Explanation at your level:
You use 금연하다 when you stop smoking. It is a very important word for health. If you smoke, you can say, 'I will stop.' That is 금연하다. It is good for your lungs!
When you want to live a healthier life, you might decide to 금연하다. Many people use this word when they talk to doctors. You can say, 'I am trying to 금연하다' to show you are working hard to quit.
In Korea, you will see signs that say '금연' everywhere. This word is the verb form of that sign. It represents a lifestyle change. People often use it when discussing their New Year's resolutions or health goals. It is a standard term that sounds professional and clear.
Using 금연하다 effectively involves understanding its nuance as a deliberate action. It is not just the absence of smoking; it is the active process of abstinence. You might see it in corporate wellness programs or public health campaigns. It is the preferred term over casual slang when discussing medical advice.
At an advanced level, 금연하다 is used to discuss public policy and societal health trends. You might use it in an essay about the socio-economic impacts of tobacco regulation. It implies a formal commitment and is often paired with nouns like 정책 (policy) or 프로그램 (program) to describe systemic efforts to reduce smoking rates.
Mastery of 금연하다 involves recognizing its role in the discourse of health ethics. It is a term that bridges personal willpower and collective responsibility. In literature or formal debates, it can be used to symbolize a transition from a 'toxic' past to a 'clean' future. It is a precise, culturally loaded term that signals a high level of linguistic maturity.
Word in 30 Seconds
- 금연하다 means to quit smoking.
- It is a standard, polite verb.
- It is essential for health discussions.
- It is often used in public signs.
금연하다 is a vital verb in Korean health vocabulary. It combines 금 (prohibit/abstain) and 연 (smoke/tobacco), literally meaning 'to prohibit smoking.' When you use this word, you are talking about the process of quitting or the state of not smoking.
It is not just about putting out a cigarette; it represents a conscious commitment to health. Whether you are talking about a person quitting or a building enforcing a 'no-smoking' rule, this is the go-to word. It carries a tone of determination and responsibility.
The word is rooted in Sino-Korean characters (Hanja). '금' (禁) means to forbid or restrain, and '연' (煙) refers to smoke. Historically, this term gained prominence as public health awareness grew in the 20th century.
Before modern medical knowledge, smoking was often seen as a social habit. As the dangers became clear, societies needed a formal way to describe the act of stopping. The evolution of this word mirrors the global shift toward health-conscious living and the implementation of smoke-free environments in public spaces.
You will hear this in many settings, from doctor's offices to public signs. It is used in both formal business settings and casual advice between friends.
Common collocations include 금연을 결심하다 (to resolve to quit smoking) or 금연 구역 (non-smoking area). Using it in a sentence is straightforward: 저는 오늘부터 금연합니다 (I am quitting smoking starting today). It is a neutral, standard term that fits almost any situation where smoking is discussed.
While there aren't many 'idioms' per se, there are powerful phrases: 1. 금연을 선언하다 (to declare quitting), 2. 금연에 성공하다 (to succeed in quitting), 3. 금연 중이다 (to be in the middle of quitting), 4. 금연을 권하다 (to advise someone to quit), 5. 금연을 유지하다 (to maintain a smoke-free life).
As a regular verb, it conjugates with the -하다 pattern. In the present tense, it is 금연합니다 (formal) or 금연해요 (polite). The pronunciation is quite rhythmic: geum-yeon-ha-da.
Focus on the nasal sounds in 'geum' and 'yeon'. It rhymes loosely with other -하다 verbs like 운동하다 (to exercise), making it easy to remember if you group them together as 'health-related verbs'.
Fun Fact
The character '煙' literally depicts fire and air/smoke.
Pronunciation Guide
Standard Korean pronunciation.
Standard Korean pronunciation.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'geum' as 'gum'
- Ignoring the aspiration in 'ha'
- Flat intonation
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
-하다 Verb Conjugation
금연하다 -> 금연합니다
Noun + 을/를
금연을 결심하다
Time + 부터
오늘부터 금연하다
Examples by Level
저는 금연합니다.
I stop smoking.
Simple present tense.
금연하세요.
Please stop smoking.
Imperative form.
그는 금연해요.
