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B1 noun 10 min read

증발

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 증발 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 증발 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know '증발' in its most basic, physical sense. Think of it as what happens to water when it gets hot. You might see it in a simple sentence like '물이 증발해요' (The water evaporates). It is a noun, but we almost always use it with '해요' or '합니다' to make it an action. At this stage, focus on the image of steam rising from a pot. You don't need to worry about the metaphorical meanings yet. Just remember that it involves liquid turning into air. It is a good word to learn when you are talking about the weather or basic science. If you see a puddle of water disappear on a sunny day, that is '증발'. Keep it simple: Water + Heat = 증발. This will help you build a solid foundation for more complex uses later on. You should also practice the pronunciation: 'jeung-bal'. It's a sharp, two-syllable word that is easy to remember once you associate it with the 'jeung' (steam) in a steamer basket.

At the A2 level, you can start using '증발' to describe everyday observations more accurately. You might use it when talking about cooking, like '국물이 증발했어요' (The soup evaporated/boiled away). You are also becoming more aware of how nouns can become verbs by adding '하다'. You should understand that '증발' is something that happens naturally to liquids. You might also encounter it in slightly more descriptive sentences involving the sun or wind. For example, '빨래의 물기가 증발해요' (The moisture in the laundry evaporates). This is a step up from A1 because you are applying the word to different contexts like housework and nature. You should also be able to recognize the past tense '증발했다' to describe something that has already finished evaporating. Start noticing how it is different from '사라지다' (to disappear), which is a more general word you already know. '증발' is more specific to liquids and steam.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable with both the literal and the common metaphorical uses of '증발'. This is where the word becomes really interesting. You will start to see it in news stories or stories about people. If a person 'evaporates' (증발하다), it means they vanished suddenly and mysteriously. You might hear someone say, '그는 흔적도 없이 증발했다' (He vanished without a trace). You should also understand its use in financial contexts, such as '내 돈이 다 증발했어' (All my money evaporated), which is a common way to express losing money quickly in the stock market or due to a scam. At this level, you should be able to use '증발' in your own writing to add drama or precision. You should also be aware of the Hanja (蒸發) to help you connect it to other words. For example, '증기' (steam) also uses the '증' character. This level requires you to distinguish between '증발' and '실종' (missing), knowing that '증발' is more descriptive and '실종' is more official.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use '증발' in more complex grammatical structures and formal contexts. You should be able to use the causative form '증발시키다' (to cause to evaporate) when describing an action you or someone else took. For example, '실험을 위해 액체를 증발시켰다' (I evaporated the liquid for the experiment). You will also encounter '증발' in academic or professional texts, such as discussions about environmental science or economics. You should understand nuances like '유동성 증발' (evaporation of liquidity) in finance. Your ability to use '증발' metaphorically should be more refined, using it to describe abstract concepts like '기억의 증발' (evaporation of memory) or '권위의 증발' (evaporation of authority). You should also be able to explain the difference between '증발' and scientific terms like '기화' (vaporization) to others. This level is about precision and being able to use the word in varied registers, from casual conversation to formal reports.

At the C1 level, you should have a deep, nuanced understanding of '증발' and be able to use it with literary flair. You might use it in advanced essays or creative writing to describe the fleeting nature of time or the sudden collapse of a social structure. You should be familiar with how '증발' is used in sociological discussions about 'human evaporation' (인간 증발) in East Asia, understanding the cultural and economic factors behind it. You can use the word to create vivid metaphors, such as '사회의 신뢰가 증발하고 있다' (The trust of society is evaporating). You should also be able to recognize and use advanced collocations and idiomatic expressions involving '증발'. Your understanding of the word's Hanja roots should allow you to see connections to very formal or archaic terms. At this level, '증발' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a tool for expressing complex ideas about disappearance, loss, and the transient nature of existence in both physical and social realms.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of '증발' in all its dimensions. You can effortlessly switch between its scientific, metaphorical, and sociological applications. You might use it in high-level academic research, legal arguments, or sophisticated literary criticism. You understand the subtle differences between '증발' and every possible synonym, including rare or technical terms like '산일' (dissipation) or '소산' (dissipation/vanishing). You can appreciate how '증발' is used in poetry to evoke a sense of emptiness or the ephemeral. You might analyze how the word's usage has evolved in Korean media over the decades. Your use of '증발' in speech and writing is perfectly timed and contextually flawless, whether you are discussing the thermodynamics of a cooling system or the psychological state of a person who chooses to disappear from society. At this pinnacle of learning, '증발' is a word you can manipulate to convey exact shades of meaning, from the clinical to the profoundly emotional.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

증발 in 30 Seconds

증발 primarily refers to the physical process of evaporation where liquids turn into gas, commonly seen in nature and cooking contexts.
It is widely used metaphorically to describe the sudden and mysterious disappearance of people, money, assets, or evidence.
The word is a noun that combines with '하다' to form an intransitive verb meaning 'to evaporate' or 'to vanish'.
In social contexts, 'human evaporation' (인간 증발) refers to people who intentionally disappear from society to escape pressure or debt.

