TL;DR π¦
- μ€ν΄ = misunderstanding (noun) π
- μ°©κ°νλ€ = to mistake one thing for another / to be mistaken (regular νλ€ verb) π€
- νμΈ = checking, confirmation (noun + νλ€/λλ€) β
- μ λλ‘ = properly, correctly (adverb) π
- λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ = to correct, to set straight (verb) π§
π§ Iru Helper Note
Want to hear these words pronounced naturally? Check out the <mention-page url="https://www.notion.so/349be37590c08068a178f6d92b8a4a18"> for audio support.
μ€ν΄κ° μμλ κ² κ°μμ. μ λλ‘ νμΈνκ³ λ°λ‘μ‘μκ²μ.
(I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'll check properly and fix it.)
Β
π The Big Picture
Texting in Korean moves fast β and sometimes a quick reply gets misread, a tone gets misjudged, or someone jumps to the wrong conclusion. This lesson gives you the vocabulary to name the mix-up (μ€ν΄, μ°©κ°νλ€), double-check what was actually meant (νμΈ, μ λλ‘), and smooth things over (λ°λ‘μ‘λ€). With these five words, an awkward "wait, that's not what I meant" moment turns into a calm, clear conversation.
π¨ The Core Misunderstanding Family
1. μ€ν΄ β misunderstanding π
A noun for when someone gets the wrong idea about a situation, message, or person's intentions.
- μ€ν΄μμ. (It's a misunderstanding.)
- μ€ν΄λ₯Ό νλ€ (to resolve/clear up a misunderstanding)
- μ€ν΄κ° μκΈ°λ€ (a misunderstanding arises)
β Grammar note: add νλ€ to make it a verb β μ€ν΄νλ€ (to misunderstand). μ€ν΄ alone names the situation; μ€ν΄νλ€ is the action of misunderstanding something.
2. μ°©κ°νλ€ β to mistake one thing for another, to be mistaken π€
A regular νλ€ verb for when your own mind gets something wrong β mixing up a person, a fact, or an assumption.
- μ¬λμ μ°©κ°νμ΄μ. (I mistook you for someone else.)
- μ κ° μ°©κ°ν κ² κ°μμ. (I think I was mistaken.)
β Grammar note: often paired with -λ μ€ μμμ΄μ ("I thought... [but I was wrong]") to describe a false assumption you held.
3. νμΈ β checking, confirmation β
A noun that becomes νμΈνλ€ (to check/confirm β something you actively do) or νμΈλλ€ (to be confirmed/verified β something that happens to information).
- νμΈν΄ λ³Όκ²μ. (I'll check it.)
- νμΈλμ΄μ. (It's been confirmed.)
β Grammar note: νμΈνλ€ = active (you check something), νμΈλλ€ = passive (something gets confirmed).
4. μ λλ‘ β properly, correctly, as it should be π
An adverb describing whether something was done the right way β often used with a negative to point out something WASN'T done properly.
- μ λλ‘ μ½μ΄ 보μΈμ. (Please read it properly.)
- μ λλ‘ λͺ» λ΄€μ΄μ. (I didn't see/read it properly.)
β Grammar note: μ λλ‘ sits directly before the verb it describes, and before λͺ» if both appear.
5. λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ β to correct, to set straight π§
A compound verb: λ°λ‘ (straight, correctly) + μ‘λ€ (to grasp/catch) = to fix a mistake or misunderstanding so it's right again.
- μ€ν΄λ₯Ό λ°λ‘μ‘μμ΄μ. (I cleared up the misunderstanding.)
- μ€μλ₯Ό λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ (to correct a mistake)
β Grammar note: conjugates like a regular verb ending in λ€ β λ°λ‘μ‘μμ, λ°λ‘μ‘μμ΄μ, λ°λ‘μ‘μ κ±°μμ.
