A while back, I was chatting with someone on HelloTalk when they asked me a surprisingly tricky question:
“What’s the difference between jeong and ma-eum?”
Both words are often translated as “heart” or “feeling,” but as anyone who’s spent time in Korea knows, they carry very different emotional weights. It’s one of those moments when you realize that translation doesn’t always do a word justice—especially when that word is tied deeply to culture.
Korean has a special way of expressing emotion and connection, and words like jeong (정) and ma-eum (마음) are perfect examples. Understanding these two terms isn’t just about vocabulary—it’s about grasping how Koreans view relationships, empathy, and emotional closeness.
If you’re living in Korea or planning to, learning how jeong and ma-eum work will give you more than just language skills. It’ll help you connect—with people, places, and even yourself—in a way that’s uniquely Korean.
Table of Contents :
- What Does Jeong (정) Really Mean?
- What Does Ma-eum (마음) Really Mean?
- Jeong vs Ma-eum: Subtle but Powerful Differences
- Why These Words Matter for Foreigners in Korea
- Learning to Feel in Korean
What Does Jeong (정) Really Mean?
At its core, jeong (정) is a complex and deeply cultural concept in Korean. It’s often translated as “affection” or “attachment,” but these translations don’t capture the full depth of the word. Jeong is not just about liking someone or something—it’s about an emotional bond that grows over time, often built through shared experiences, patience, and mutual care.
In many ways, jeong is the feeling you have toward someone or something that you've spent a significant amount of time with. It can be a bond between friends, family, neighbors, or even a place you’ve lived in for years. It’s the attachment that goes beyond mere fondness or friendship—jeong signifies a lasting emotional connection that is built, nurtured, and deepened with time.
For instance, you might hear someone say "jeong-i deulda" (정이 들다), which means “to develop affection” for someone or something. This could refer to a new friend or even a favorite coffee shop you keep returning to. It’s the warmth that builds when you spend time with something or someone long enough to form an emotional connection.
One of the most touching aspects of jeong is how it binds people together. In Korea, the concept of jeong can be seen in how people treat one another with patience, care, and understanding. It’s the reason why you might be invited into a Korean family’s home, even if you’ve just met them. There’s a sense of shared emotional history that builds from familiarity, kindness, and time spent together.
What Does Ma-eum (마음) Really Mean?
While jeong is about the emotional bond that grows over time, ma-eum (마음) is more about your internal state—your mind, heart, and intentions. In many ways, ma-eum reflects how you feel in the present moment, whether it's love, happiness, sadness, or even a simple desire or preference.
Think of ma-eum as the emotional energy that drives your actions or thoughts. It's what you express when you say "I like this" or "I’m sorry"—it’s how you show your feelings and intentions in a clear, direct way. For example, if you say "마음에 들어요" (ma-eum-e deul-eoyo), it means “I like it,” or “it’s to my heart.” It’s about personal connection to something or someone at a specific time, rather than a deep emotional bond built over years.
Ma-eum also has a more fluid nature compared to jeong. It can change quickly. One moment you may be feeling happy, and the next, you may feel disappointed. It’s the personal emotional compass that guides your day-to-day reactions and interactions.
You might also encounter ma-eum when someone expresses their inner thoughts or feelings. For instance, when someone says "내 마음을 알아줘" (na maeumeul alajwo), it means "Understand my heart"—a plea for empathy, understanding, or validation of their emotions at that very moment. It's often used in contexts of vulnerability, where someone is hoping for emotional connection or comfort.
While jeong involves time and shared experiences, ma-eum is more immediate and personal. It’s about how you feel in the now, whether toward a person, an object, or even a situation.
Jeong vs Ma-eum: Subtle but Powerful Differences
Although jeong and ma-eum are often translated as “heart” or “feeling,” the distinction between the two is crucial in understanding how emotions work in Korean culture. While they both deal with the emotional realm, they function in different ways, reflecting two distinct aspects of human connection.