The Korean word 증발 (Jeung-bal) is a multifaceted noun that English speakers will find both scientifically familiar and metaphorically intriguing. At its core, it refers to the physical process of evaporation—where a liquid turns into a gas. However, in the context of Korean daily life and media, its usage extends far beyond the science laboratory. It is frequently employed to describe the sudden, often inexplicable disappearance of objects, money, or even people. When a person 'evaporates' in Korea, it implies they have vanished without a trace, often to escape debt, responsibility, or social pressure. This metaphorical layer is essential for B1 learners to grasp, as it appears in news headlines and K-dramas regularly.

Scientific Context: In chemistry, it describes water molecules escaping into the air. You will see this in weather reports discussing humidity or in cooking instructions where a sauce needs to reduce.
Metaphorical Context: This refers to the 'vanishing' of abstract or physical entities. For example, if a company's funds are missing, the media might say the money 'evaporated'. If a witness goes into hiding, they have 'evaporated'.

햇볕 때문에 바닥의 물이 금방 증발했다. (The water on the floor evaporated quickly because of the sunlight.)

그는 빚을 남기고 연기처럼 증발해 버렸다. (He vanished like smoke, leaving behind his debts.)

Understanding the Hanja behind the word helps solidify its meaning: 蒸 (Jeung) means 'steam' or 'to steam,' and 發 (Bal) means 'to emit' or 'to happen.' Together, they create the image of steam being emitted or rising away. This visual of rising steam is exactly why the word is used for things that disappear into thin air. Whether you are studying for the TOPIK exam or watching a mystery thriller, recognizing the dual nature of '증발'—as both a physical state change and a social phenomenon—will significantly enhance your Korean comprehension. It is a word that bridges the gap between formal scientific discourse and dramatic everyday storytelling. For instance, in a business meeting, you might hear about 'liquidity evaporation' (유동성 증발) during a financial crisis, while in a casual conversation, a friend might complain that their weekend 'evaporated' because they slept too much. This versatility makes it a high-frequency noun for intermediate learners who want to sound more natural and precise in their descriptions of disappearance.

가습기에서 물이 증발하면서 공기가 촉촉해졌다. (As the water evaporated from the humidifier, the air became moist.)

사건의 유일한 목격자가 감쪽같이 증발했다. (The sole witness to the case vanished without a trace.)

Register Note: While '사라지다' (to disappear) is a general verb, '증발' is a noun that sounds more clinical or dramatic depending on the context. It is often paired with the verb '하다' to form '증발하다'.

Using 증발 correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as a noun and its transformation into an intransitive verb. Most commonly, you will see it as 증발하다 (to evaporate/vanish). Because the subject is the thing that is undergoing the evaporation, you will typically use the subject markers -이/가. For example, '물이 증발하다' (water evaporates). In more formal or scientific writing, you might encounter '증발시키다' (to cause to evaporate), where an agent is actively removing liquid through heat.

Common Verb Pairings: 증발하다 (to evaporate), 증발시키다 (to make evaporate), 증발되다 (to be evaporated - passive), 증발해 버리다 (to vanish completely/regrettably).

국물이 너무 증발하지 않게 불을 줄이세요. (Reduce the heat so the soup doesn't evaporate too much.)

그의 기억 속에서 그날의 사건이 서서히 증발해 갔다. (The events of that day slowly evaporated from his memory.)

In academic settings, '증발' is often the subject of a sentence followed by '현상' (phenomenon). For example, '증발 현상은 기온이 높을수록 활발해진다' (The evaporation phenomenon becomes more active as the temperature rises). In news reports about crime or finance, you will hear phrases like '예금이 증발했다' (Deposits evaporated) or '용의자가 증발했다' (The suspect evaporated/vanished). These sentences use '증발' to emphasize the lack of clues or the speed of the disappearance. You should also note that '증발' is an intransitive process in its '하다' form; the water does the evaporating. If you want to say you evaporated the water, you must use '증발시키다'.

알코올은 물보다 더 빨리 증발하는 성질이 있다. (Alcohol has the property of evaporating faster than water.)

가상 화폐 시장에서 수조 원의 자산이 하룻밤 사이에 증발했다. (Trillions of won in assets evaporated overnight in the cryptocurrency market.)

Adverbial Companions: Commonly used with '순식간에' (in an instant), '감쪽같이' (without a trace/perfectly), or '서서히' (gradually).

