What does 정 (jeong) mean?
- 정jeong
Deep affection, attachment
Fine in most situations
정 (jeong) means a deep, warm attachment that grows between people over time in Korean. It is the bond you feel for family, old friends, neighbors, and even people you argue with, and many Koreans see it as a core part of their culture.
Where it comes from
It is a Sino-Korean word from 情, which means feeling or affection. Orion's Choco Pie famously prints 情 on its box to sell the snack as a way of sharing warmth.
How to use 정
정 is not quite love and not quite friendship. It builds slowly from time spent together, shared meals and small kindnesses, which is why people say 정이 들었어, "I've grown attached."
Someone who is 정이 많다 is warm-hearted and generous, like a grandmother who always sends you home with food. When 정이 떨어지다 ("affection falls off"), it means you have been turned off by someone.
Koreans also talk about 미운 정 고운 정, the attachment that comes from both the annoying and the lovely moments, often said about long marriages and family.
Examples
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Moving away from a neighborhood
Talking about your grandma
Complaining about a rude date
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 정이 들다 | To grow attached | Also written 정들다. |
| 정이 많다 | To be warm-hearted | Describes a kind, generous person. |
| 정이 떨어지다 | To be turned off, lose affection | Said when someone's behavior ruins your feelings. |
| 미운 정 고운 정 | Attachment through good times and bad | Literally "hateful jeong, lovely jeong." |
Questions learners ask
Is there an English word for jeong?
Not exactly. "Affection," "attachment" and "fondness" each cover part of it. 정 is the bond that grows with time and shared life, even with people you do not always like.
What does jeong-i deureosseo mean?
정이 들었어 means "I've grown attached." People say it about a place, a pet, coworkers or a person they have spent a lot of time with.