the office (사무실), especially in tech companies like Samsung or SK Hynix, '영업 기밀' (business secrets) is a term used daily. Employees are reminded that their research and development data is '기밀이다' during orientation and security training.

이 회의 내용은 전적으로 기밀이다.
The contents of this meeting are entirely confidential.

Another common place is in legal documents. When you sign a contract in Korea, you will see sections titled '기밀 유지 의무' (Obligation to maintain confidentiality). If someone asks you about the terms of your salary or a project you are working on, you might professionally decline by saying, '그것은 기밀이라서 말씀드릴 수 없습니다' (I cannot tell you because it is confidential).

군사 작전은 항상 기밀이다.
Military operations are always confidential.

In the digital age, you also see this in cybersecurity. When a system is breached, the news will report that '기밀 데이터' (confidential data) has been compromised. On the internet, forums discussing leaks of upcoming movies or games might use the term '기밀' to add a sense of exclusivity or forbidden excitement to the post.

Airport & Security
At high-security zones like airports or research labs, signs might read '기밀 구역' (Confidential Area/Restricted Area), warning that entry is forbidden.

여기는 정부 기밀 구역입니다.
This is a government confidential area.

The most common mistake learners make is using 기밀이다 where 비밀이다 (bimil-ida) would be more appropriate. While they both translate to 'is a secret,' they are not interchangeable in terms of register and context. Using '기밀이다' for a personal secret about who you like or what you ate for lunch sounds overly dramatic and potentially confusing to a native speaker.

Over-Formality
Mistake: '내 생일 선물은 기밀이야.' (My birthday present is confidential.) Correct: '내 생일 선물은 비밀이야.' (My birthday present is a secret.) Reason: '기밀' is for professional/official secrecy.

친구 사이에는 비밀이 없어야 해. (O)
친구 사이에는 기밀이 없어야 해. (X)
There should be no secrets between friends.

Another mistake is treating 기밀 as a pure adjective. Remember, it is a noun. You cannot say '기밀한 문서' (a confidential document) in the same way you say '예쁜 꽃' (a pretty flower). You must use the noun modifier form '기밀인' or simply use it as a compound noun '기밀 문서'.

Confusing with '보안' (Security)
Learners often confuse '기밀' (the content) with '보안' (the system/protection). You maintain '보안' to protect '기밀'. Saying '이 문서는 보안이다' is slightly unnatural compared to '이 문서는 기밀이다'.

이것은 사적인 비밀입니다. (O)
이것은 사적인 기밀입니다. (X)
This is a private secret.

Lastly, watch out for the pronunciation of the 'ㄹ' at the end of '밀'. It should be a clear alveolar lateral, not a flap. If you mispronounce it, it might sound like '기미' (freckle/sign), which completely changes the meaning of your sentence!

To master Korean, you need to know the hierarchy of 'secrecy' words. 기밀이다 sits at the top of the formal hierarchy. Below it, you have 비밀이다 (to be a secret), which is the most versatile and common word for everyday use. If something is even more secret than '기밀', you might use 극비이다 (to be top secret/ultra-secret).

기밀 vs. 비밀
'기밀' is professional/legal/official. '비밀' is personal/casual/general. Example: A spy has '국가 기밀' (state secrets), but a child has '작은 비밀' (a small secret).
기밀 vs. 극비
'극비' (極秘) adds the prefix '극' (extreme). It is used for things that are so sensitive that only a handful of people know, like the location of a nuclear bunker.

그 작전은 극비로 부쳐졌다.
The operation was classified as top secret.

Other alternatives include 대외비 (dae-oe-bi), which specifically refers to information that is 'confidential to the outside'—often used in companies for internal documents that aren't necessarily 'top secret' but shouldn't be shared with competitors. There is also 보안 (bo-an), which refers to security in general.

Contextual Table
  • 비밀: General secrets.
  • 기밀: Official/Professional secrets.
  • 극비: Highest level of secrecy.
  • 대외비: Internal-only (Business).