You will encounter 증발 in a variety of real-world scenarios in Korea, ranging from the mundane to the high-stakes. In a kitchen setting, a mother might tell her child to watch the pot so the water doesn't '증발' away. In a science classroom, students study '증발' alongside '응결' (condensation). However, the word takes on a darker tone in the news. The term '인간 증발' (human evaporation) is a chilling phrase used to describe people who intentionally disappear to start new lives, often due to social shame or financial ruin. This is a recognized social issue in East Asian cultures, and '증발' is the technical term used by journalists and sociologists to describe it.

In the Media: News headlines often use '증발' for missing evidence, lost tax revenue, or vanishing corporate funds. It creates a sense of scandal and mystery.
In Literature & Film: Thriller and mystery genres use '증발' to set up a plot where a protagonist must find someone who disappeared without leaving any clues.

어제 뉴스에서 본 그 실종 사건, 사람이 어떻게 그렇게 흔적도 없이 증발할 수 있지? (That missing person case I saw on the news yesterday—how can a person evaporate like that without a trace?)

주식 시장이 폭락하면서 내 투자금이 다 증발해 버렸어. (As the stock market crashed, all my investment money just evaporated.)

In professional settings, particularly in finance or law, '증발' is used to describe the loss of intangible assets or the disappearance of digital data. If a hard drive fails and the files are unrecoverable, an IT professional might say the data '증발했다'. Similarly, in a legal context, if a key witness fails to show up and cannot be found, the prosecution might state that the witness has '증발'ed. This word is powerful because it combines the inevitability of a natural process with the frustration of a sudden loss. It is less about the act of leaving and more about the state of being gone. When you hear it, think of something that was there one moment and gone the next, leaving only a memory or a void behind.

컴퓨터가 꺼지면서 저장하지 않은 문서가 증발했다. (When the computer turned off, the unsaved document evaporated/disappeared.)

그녀는 작별 인사도 없이 파티에서 증발했다. (She evaporated from the party without even saying goodbye.)

Cultural Nuance: In Korea, '증발' often carries a heavier weight than 'vanishing' because of the social implications of people disappearing to escape societal pressures.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with 증발 is confusing it with other words for 'disappearing' like 사라지다 or 없어지다. While they share a similar meaning, '증발' is much more specific. You wouldn't say a rainbow '증발'ed; you would say it '사라졌다'. '증발' implies a process of turning into vapor or a sudden, mysterious vanishing of something that should be there. Another mistake is using '증발' for the death of a person. Unless you are writing a sci-fi novel where someone literally turns into gas, '증발' is about missing people (disappearance), not deceased ones.

증발 vs. 기화 (Gihwa): Both mean vaporization. However, '기화' is a strictly scientific term used in textbooks. You would never say a person '기화'ed metaphorically. '증발' is the word for everyday and metaphorical use.
증발 vs. 실종 (Siljong): '실종' is the legal/official term for a missing person. '증발' is more descriptive and colloquial. You'll see '실종 신고' (missing person report) but '그는 증발했다' (he vanished).

Incorrect: 무지개가 증발했어요. (The rainbow evaporated.)

Correct: 무지개가 사라졌어요. (The rainbow disappeared.)

Another nuance is the difference between '증발' and '건조' (drying). '건조' refers to the state of being dry or the process of making something dry (like clothes), while '증발' is the scientific action the water takes to cause that dryness. You dry clothes (건조), but the water in them evaporates (증발). Using '증발' to mean 'I am drying my hair' would sound very strange. Furthermore, learners often forget that '증발' is a noun. To use it as a verb, you must add '하다'. Saying '물이 증발' without the verb ending is incomplete in a sentence. Lastly, avoid using '증발' for light or sound; for those, use '사라지다' or '희미해지다' (to fade). '증발' is strictly for matter (liquids) or things that can be metaphorically compared to liquid/steam.

Incorrect: 소리가 증발했다. (The sound evaporated.)

Correct: 소리가 사라졌다. (The sound disappeared.)

Grammar Check: Always remember: Subject + -이/가 + 증발하다. The thing that vanishes is the subject.

To truly master 증발, you should compare it with its synonyms and related terms. Each has a specific 'flavor' and context.

사라지다 (Sarajida): The most general word for 'to disappear'. It can be used for people, objects, feelings, or physical phenomena like light. It is less dramatic than '증발'.
소멸 (Somyeol): Extinction or annihilation. This is a very formal term used for the disappearance of rights, species, or entire civilizations. It implies that something has ceased to exist entirely.
실종 (Siljong): The official term for a missing person. It is used in police reports and legal documents. While '증발' is the act of vanishing, '실종' is the state of being missing.
기화 (Gihwa): Vaporization. This is the pure scientific counterpart to '증발'. It is used in physics and chemistry to describe the phase change from liquid to gas.

공룡이 지구상에서 소멸했다. (Dinosaurs became extinct on Earth.)

그는 산에서 실종되었다. (He went missing in the mountains.)