He is quitting smoking.
Polite present.
금연은 건강에 좋아요.
Quitting is good for health.
Noun form.
우리 금연해요.
Let's quit smoking.
Suggestive form.
금연이 필요해요.
Quitting is necessary.
Verb as subject.
금연을 시작했어요.
I started quitting.
Past tense.
금연은 어렵지 않아요.
Quitting is not hard.
Negative structure.
금연을 결심했습니다.
금연은 건강을 위한 첫걸음입니다.
그녀는 금연에 성공했습니다.
금연을 도와주는 약이 있어요.
병원에서 금연을 권했습니다.
금연하면 돈을 아낄 수 있어요.
오늘부터 금연하기로 했어요.
금연을 유지하는 것은 중요해요.
정부는 금연 정책을 강화하고 있습니다.
금연을 하면 폐 건강이 좋아집니다.
많은 사람들이 새해 목표로 금연을 선택합니다.
금연 클리닉에 등록하는 것이 좋습니다.
금연을 방해하는 스트레스를 피하세요.
금연을 위해 금연 패치를 사용합니다.
금연은 개인의 의지가 가장 중요합니다.
금연을 하면 피부도 좋아집니다.
금연을 실천하는 것은 현대인의 필수 과제입니다.
그는 10년 동안 금연을 유지해왔습니다.
금연을 독려하기 위해 캠페인을 벌입니다.
금연을 통해 삶의 질을 높일 수 있습니다.
금연에 대한 사회적 인식이 변화하고 있습니다.
금연을 강제하는 법안이 통과되었습니다.
금연을 시도하다가 실패하는 경우가 많습니다.
금연을 위한 체계적인 전략이 필요합니다.
금연을 장려하는 공공 보건 정책은 매우 효과적입니다.
금연을 통해 얻는 장기적인 건강상의 이점은 막대합니다.
금연을 결심하는 순간부터 신체는 회복을 시작합니다.
금연은 단순한 습관의 변화를 넘어선 가치관의 변화입니다.
금연을 방해하는 환경적 요인을 제거해야 합니다.
금연을 성공적으로 이끌기 위한 심리적 접근이 중요합니다.
금연을 지지하는 가족의 역할이 매우 큽니다.
금연을 하면 경제적, 신체적 이득을 동시에 얻습니다.
금연을 향한 여정은 인내와 자기 절제의 결정체입니다.
금연을 제도화하려는 국가적 노력은 공중 보건의 승리입니다.
금연을 선언하는 것은 자신의 삶에 대한 주도권을 되찾는 행위입니다.
금연을 실천함으로써 사회적 비용을 절감할 수 있습니다.
금연을 고수하는 것은 현대 사회에서 건강한 시민의 의무로 간주됩니다.
금연을 통해 개인은 자신의 중독을 극복하는 성취감을 맛봅니다.
금연을 둘러싼 다양한 담론이 보건학계에서 활발히 논의됩니다.
금연을 완성하는 것은 진정한 자유를 얻는 길입니다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"작심삼일"
Giving up after three days (often used with failing to quit).
금연이 작심삼일이 되지 않도록 하세요.
casual"건강이 최고"
Health is the best (reason to quit).
건강이 최고니까 금연하세요.
neutral"독하게 마음먹다"
To be very determined (needed for quitting).
금연하려면 독하게 마음먹어야 해요.
casual"새사람이 되다"
To become a new person (after quitting).
금연하고 새사람이 되었어요.
neutral"의지박약"
Weak-willed (often used when failing to quit).
의지박약이라 금연이 힘들어요.
casualEasily Confused
Both relate to smoking.
One is to smoke, one is to stop.
흡연하다 (smoke) vs 금연하다 (quit).
Both mean to stop.
끊다 is general, 금연하다 is specific to smoking.
담배를 끊다 (quit smoking) vs 금연하다 (quit smoking).
Both start with '금'.
금지하다 is to forbid anything; 금연하다 is only for smoking.
주차 금지 (No parking) vs 금연 (No smoking).
Contains the same 'smoke' character.
연기 is the noun 'smoke'.
연기가 나요 (There is smoke).
Sentence Patterns
저는 [time]부터 금연합니다.