이 문서는 대외비로 취급해 주세요.
Please treat this document as internal-only.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '機' (gi) originally referred to the trigger of a crossbow, implying something small that controls a large outcome—much like a secret.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɡi.mil.i.da/
US /ɡi.mɪl.i.dɑ/
Stress is usually even across syllables, but a slight emphasis can be placed on '기' (Gi).
Rhymes With
비밀이다 치밀하다 긴밀하다 정밀하다 친밀하다 면밀하다 감미롭다 교묘하다
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing 'mil' like 'mee' (dropping the L).
  • Making the 'da' sound like 'ta' (it should be a voiced 'd').
  • Confusing the vowel 'i' with 'e'.
  • Failing to link 'mil' and 'i' (it should sound like 'mi-ri' due to resyllabification).
  • Pronouncing 'gi' like 'ji'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in formal texts once you know the Hanja root.

Writing 4/5

Requires understanding of the copula '이다' and professional context.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward but requires correct 'ㄹ' sound.

Listening 3/5

Common in news and dramas, easy to pick out.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

비밀 이다 정보 말하다 지키다

Learn Next

누설 유출 보안 협약 분류

Advanced

대외비 극비 보안법 국가안보 첩보
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Examples by Level

1

이것은 기밀이에요.

This is a secret (confidential).

이다 is the copula 'to be'.

2

그것은 기밀입니까?

Is that confidential?

입니까 is the formal question form.

3

기밀은 안 돼요.

No secrets (confidential things) allowed.

은 is the topic marker.

4

이 이름은 기밀이다.

This name is confidential.

이다 is the plain form.

5

그것은 기밀이 아니에요.

That is not confidential.

이 아니에요 is the negative form.

6

기밀을 말하지 마세요.

Please don't say the secret.

지 마세요 means 'don't do'.

7

이 방은 기밀이다.

This room is confidential (restricted).

Noun + 이다.

8

이것은 우리 기밀이야.

This is our secret (confidential).

이야 is casual polite.

1

회사의 정보는 기밀입니다.

The company's information is confidential.

의 indicates possession.

2

이 문서는 아주 기밀이다.

This document is very confidential.

아주 means 'very'.

3

비밀번호가 기밀이에요?

Is the password confidential?

가 is the subject marker.

4

기밀을 지켜 주세요.

Please keep the secret (confidentiality).

지키다 means 'to keep/protect'.

5

이 계획은 아직 기밀이다.

This plan is still confidential.

아직 means 'still'.

6

기밀인 내용을 들었어요.

I heard something that is confidential.

기밀인 is the modifier form.

7

이것은 기밀이라서 말 못 해요.

I can't tell you because this is confidential.

-(이)라서 means 'because'.

8

그 소식은 기밀이 아니었어요.

That news was not confidential.

아니었어요 is past tense negative.

1

모든 고객 명단은 기밀이다.

All customer lists are confidential.

모든 means 'all'.

2

기밀 유지가 가장 중요합니다.

Maintaining confidentiality is most important.

유지 means 'maintenance'.

3

이 정보가 기밀인지 확인하세요.

Please check if this information is confidential.

인지 확인하다 means 'check whether'.

4

기밀을 누설하면 안 됩니다.

You must not leak confidential information.

-(으)면 안 되다 means 'must not'.

5

그 사건은 국가 기밀로 분류되었다.

The case was classified as a state secret.

로 분류되다 means 'classified as'.

6

이것은 일급 기밀이라 보안이 철저하다.

This is top secret, so security is thorough.

철저하다 means 'to be thorough'.

7

기밀인 자료를 복사하지 마세요.

Do not copy confidential materials.

자료 means 'materials/data'.

8

정부는 그 문서를 기밀이라고 했다.

The government said that document is confidential.

이라고 하다 is indirect speech.

1

영업 기밀을 보호하기 위해 노력한다.

We are making efforts to protect trade secrets.

기 위해 means 'in order to'.