In addition to these, you might hear 부재 (absence), which is a formal way to say someone is not present. While '증발' implies they were there and then left, '부재' just describes the current state of not being there. For example, '사장의 부재' (the CEO's absence). Another interesting alternative is 잠적하다 (to go into hiding). This is very close to the metaphorical '증발하다' but specifically implies that the person is intentionally hiding from others. If someone 'evaporates' (증발), they might have been kidnapped or just left; if they 'jam-jeok' (잠적), they are definitely hiding on purpose. Understanding these subtle shifts in meaning will help you choose the right word for the right situation, making your Korean sound more like a native speaker's. Whether you're describing a science experiment or a plot twist in a thriller, you now have the tools to distinguish '증발' from its many cousins.

그 정치인은 스캔들 이후 대중 앞에서 잠적했다. (That politician went into hiding from the public after the scandal.)

액체가 기체로 변하는 현상을 기화라고 한다. (The phenomenon of liquid changing into gas is called vaporization.)

Summary Table: Use '증발' for: Water, Missing People (dramatic), Vanishing Funds. Use '사라지다' for: Everything else. Use '실종' for: Police reports.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 蒸 (Jeung) originally depicted fire under a vessel containing water and plants, representing the act of steaming food. This is why it is used in words like '증기' (steam) and even '계란찜' (steamed eggs).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tɕɯŋ.bal/

US /tɕɯŋ.bal/

In Korean, syllables generally have equal stress, but there is a slight emphasis on the first syllable '증' because of the nasal coda.

Rhymes With

폭발 (pok-bal - explosion) 출발 (chul-bal - departure) 개발 (gae-bal - development) 선발 (seon-bal - selection) 가발 (ga-bal - wig) 도발 (do-bal - provocation) 남발 (nam-bal - overuse) 발발 (bal-bal - outbreak)

Common Errors

Pronouncing '증' like the English word 'Jung'. The Korean vowel 'ㅡ' is different from the English 'u'.
Pronouncing '발' like 'Paul'. It should sound more like 'ball' but with a shorter 'a'.
Adding an extra 'i' sound at the end (e.g., 'jeung-ba-li').
Making the 'j' in 'jeung' too aspirated; it should be a plain/tense sound.
Failing to pronounce the 'ng' sound clearly before moving to 'b'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in science texts, but requires context to understand metaphorical uses in literature.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of how to attach '-하다' or '-시키다' and choosing the right subject markers.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, and it's a high-impact word for describing loss.

Listening 3/5

Common in news and dramas; usually easy to catch due to the distinct 'Jeung' sound.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

물 (water) 열 (heat) 사라지다 (to disappear) 변하다 (to change) 없다 (to not exist)

Learn Next

응결 (condensation) 기화 (vaporization) 실종 (missing) 소멸 (extinction) 휘발성 (volatility)

Advanced

승화 (sublimation) 산일 (dissipation) 고갈 (depletion) 잠적 (hiding)

Grammar to Know

-아/어 버리다

돈이 다 증발해 버렸어요.

-시키다 (Causative)

물을 끓여서 증발시켰다.

-이/가 되다 (Passive/Resultative)

수증기가 되어 증발되었다.

-기 마련이다 (Bound to)

열을 가하면 물은 증발하기 마련이다.

-자마자 (As soon as)

햇볕이 나자마자 물기가 증발했다.

Examples by Level

물이 증발해요.

The water evaporates.

Present tense of '증발하다'.

뜨거운 물에서 김이 나고 증발해요.

Steam comes out from hot water and it evaporates.

Connecting two actions with '-고'.

비가 그치고 땅의 물이 증발했습니다.

The rain stopped and the water on the ground evaporated.

Past tense '증발했습니다'.

냄비의 물이 다 증발했어요.

All the water in the pot evaporated.

Using '다' (all) to show completion.

바다에서 물이 증발해서 구름이 돼요.

Water evaporates from the sea and becomes clouds.

Using '-아서' to show cause and effect.

햇볕이 강하면 증발이 빨라요.

If the sunlight is strong, evaporation is fast.

Using '증발' as a noun with the adjective '빨라요'.

컵에 있는 물이 조금 증발했어요.

The water in the cup evaporated a little.

Using '조금' (a little) as an adverb.

여름에는 물이 빨리 증발해요.

In summer, water evaporates quickly.

Standard present tense.

국물이 너무 증발하지 않게 뚜껑을 닫으세요.

Close the lid so the soup doesn't evaporate too much.

Using '-지 않게' to mean 'so that it doesn't'.

빨래의 물기가 증발해서 옷이 말랐어요.

The moisture in the laundry evaporated, so the clothes are dry.

Combining evaporation with the result 'dry' (마르다).

가습기에 물이 없으면 증발이 안 돼요.