The biggest difference between jeong and ma-eum is that jeong is relational and accumulates over time. It’s something that builds and strengthens through shared experiences, showing up in long-term relationships like family, close friends, or even with places you develop an emotional attachment to. Jeong isn’t just about liking someone—it’s about the emotional bond that forms when you care for something deeply, and this bond continues to grow with time. It’s a kind of affection that doesn’t happen overnight but requires patience, trust, and familiarity.
On the other hand, ma-eum is more immediate and personal. It reflects your current state of mind or feelings, whether it’s about liking something, feeling sad, or even being upset. Ma-eum can change quickly—it’s more spontaneous, and it’s about expressing how you feel in the moment. While jeong is deep-rooted and constant, ma-eum can be fleeting. You might say “ma-eum-e deul-eoyo” (마음에 들어요), expressing that you like something right now, but this feeling could change tomorrow.
To put it simply: jeong is the slow-growing, long-lasting affection you have for someone or something, while ma-eum is more about the immediate emotions you feel at any given moment.
This difference shows how Korean culture places a high value on relationships that develop and evolve over time. The connection you form with people is not just about initial attraction or liking, but about the bond that deepens as you continue to interact with them. In contrast, ma-eum serves as the foundation for expressing personal feelings, desires, and intentions in everyday life.
Why These Words Matter for Foreigners in Korea
As a foreigner in Korea, understanding the difference between jeong and ma-eum can help you navigate not just the language, but also the culture. These two words are deeply intertwined with how Koreans interact with each other, and they shed light on the values and emotional connections that shape everyday life in Korea. Knowing these nuances can make a significant difference in your relationships with locals, whether you're building friendships, working with colleagues, or even just socializing.
For instance, understanding jeong can give you a better sense of how Koreans view their relationships. In a culture that places such high value on connections and bonds, knowing that jeong requires time and shared experiences will help you understand why relationships might take a while to build. It’s not about impressing someone in the short term—it’s about being patient and building trust over time. Once jeong is developed, it’s a bond that’s hard to break, and it creates a sense of loyalty and care that many foreigners might not immediately understand without this cultural context.
On the other hand, ma-eum is useful for expressing your personal feelings or understanding the emotions of others in a more immediate, everyday sense. Knowing how to use ma-eum correctly can help you express things like “I like it,” or “I feel this way” in a way that resonates with native speakers. It can also help you better understand how Koreans express their emotions in a more direct, personal manner, especially in more vulnerable or intimate conversations.
When you live in Korea, your relationships and the way you connect with others will inevitably be shaped by these cultural subtleties. Whether you’re interacting with a colleague, a shopkeeper, or a new friend, understanding how jeong and ma-eum work will help you better understand the emotional undertones of conversations. You'll not only speak the language more naturally, but you’ll also begin to feel and understand the emotional connections that lie at the heart of Korean society.
Learning to Feel in Korean
As we’ve explored, jeong and ma-eum are more than just words—they represent deep cultural values that reflect how Koreans connect with others, experience emotions, and express affection. Understanding the difference between these two terms opens a window into the heart of Korean society, where relationships are cherished, emotions are shared, and connections grow with time.
For foreigners in Korea, grasping these subtle distinctions can significantly enrich your experience. It’s not just about mastering the language—it’s about learning to feel Korean, to understand the emotional depth behind everyday interactions. Whether you’re experiencing jeong through long-lasting friendships or expressing your feelings with ma-eum, these words help you connect more meaningfully with the people and culture around you.
As someone who has lived abroad for many years, one of the things I missed most about Korea was, in fact, jeong. There’s a warmth and familiarity in Korean relationships that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. It’s that feeling of being welcomed into someone's life, the bond that forms through time and shared moments. After spending years away, returning to Korea and experiencing jeong again was like coming home to something I had deeply missed.
When you live in or visit Korea, your relationships and the way you connect with others will inevitably be shaped by these cultural subtleties. Whether you’re interacting with a colleague, a shopkeeper, or a new friend, understanding how jeong and ma-eum work will help you better understand the emotional undertones of conversations. You'll not only speak the language more naturally, but you’ll also begin to feel and understand the emotional connections that lie at the heart of Korean society.