π οΈ How They Work in a Sentence
- λ©μμ§λ₯Ό λ무 빨리 μ½μ΄μ μ€ν΄νμ΄μ. (I read the message too fast and misunderstood it.) π
β μ€ν΄νμ΄μ is the past tense of μ€ν΄νλ€ β "I [did the action of] misunderstanding."
- μ κ° νλ¬λ€κ³ μ°©κ°νμ§ λ§μΈμ. κ·Έλ₯ μ’ νΌκ³€ν κ±°μμ. (Don't mistakenly think I'm angry β I'm just a little tired.) π
β μ°©κ°νμ§ λ§μΈμ attaches -μ§ λ§μΈμ (please don't...) to μ°©κ°νλ€, a polite way to correct someone's wrong assumption.
- μ€ν΄κ° μκΈ°κΈ° μ μ λ΄μ©μ μ λλ‘ νμΈν΄μ λ°λ‘μ‘λ κ² μ’μμ. (Before a misunderstanding happens, it's good to check the content properly and set it straight.) β
β μ λλ‘, νμΈνλ€, and λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ work together naturally here: check properly β confirm β correct.
π§© General Formation Rule
- μ€ν΄νλ€ (regular νλ€ verb): μ€ν΄ν΄μ / μ€ν΄νμ΄μ / μ€ν΄ν κ±°μμ
- μ°©κ°νλ€ (regular νλ€ verb): μ°©κ°ν΄μ / μ°©κ°νμ΄μ / μ°©κ°ν κ±°μμ
- νμΈνλ€ (active, regular νλ€ verb): νμΈν΄μ / νμΈνμ΄μ / νμΈν κ±°μμ
- νμΈλλ€ (passive, regular λλ€ verb): νμΈλΌμ / νμΈλμ΄μ / νμΈλ κ±°μμ
- μ λλ‘ (adverb, does not conjugate): placed directly before the verb β μ λλ‘ + νλ€/보λ€/λ£λ€/μ½λ€, etc.
- λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ (regular verb): λ°λ‘μ‘μμ / λ°λ‘μ‘μμ΄μ / λ°λ‘μ‘μ κ±°μμ
π Cross-check note
All vocabulary cross-checked against korean.go.kr β
πͺ Synonym Alert
- μ€ν΄ vs μ°©κ° β μ€ν΄ is a misunderstanding about another person's words or intentions (it involves two people); μ°©κ° is your own mind getting something wrong, which can happen even with no one else involved.
- μ°©κ°νλ€ vs ν·κ°λ¦¬λ€ β μ°©κ°νλ€ means you believed something false as if it were true; ν·κ°λ¦¬λ€ means two or more things got mixed up in your head and you're not sure which is which.
- νμΈ vs μ κ² β νμΈ is a quick check or confirmation of one fact; μ κ² is a more thorough, often formal inspection (like checking a whole system or device).
- μ λλ‘ vs μ β μ λλ‘ means "the correct/proper way, as intended"; μ means "well" in a more general sense of skill or quality.
- λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ vs κ³ μΉλ€ β λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ tends to describe correcting something abstract like a mistake, misunderstanding, or bad habit; κ³ μΉλ€ is more general and is often used for fixing physical objects too.
β οΈ Pitfalls to Dodge
β μ¬λμ μ€ν΄νμ΄μ (when you mean you mixed up a person's identity) β β
μ¬λμ μ°©κ°νμ΄μ β μ€ν΄ is for misunderstanding intentions or messages, not for mixing up who someone is.
β μ λ³΄κ° νμΈνμ΄μ (treating νμΈνλ€ as if μ 보 does the checking) β β
μ λ³΄κ° νμΈλμ΄μ β use the passive νμΈλλ€ when the thing itself "gets confirmed."
β μ λλ‘ νμ΄μ λͺ» β β
μ λλ‘ λͺ» νμ΄μ β λͺ» goes right before the verb, and μ λλ‘ goes before λͺ».
β λ°λ‘μ‘μ΄μ β β
λ°λ‘μ‘μμ β μ‘λ€ conjugates with γ
, not γ
, even though it doesn't look like a typical γ
-stem at first glance.