If there is no water in the humidifier, evaporation doesn't happen.

Negative form '안 돼요'.

알코올은 물보다 더 빨리 증발해요.

Alcohol evaporates faster than water.

Comparison using '-보다 더'.

어제 둔 물이 벌써 다 증발했네요.

The water I left yesterday has already all evaporated.

Exclamatory ending '-네요'.

식물이 물을 먹고 잎에서 증발시켜요.

Plants take in water and evaporate it from their leaves.

Causative-like usage in a simple context.

바닥에 쏟은 주스가 금방 증발했어요.

The juice spilled on the floor evaporated quickly.

Adverb '금방' (quickly/soon).

증발 현상을 관찰해 봅시다.

Let's observe the evaporation phenomenon.

Suggestive form '-어 봅시다'.

그는 빚을 갚지 않고 갑자기 증발해 버렸다.

He suddenly vanished without paying back his debt.

Metaphorical use with '-해 버리다' for emphasis.

내 월급이 통장에 들어오자마자 증발했다.

As soon as my salary entered my account, it evaporated.

Using '-자마자' (as soon as) metaphorically.

범인이 연기처럼 증발해서 경찰이 당황했다.

The criminal vanished like smoke, so the police were flustered.

Simile '연기처럼' (like smoke).

비밀번호를 잊어버려서 내 데이터가 다 증발한 것 같아요.

I forgot my password, so it feels like all my data has evaporated.

Using '-ㄴ 것 같아요' for supposition.

그 배우는 인기 절정일 때 돌연 증발했다.

That actor suddenly vanished when his popularity was at its peak.

Adverb '돌연' (suddenly/abruptly).

가상 화폐 가격이 떨어지면서 내 돈이 증발했다.

As the cryptocurrency price fell, my money evaporated.

Using '-면서' to show simultaneous actions.

사건의 중요한 증거가 감쪽같이 증발했다.

Important evidence of the case vanished without a trace.

Adverb '감쪽같이' (perfectly/without a trace).

그의 기억 속에서 그날의 일은 이미 증발했다.

The events of that day have already evaporated from his memory.

Abstract usage with 'memory'.

실험실에서 액체 질소를 증발시키는 과정을 지켜보았다.

I watched the process of evaporating liquid nitrogen in the lab.

Causative verb '증발시키다'.

경제 위기로 인해 시장의 유동성이 순식간에 증발했다.

Due to the economic crisis, market liquidity evaporated in an instant.

Formal cause marker '-로 인해'.

그 정치인은 스캔들이 터지자마자 대중의 시야에서 증발했다.

As soon as the scandal broke, the politician evaporated from the public eye.

Complex sentence structure with metaphorical usage.

높은 온도는 바닷물의 증발을 가속화시킨다.

High temperatures accelerate the evaporation of seawater.

Academic vocabulary: '가속화시키다' (to accelerate).

그녀의 열정은 고된 현실 속에서 서서히 증발해 갔다.

Her passion slowly evaporated amidst the harsh reality.

Progressive form '-해 가다' showing a gradual change.

회사의 공금이 증발한 사건에 대해 감사가 시작되었다.

An audit has begun regarding the case where the company's public funds evaporated.

Using '증발한' as an adjective clause.

물방울이 증발하면서 주위의 열을 흡수한다.

As water droplets evaporate, they absorb the surrounding heat.

Scientific fact using '-면서'.

가족을 버리고 증발하는 사람들이 사회적 문제가 되고 있다.

People who abandon their families and 'evaporate' are becoming a social problem.

Discussing a social phenomenon.

현대 사회에서 개인의 프라이버시는 디지털 공간 속으로 증발해 버렸다.

In modern society, individual privacy has evaporated into digital space.

Sophisticated abstract metaphor.

권위주의적인 지도자의 힘이 민주화 운동 속에서 증발했다.

The power of the authoritarian leader evaporated amidst the democratization movement.

Political context.

막대한 자본이 투기 시장에서 증발하며 서민들의 고통이 가중되었다.

As massive capital evaporated in the speculative market, the suffering of ordinary people intensified.

Using '-며' to connect clauses in formal writing.

작가는 전쟁의 참화 속에서 인간성이 증발해 가는 과정을 묘사했다.

The author depicted the process of humanity evaporating amidst the devastation of war.

Literary analysis.

기체 상태로의 전이, 즉 증발은 분자의 운동 에너지가 임계점을 넘을 때 발생한다.

Transition to a gaseous state, namely evaporation, occurs when the kinetic energy of molecules exceeds a critical point.

Highly technical scientific definition.

그의 존재감은 새로운 스타의 등장과 함께 순식간에 증발했다.

His presence evaporated in an instant with the appearance of a new star.

Nuanced use of '존재감' (presence).

역사적 기록이 소실되면서 진실은 영원히 증발해 버린 듯하다.