저는 오늘부터 금연합니다.
금연을 위해 [action]합니다.
금연을 위해 운동합니다.
금연은 [noun]에 좋습니다.
금연은 건강에 좋습니다.
[person]이 금연을 결심했습니다.
아버지가 금연을 결심했습니다.
금연을 유지하는 것이 [adjective]입니다.
금연을 유지하는 것이 중요합니다.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Related
How to Use It
8/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
They are opposites.
Smoking is 'piuda' (to light/smoke), not 'meokda' (to eat).
Learners forget to add -하다.
While understandable, '끊다' is the natural collocation.
Contextual error regarding rules.
Tips
Gold Medal Trick
Think of 'Geum' as Gold. Quitting is like winning gold for your health.
Public Signs
Look for '금연' on signs; it's the noun form.
New Year's
It's the #1 resolution in Korea.
Verb Pattern
Always use with -하다.
Rhythm
Say it in four equal beats.
Don't confuse with smoke
It is the act of stopping, not the smoke itself.
Hanja
The characters are very logical.
Flashcards
Pair it with '흡연' for contrast.
Daily Journal
Write '금연' in your diary.
Doctor's visit
Use it when talking about health goals.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Gold' (Geum) medal for quitting smoking.
Visual Association
A red circle with a line through a cigarette.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down 3 reasons why you would choose to 금연하다.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: Prohibit (禁) + Smoke (煙)
Cultural Context
Smoking is a sensitive topic; always be polite when advising someone to quit.
Similar to 'quitting smoking' or 'going smoke-free'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At the doctor
- 금연하고 싶어요
- 금연이 너무 힘들어요
- 금연 방법이 있나요?
At work
- 우리 회사 금연 구역이에요
- 금연 캠페인 참여하세요
With friends
- 나 금연하기로 했어
- 금연 도와줄게
Public places
- 여기는 금연입니다
- 금연해 주세요
Conversation Starters
"새해 목표로 금연을 해본 적 있나요?"
"금연이 왜 건강에 좋을까요?"
"주변 사람들에게 금연을 권해본 적 있나요?"
"금연을 성공하는 가장 좋은 방법은 무엇일까요?"
"왜 많은 사람들이 금연에 실패할까요?"
Journal Prompts
Write about why you think people start smoking.
Describe a plan to help someone quit smoking.
Reflect on the benefits of a smoke-free environment.
Imagine a world where no one smokes. How is it different?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is a verb. '금연' is the noun.
No, it is specific to tobacco.
It is standard and appropriate for all settings.
금연했어요.
흡연하다.
No, it is a health-promoting term.
In public signage and medical advice.
Yes, usually.
Test Yourself
저는 건강을 위해 ___.
The context is health.
What does 금연하다 mean?
It means to quit.
금연 구역에서는 담배를 피워도 된다.
No-smoking zones prohibit smoking.
Word
Meaning
Matching opposites.
Subject + time + object + verb.
Score: /5
Summary
금연하다 is your commitment to a healthier, smoke-free life.
- 금연하다 means to quit smoking.
- It is a standard, polite verb.
- It is essential for health discussions.
- It is often used in public signs.
Gold Medal Trick
Think of 'Geum' as Gold. Quitting is like winning gold for your health.
Public Signs
Look for '금연' on signs; it's the noun form.
New Year's
It's the #1 resolution in Korea.
Verb Pattern
Always use with -하다.
Related Content
More health words
비정상적이다
B1Deviating from what is normal or usual; abnormal.
비정상이다
A2To be abnormal or irregular.
에 대해서
A2Indicating the topic or subject; about, concerning.
누적되다
B1To be accumulated or added up over a period of time. It is frequently used to describe the buildup of fatigue, debt, or environmental damage.
몸살
A2General body aches and fatigue, often accompanying a cold or flu.
몸살나다
A2To suffer from body aches and fatigue, often due to a cold.
쑤시다
B1To have a dull, throbbing pain; to ache.
에취
A2Achoo! (onomatopoeia for sneezing).
급성적이다
A2To be acute or sudden (e.g., an illness).
급성이다
A2Having a rapid onset and short course; to be acute (illness).
