TOPIK II Core Vocabulary · Mind & Personality ②

Nerves & resolve — 자신감, 긴장, 만족하다, 후회하다, 견디다

These words describe feelings and reactions under pressure. You often hear them when people talk about interviews and presentations.

01자신감jasingam

confidence · belief in your ability to succeed.

Note The ending -감 means "a feeling or sense of." It appears in 자신감, 책임감, 만족감, and 부담감.

Examples 자신감이 있다 (to be confident) · 자신감을 얻다 (to gain confidence) · 자신감이 떨어지다 (confidence slips)

칭찬을 들으니까 자신감이 생겼어요. The praise gave me confidence.  |  칭찬 = a compliment

작은 성공의 경험이 쌓여 자신감으로 이어진다. Experiences of small successes accumulate and lead to confidence.  |  쌓이다 = to build up

02긴장ginjang

tension, nerves · a nervous or tense feeling before an important event.

Note 긴장 usually describes tension at one moment. 스트레스 can build up over time. 긴장을 풀다 means "to relax."

Examples 긴장이 되다 (to get nervous) · 긴장을 풀다 (to relax) · 긴장하다 (to be tense)

발표 전에는 항상 긴장이 돼요. I always get nervous before a presentation.  |  항상 = always

적당한 긴장은 오히려 집중력을 높여 준다. The right amount of nerves actually sharpens concentration.  |  적당하다 = to be just right · 집중력 = focus

03만족하다manjokada🔊 [만조카다]

to be satisfied · to feel that something is good enough, or that it matches what you hoped for.

Pronunciation [만조카다]. The final consonant (patchim) ㄱ joins the next ㅎ and becomes ㅋ.

Note The thing you are satisfied with takes 에, as in 결과에 만족하다. Do not use 을/를.

Examples 결과에 만족하다 (to be happy with the result) · 만족스럽다 (to feel satisfying) · 만족도 (satisfaction level)

이번 결과에 아주 만족해요. I'm very happy with this result.  |  Use 에 after the thing you are satisfied with

현재에 만족하지 않는 태도가 발전을 이끈다. An attitude that is not satisfied with the present is what drives progress.  |  현재 = the present

04후회하다huhoehada

to regret · to look back and wish you had acted differently.

Note The first syllable 후 means "after." 후회 없이 means "without regret."

Examples 선택을 후회하다 (to regret a choice) · 후회가 되다 (to feel regret) · 후회 없이 (with no regrets)

그때 그 말을 한 걸 후회해요. I regret saying that back then.  |  -(으)ㄴ 걸 = the fact of having done

해 보지 않은 일은 오래도록 후회로 남기 쉽다. Things you never try can remain a source of regret for a long time.  |  오래도록 = for a long time

05견디다gyeondida

to endure · to continue through a difficult situation.

Forms 견뎌요 · 견딥니다 · 견뎠어요

Note 견디다 is a native Korean word. The formal word 인내하다 has a similar meaning. 참다 usually means holding something back for a short time. 견디다 means getting through a hard situation over a long time.

Examples 어려움을 견디다 (to endure hard times) · 추위를 견디다 (to endure the cold) · 견디기 힘들다 (to be hard to bear)

힘들었지만 잘 견뎠어요. It was hard, but I endured it.  |  The form is 견뎌요, not 견디어요

어려운 시기를 견뎌 낸 경험은 값진 자산이 된다. The experience of enduring a difficult period can become a valuable asset.  |  값지다 = to be valuable · 자산 = something valuable

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean.

1. 적당한 __________은 오히려 집중력을 높여 준다. (the right amount of ______)
2. 이번 결과________ 아주 만족해요. (which particle? a small word added after a noun)
3. 힘들었지만 잘 __________. (견디다 · past polite)

Show answers

1. 긴장   2. 에   3. 견뎠어요

만족하다 takes 에

Study tip The ending -감 means "a feeling or sense of": 자신감 (confidence), 책임감 (a sense of responsibility), 만족감 (satisfaction), 부담감 (a sense of burden), and 소속감 (a sense of belonging).