As historical records were lost, it seems the truth has evaporated forever.

Speculative ending '-ㄴ 듯하다'.

유동성 함정에 빠진 경제는 통화 정책의 효과가 증발하는 현상을 보인다.

An economy caught in a liquidity trap shows a phenomenon where the effects of monetary policy evaporate.

Economic theory application.

포스트모더니즘 담론에서 주체의 해체는 곧 자아의 증발로 귀결되기도 한다.

In postmodern discourse, the deconstruction of the subject sometimes results in the evaporation of the self.

Philosophical terminology.

초고온 상태에서 물질이 플라즈마화되기 전 단계의 증발 현상을 연구 중이다.

We are researching the evaporation phenomenon in the stage before matter becomes plasma at ultra-high temperatures.

Advanced physics context.

권력의 핵심에서 밀려난 이들의 영향력은 소리 소문 없이 증발하기 마련이다.

The influence of those pushed out of the core of power is bound to evaporate without a sound or rumor.

Using the idiomatic pattern '-기 마련이다' (is bound to).

가상 세계의 몰입감이 커질수록 현실 세계의 감각은 증발하는 양상을 띤다.

As the immersion in the virtual world grows, the senses of the real world tend to evaporate.

Using '양상을 띠다' (to take on an aspect).

막대한 국고가 불투명한 경로를 통해 증발한 정황이 포착되었다.

Circumstances have been captured where massive national treasury funds evaporated through opaque channels.

Formal legal/investigative language.

문명의 이기 속에 갇힌 현대인의 고립감은 소통의 증발에서 기인한다.

The sense of isolation of modern people trapped in the conveniences of civilization stems from the evaporation of communication.

Using '기인하다' (to stem from/be caused by).

빙하의 급격한 증발과 융해는 해수면 상승의 직접적인 원인이 된다.

The rapid evaporation and melting of glaciers are direct causes of sea-level rise.

Environmental science context.

절대적 진리가 부정되는 시대에 도덕적 가치는 증발의 위기에 처해 있다.

In an era where absolute truth is denied, moral values are facing a crisis of evaporation.

Using '위기에 처해 있다' (to be in a crisis).

Synonyms

기화 휘발 소멸

Antonyms

응축 액화

Common Collocations

물이 증발하다

증발 현상

돈이 증발하다

감쪽같이 증발하다

흔적도 없이 증발하다

수분이 증발하다

기억이 증발하다

증발을 막다

유동성 증발

인간 증발

Common Phrases

증발해 버리다

— To disappear completely or regrettably. Used to emphasize the finality of the disappearance.

내 휴가가 증발해 버렸어.

연기처럼 증발하다

— To vanish like smoke. Describes a very smooth and untraceable disappearance.

그는 연기처럼 증발했다.

증발 주의

— Warning about evaporation. Often seen in cooking or chemical handling instructions.

고온 시 증발 주의.

자산 증발

— The loss of assets. Used in business news to describe sudden financial losses.

자산 증발로 파산 위기다.

증발 속도

— The rate of evaporation. A technical term used in science and engineering.

증발 속도를 계산하다.

증발 잔류물

— Evaporation residue. What is left after a liquid has completely evaporated.

증발 잔류물을 검사하다.

증발 접시

— Evaporating dish. A specific piece of laboratory glassware used for evaporation.

증발 접시에 용액을 담다.

기억 증발

— Memory loss. Often used colloquially when someone forgets something suddenly.

시험을 보는데 기억 증발이 일어났다.

수분 증발 차단

— Blocking moisture evaporation. Common in skincare product descriptions.

이 크림은 수분 증발 차단 효과가 있다.

증발량

— The amount of evaporation. Used in meteorology and environmental studies.

올해는 증발량이 유난히 많다.

Often Confused With

증발 vs 기화

기화 is the general scientific term for any vaporization. 증발 is a specific type of vaporization that happens on the surface.

증발 vs 사라지다

사라지다 is broad. You can't say 'The water evaporated' using only '사라지다' if you want to be scientifically accurate.

증발 vs 실종

실종 is for people who are lost/missing. 증발 implies they vanished into thin air, often used more dramatically.

Idioms & Expressions

"쥐도 새도 모르게 증발하다"

— To disappear so secretly that not even a rat or a bird would know. Implies a perfect disappearance.

그는 쥐도 새도 모르게 증발했다.

Colloquial

"눈 깜짝할 사이에 증발하다"

— To evaporate in the blink of an eye. Emphasizes extreme speed.

내 월급이 눈 깜짝할 사이에 증발했다.

Casual

"귀신이 곡할 노릇으로 증발하다"

— To vanish in a way that would make a ghost wail. Used for baffling, inexplicable disappearances.

지갑이 귀신이 곡할 노릇으로 증발했다.