2

이것은 법적으로 기밀이다.

This is legally confidential.

법적으로 means 'legally'.

3

기밀을 유지할 의무가 있습니다.

There is an obligation to maintain confidentiality.

의무 means 'obligation'.

4

해당 문서는 기밀 해제되었습니다.

The document in question has been declassified.

해제되다 means 'to be released/cancelled'.

5

기밀 사항을 위반하면 처벌받는다.

If you violate confidentiality matters, you will be punished.

처벌받다 means 'to be punished'.

6

조사 중인 내용은 엄격히 기밀이다.

The content under investigation is strictly confidential.

엄격히 means 'strictly'.

7

회사는 기밀 유출을 막으려 한다.

The company is trying to prevent confidential leaks.

-(으)려 하다 means 'intend to'.

8

그는 기밀을 취급하는 직책을 맡았다.

He took a position that handles confidential information.

취급하다 means 'to handle'.

1

국가 안보와 직결된 기밀이다.

It is a secret directly linked to national security.

직결되다 means 'to be directly connected'.

2

기밀 유지 협약서에 서명했다.

I signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

협약서 means 'agreement document'.

3

기밀성이 훼손될 우려가 있다.

There is a concern that confidentiality might be compromised.

훼손되다 means 'to be damaged'.

4

정보의 기밀을 보장하는 기술이다.

It is a technology that guarantees the confidentiality of information.

보장하다 means 'to guarantee'.

5

기밀로 부쳐진 내막이 밝혀졌다.

The inside story, which had been kept confidential, was revealed.

부쳐지다 here means 'to be consigned/kept'.

6

기밀 등급에 따라 접근 권한이 다르다.

Access rights differ according to the confidentiality level.

에 따라 means 'according to'.

7

그 보고서는 일시적으로 기밀이다.

That report is temporarily confidential.

일시적으로 means 'temporarily'.

8

기밀을 다루는 태도가 신중해야 한다.

The attitude in handling secrets must be cautious.

신중하다 means 'to be cautious'.

1

국가 기밀의 오남용을 경계해야 한다.

We must be wary of the misuse and abuse of state secrets.

오남용 means 'misuse and abuse'.

2

기밀 해제 시점은 미정이다.

The timing for declassification is undecided.

미정 means 'undecided'.

3

기밀 사항의 외부 유출은 치명적이다.

The external leak of confidential matters is fatal.

치명적이다 means 'to be fatal/lethal'.

4

그는 기밀 유지 의무 위반으로 제소되었다.

He was sued for violating his confidentiality obligation.

제소되다 means 'to be sued'.

5

기밀을 엄수하는 것은 공직자의 도리이다.

Strictly observing secrecy is the duty of a public official.

엄수하다 means 'to strictly observe'.

6

기밀 보호와 투명성 사이의 균형이 필요하다.

A balance between protecting secrets and transparency is needed.

투명성 means 'transparency'.

7

기밀 정보의 가치는 시간이 지나면 변한다.

The value of confidential information changes over time.

가치 means 'value'.

8

기밀을 유지하려는 관료적 관성이 존재한다.

There is a bureaucratic inertia to maintain secrecy.

관성 means 'inertia'.

Common Collocations

국가 기밀
영업 기밀
기밀 유지
기밀 문서
기밀 누설
기밀 해제
일급 기밀
기밀 사항
기밀 취급
기밀 유출

Common Phrases

기밀을 지키다

— To keep/guard a secret.

우리는 끝까지 기밀을 지켰다.

기밀에 부치다

— To keep something secret/confidential.

그 소식은 기밀에 부쳐졌다.

기밀로 분류하다

— To classify as confidential.

이 파일은 기밀로 분류하세요.

기밀을 탐지하다

— To detect or spy on secrets.

적의 기밀을 탐지했다.

기밀을 공유하다

— To share confidential information (with authorized people).

팀원끼리만 기밀을 공유했다.

기밀을 파기하다

— To destroy confidential info.

