근심

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Beonyeok Bak Tongsa (飜譯朴通事 / 번역박통사), before 1517, as Middle Korean 근심 (Yale: kunsim). Probably ultimately Sinitic, with the second syllable being 심(心) (sim, mind, heart).

Perhaps a

    Sino-Korean word from (to exert, to labor, miserable) + (mind, heart), although an initial long vowel should then be expected. However, the long vowel in the traditional Seoul pronunciation of the hanja (geun) is itself an irregular development, and the regular reflex from Middle Chinese should be a short vowel.

    Pronunciation

    Romanizations
    Revised Romanization?geunsim
    Revised Romanization (translit.)?geunsim
    McCune–Reischauer?kŭnsim
    Yale Romanization?kunsim

    Noun

    근심 • (geunsim) (usually no hanja; sometimes 勤心)

    1. worry; anxiety
      Synonyms: 걱정 (geokjeong), 불안(不安) (buran)
      걱정 근심 너무 많아. 자신감 가져.
      Neo-neun geokjeong geunsim-i neomu mana. Jasin'gam-eul gajeo.
      You have too much worries and anxieties. Be more confident.