Idiomatic/Dramatic

"연기처럼 사라지다 (증발하다)"

— To vanish like smoke. Very common for people leaving a scene without notice.

도둑은 연기처럼 증발했다.

Literary

"물거품이 되다"

— To turn into water bubbles (to come to nothing). Often related to plans 'evaporating'.

우리의 계획이 물거품처럼 증발했다.

Neutral

"공중에 뜨다"

— To float in the air (to be unsettled or vanish). Sometimes used when funds or plans 'evaporate'.

예산이 공중에 떠서 증발했다.

Colloquial

"흔적을 감추다"

— To hide one's traces. Often used alongside '증발하다'.

그는 흔적을 감추고 증발했다.

Formal

"자취를 감추다"

— To hide one's tracks/footsteps. A more poetic way to say someone vanished.

그녀는 마을에서 자취를 감추고 증발했다.

Literary

"뜬구름 잡다"

— To catch floating clouds (to chase something vanishing/unreal).

그의 꿈은 증발하는 뜬구름 같았다.

Idiomatic

"허공으로 사라지다"

— To disappear into the empty air/void.

기회는 허공으로 증발해 버렸다.

Dramatic

Easily Confused

증발 vs 휘발

Both involve liquid turning into gas.

휘발 refers to the *property* of being easy to evaporate (volatility), while 증발 is the *process* itself.

가솔린은 휘발성이 강해서 금방 증발한다.

증발 vs 건조

Both result in something becoming dry.

건조 is the state of being dry or the act of drying something. 증발 is the mechanism by which the water leaves.

빨래를 건조하기 위해 물기를 증발시킨다.

증발 vs 소멸

Both mean something is gone.

소멸 is 'ceasing to exist' (like a law or a species). 증발 is 'vanishing' (like water or a person).

공룡의 소멸 vs 물의 증발.

증발 vs 분산

Both involve something spreading out and disappearing.

분산 is scattering or dispersing. 증발 is specifically changing phase into gas.

연기가 분산되다 vs 물이 증발하다.

증발 vs 잠적

Both describe a person disappearing.

잠적 emphasizes the intent to hide. 증발 emphasizes the mystery and lack of traces.

범인의 잠적 vs 목격자의 증발.

Sentence Patterns

N이/가 증발해요.

물이 증발해요.

N이/가 다 증발했어요.

국물이 다 증발했어요.

N이/가 증발해 버렸다.

돈이 증발해 버렸다.

N이/가 연기처럼 증발하다.

그는 연기처럼 증발했다.

N을/를 증발시키다.

알코올을 증발시키다.

N이/가 순식간에 증발하다.

기회가 순식간에 증발했다.

N의 증발로 인해...

유동성의 증발로 인해 위기가 왔다.

N이/가 증발의 위기에 처하다.

전통문화가 증발의 위기에 처했다.

Word Family

Nouns

증발기 (evaporator)

증발량 (amount of evaporation)

증발계 (evaporimeter)

증발열 (heat of evaporation)

Verbs

증발하다 (to evaporate/vanish)

증발시키다 (to cause to evaporate)

증발되다 (to be evaporated)

증기 (steam)

기화 (vaporization)

응결 (condensation)

휘발성 (volatility)

수증기 (water vapor)

How to Use It

frequency

High (especially in news, science, and dramatic storytelling).

Common Mistakes

Using '증발' for a rainbow disappearing. → 무지개가 사라지다.
A rainbow is light, not a liquid or matter that can turn into vapor. Use '사라지다'.
Saying '사람이 증발했다' to mean someone died. → 사람이 돌아가셨다 / 사망했다.
In Korean, '증발' means they are missing or vanished, not that they are dead.
Using '증발' without '하다' in a sentence. → 물이 증발했다.
증발 is a noun. It needs the verb '하다' to function as an action.
Confusing '증발' with '건조' in skin care. → 수분 증발을 막다 / 피부가 건조하다.
'건조' is the state of being dry. '증발' is the process of the water leaving the skin.
Using '증발' for a sound fading away. → 소리가 사라지다 / 작아지다.
Sound does not evaporate. Only liquids or metaphorical entities 'evaporate'.

Tips

Learn the Root

Remembering that 'Jeung' (蒸) means steam will help you learn other related words like 'Jeung-gi' (steam) and 'Jeung-gi-gi-gwan' (steam engine).

Use -해 버리다

Pairing '증발하다' with '-해 버리다' is very common and makes you sound more like a native speaker when expressing surprise at a disappearance.

Watch Mystery Dramas

Korean thrillers often use '증발' for missing persons. Pay attention to how the characters use the word to describe the mystery.

Money Matters

If you lose money in a game or investment, try saying '내 돈이 증발했어' to sound natural.

Textbook Context

If you are studying for the TOPIK, '증발' is a key word for the science and environment sections.