증거가 될 기밀을 파기했다.

기밀을 악용하다

— To misuse a secret.

기밀을 악용해 돈을 벌었다.

기밀이 새다

— A secret leaks out.

어디선가 기밀이 새고 있다.

기밀을 보장하다

— To guarantee confidentiality.

정보의 기밀을 보장합니다.

기밀을 존중하다

— To respect confidentiality.

상대방의 기밀을 존중해야 한다.

Idioms & Expressions

"입이 무겁다"

— To be good at keeping secrets.

그는 입이 무거워서 기밀을 잘 지킨다.

Neutral
"발 없는 말이 천 리 간다"

— Rumors (and secrets) travel fast and far.

기밀이라도 조심해, 발 없는 말이 천 리 가니까.

Proverb
"낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다"

— Be careful what you say, someone is always listening.

기밀을 말할 때는 조심해라.

Proverb
"입을 닦다"

— To feign ignorance (sometimes after leaking something).

기밀을 팔고 입을 닦았다.

Informal
"귀신도 모른다"

— Even a ghost doesn't know (it's a perfect secret).

이 기밀은 귀신도 모를 거야.

Neutral
"무덤까지 가져가다"

— To take a secret to the grave.

이 기밀은 무덤까지 가져가야 해.

Neutral
"담벼락에도 귀가 있다"

— The walls have ears.

기밀을 얘기할 땐 담벼락에도 귀가 있다는 걸 잊지 마.

Neutral
"입에 자물쇠를 채우다"

— To lock one's mouth (to keep a secret).

기밀 유지를 위해 입에 자물쇠를 채웠다.

Neutral
"눈 가리고 아웅"

— To try to hide something obvious (bad secrecy).

그건 기밀이라고 하지만 눈 가리고 아웅이다.

Neutral
"속을 보이다"

— To show one's true intentions/secrets.

기밀을 말해서 속을 보였다.

Neutral

Word Family

Nouns

기밀 (Confidentiality)
보안 (Security)
비밀 (Secret)
극비 (Top secret)

Verbs

기밀하다 (To be secret - rare, usually noun + 이다)
기밀화하다 (To make confidential)

Adjectives

기밀한 (Confidential - modifier)
비밀스러운 (Secretive)

Related

누설 (Leak)
유지 (Maintenance)
해제 (Release)
보호 (Protection)
분류 (Classification)
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Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Key' (Gi) that is 'Mill' (Mil)ed specifically for a secret lock. Only those with the Key-Mill can open it.

Visual Association

Imagine a red stamp that says 'CONFIDENTIAL' on a thick file folder inside a metal safe.

Word Web

Security Spy NDA Government Locked Private Legal Password

Challenge

Try to find three things in your house that you would label as '기밀' (e.g., your diary, your tax returns, your Wi-Fi password).

Word Origin

Sino-Korean word derived from Chinese characters.

Original meaning: 機密: 機 (Machine/Opportunity/Secret) + 密 (Dense/Close/Secret).

Sino-Korean (Hanja)

Cultural Context

Be careful not to use '기밀' for personal gossip, as it sounds unnaturally heavy or sarcastic.

In English, 'confidential' and 'secret' are used, but 'confidential' is the closest match to '기밀' in formal settings.

The movie 'Confidential Assignment' (공조) News reports on the 'National Intelligence Service' (국정원) Corporate NDA clauses in Korean contracts.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Office

  • 기밀 유지 서약서
  • 영업 기밀입니다
  • 기밀 문서를 파쇄하세요
  • 외부 유출 금지

In the Military

  • 군사 기밀
  • 일급 기밀
  • 기밀 구역
  • 암호명

Legal/Contracts

  • 기밀 유지 조항
  • 위반 시 처벌
  • 기밀 정보의 정의
  • 제3자 제공 금지

Cybersecurity

  • 기밀 데이터
  • 보안 등급
  • 기밀성 보장
  • 해킹 사고

News/Politics

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