What does 고백 (gobaek) mean?
- 고백gobaek
Confession (of love)
Fine in most situations
고백 (gobaek) means "confession" in Korean, and in dating it means telling someone you like them, usually while asking them to be your boyfriend or girlfriend. It is a big moment in Korean dating culture and in almost every K-drama romance.
Where it comes from
It is a Sino-Korean word made of 告 (to tell) and 白 (to state or make clear). To say "to confess," add 하다: 고백하다.
How to use 고백
In Korea, a relationship often officially starts with a 고백. Someone says they like the other person and asks to date, and if the answer is yes, many couples count their anniversaries from that day.
You 고백하다 (confess) and the other person 고백을 받다 (receives a confession). Getting turned down after confessing is often described as 차였어, "I got dumped."
Outside of romance, 고백 still means a confession in general, like admitting a secret or a mistake.
Examples
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Telling a friend big news
Building up courage before a date
Telling a coworker about a surprise
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 고백하다 | To confess | Dictionary form; usually means confessing feelings. |
| 고백했어 | I confessed | Casual past tense. |
| 고백을 받았어요 | I got a confession | Someone confessed to me (polite). |
| 고백해 봐 | Go tell them | Casual encouragement to a friend. |
Questions learners ask
What does confess mean in K-dramas?
It means telling someone you have feelings for them and, usually, asking them out. A 고백 is what turns a crush or a 썸 into an official relationship.
Is gobaek only about love?
No. It can mean any confession, such as admitting a secret or something you did. In everyday talk about dating, though, it almost always means confessing feelings.