Kitchen Korean

When following a Korean recipe, look for '수분을 증발시키다' to know when to cook off the excess liquid.

Abstract Loss

Use it for abstract things like 'trust' or 'courage' to add a literary touch to your Korean writing.

Social Disappearance

Understand that '인간 증발' is a serious topic, so use it carefully when discussing real people.

Adverb Choice

Use '감쪽같이' (perfectly) with '증발하다' to describe a disappearance that left absolutely no clues.

News Keywords

In news, '증발' is often a keyword for scandals involving missing funds or evidence.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Jeung' as 'Jung' (Middle) and 'Bal' as 'Ball'. If you put a ball in the middle of a hot fire, it might 'evaporate' into thin air!

Visual Association

Imagine a pot of boiling water where the steam is rising so fast that the water level is visibly dropping. Now imagine a person turning into that same steam and floating away.

Word Web

Water Steam Heat Missing Money Vanish Mystery Science

Challenge

Try to use '증발' in three different ways today: once for cooking, once for the weather, and once metaphorically about your time or money.

Word Origin

Derived from Hanja (Sino-Korean characters).

Original meaning: The emission of steam or vapor.

Sino-Korean

Cultural Context

Be careful when using '증발' for people in a very formal or tragic context; '실종' is more respectful for victims of accidents.

In English, we say someone 'vanished into thin air' or 'melted away'. '증발' captures both of these sentiments perfectly.

The movie 'Helpless' (화차) features a woman who 'evaporated' to start a new life. The book 'The Vanished' by Lena Bruns discusses the human evaporation phenomenon in East Asia. K-drama 'Signal' often deals with cold cases where victims '증발'ed years ago.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Cooking

국물이 증발하다
수분을 증발시키다
졸이다 (to boil down)
약불로 증발시키다

Finance

자산이 증발하다
투자금이 증발하다
유동성 증발
가치가 증발하다

Crime/Mystery

용의자가 증발하다
증거가 증발하다
흔적 없이 증발하다
인간 증발

Weather/Environment

강물이 증발하다
증발량 조절
습도와 증발
해수면 증발

Personal Life

기억이 증발하다
시간이 증발하다
용기가 증발하다
스트레스가 증발하다

Conversation Starters

"어제 끓이던 국이 다 증발해서 냄비를 태울 뻔했어요."

"요즘 주식 시장을 보면 제 돈이 증발하는 것 같아서 슬퍼요."

"사람이 흔적도 없이 증발할 수 있다고 생각하세요?"

"여름철에는 피부 수분 증발을 막는 게 정말 중요해요."

"시험 공부를 열심히 했는데 시험지를 받자마자 기억이 증발해 버렸어요."

Journal Prompts

내 인생에서 가장 소중한 무언가가 갑자기 증발한다면 어떤 기분일지 써 보세요.

최근에 내 시간이나 에너지가 어디론가 증발해 버린 경험이 있나요?

과학적인 증발 현상이 우리 삶에 주는 이점과 단점에 대해 서술해 보세요.

현대 사회에서 '인간 증발'이 일어나는 주된 원인은 무엇이라고 생각하나요?

기억이 증발하는 것을 막기 위해 당신은 어떤 노력을 하나요?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, it is very common in Korean to use '증발' metaphorically for people who disappear suddenly and without leaving a trace. This is often used in news reports or mystery novels. It implies a sense of mystery or that the person vanished into 'thin air'.

'기화' (vaporization) is a broad scientific term that includes both '증발' (evaporation at the surface) and '비등' (boiling throughout the liquid). In everyday life, '증발' is much more common, while '기화' is found in textbooks.

You can say '물이 증발했어요' (Muri jeung-bal-haesseo-yo). If it happened completely and you want to emphasize that, you can say '물이 다 증발해 버렸어요'.

It is a neutral word. It is formal enough for a science report but common enough to be used in casual conversation when talking about money or cooking.

Generally, no. For light or sound, '사라지다' (to disappear) or '희미해지다' (to fade) are much better. '증발' is specifically for physical matter like liquids or things that can be metaphorically compared to them.

It translates to 'human evaporation.' It is a sociological term for people who intentionally disappear from their social lives, often to escape debt, shame, or intense social pressure, and start a new life elsewhere without telling anyone.

It is intransitive. The subject (e.g., water) does the action. If you want to say you made something evaporate, you use the causative form '증발시키다'.

You could use it for a dramatic effect in a story, but '사라지다' is more natural. '증발' would imply the ghost turned into steam.

It's a metaphor. Just like water disappears into the air and you can't see it anymore, money can 'evaporate' from a bank account or market, leaving the owner with nothing.

The Hanja is 蒸發. 蒸 (Jeung) means steam, and 發 (Bal) means to emit or set forth. Together they literally mean 'to emit steam'.