β μ€ν΄νλ€ μ¬μ΄μμ (using μ€ν΄νλ€ as if it were a noun) β β
μ°λ¦¬ μ¬μ΄μ μ€ν΄κ° μμ΄μ β μ€ν΄ is the noun; add νλ€ only when describing the act of misunderstanding.
Get these five sorted, and you'll never be the person stuck explaining "κ·Έκ² μλλΌ..." for ten minutes straight! π
Β
Try this exercise
Fill in each blank with the correct form of μ€ν΄, μ°©κ°νλ€, νμΈ, μ λλ‘, or λ°λ‘μ‘λ€. Each word is used twice.
- μ λ¬Έμλ₯Ό οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏνμ κ² κ°μμ. κ·Έλ° λ»μ΄ μλμμ΄μ. (I think you misunderstood my text. That's not what I meant.)
Answer
μ€ν΄ β μ€ν΄νμ κ² κ°μμ
- μ£μ‘ν΄μ, οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏνμ΄μ. λ€λ₯Έ λΆμΈ μ€ μμμ΄μ. (Sorry, I was mistaken β I thought you were someone else.)
Answer
μ°©κ° β μ°©κ°νμ΄μ
- νμ μκ°μ λ€μ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏν΄ μ£Όμκ² μ΄μ? (Could you confirm the meeting time again?)
Answer
νμΈ β νμΈν΄
- μλ΄λ¬Έμ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ μ½μ§ μμμ μ€μνμ΄μ. (I made a mistake because I didn't read the notice properly.)
Answer
μ λλ‘
- μλͺ» λ³΄λΈ λ©μμ§λ₯Ό οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏκ³ μΆμ΄μ. (I want to correct the message I sent by mistake.)
Answer
λ°λ‘μ‘ β λ°λ‘μ‘κ³
- κ·ΈλΆμ μ λ§μ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏν΄μ νκ° λ κ² κ°μμ. (That person seems upset because they misunderstood what I said.)
Answer
μ€ν΄ β μ€ν΄ν΄μ
- μ΄κ² μ¬μ€μΈμ§ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏλμ΄μ. (It's been confirmed whether this is true.)
Answer
νμΈ β νμΈλμ΄μ
- μ λ νμκ° μ·¨μλ μ€ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏνμ΄μ. (I mistakenly thought the meeting was canceled.)
Answer
μ°©κ° β μ°©κ°νμ΄μ
- λ°ν μλ£λ₯Ό οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ μ€λΉνμ§ λͺ»νμ΄μ. (I couldn't prepare the presentation materials properly.)
Answer
μ λλ‘
- μ€ν΄λ₯Ό οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏλ λ° μκ°μ΄ μ’ κ±Έλ Έμ΄μ. (It took some time to clear up the misunderstanding.)
Answer
λ°λ‘μ‘ β λ°λ‘μ‘λ
Vocabulary Box
- μ€ν΄ = misunderstanding
- μ°©κ°νλ€ = to be mistaken
- νμΈ = checking/confirmation
- μ λλ‘ = properly, correctly
- λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ = to correct, set straight
Pitfalls reminder
- μ€ν΄ β mixing up a person's identity β that's μ°©κ°
- νμΈλλ€ (passive) β νμΈνλ€ (active)
- μ λλ‘ goes BEFORE λͺ»
- λ°λ‘μ‘μμ, not λ°λ‘μ‘μ΄μ
Want more reps? Head down to the Practice Hub below for 50 more questions across 5 themed exercises! π
Β
Practice Hub: Misunderstanding a Message
Ready to really lock these in? Here are 50 questions across 5 exercises, building from word recall to full sentences. π§ Listen and repeat each sentence out loud as you go β hearing AND saying these patterns is what makes them stick!
Exercise 1 β Word Recall: μ€ν΄ & μ°©κ°νλ€ π
A. "It was a misunderstanding."
Answer
μ€ν΄μμ΄μ.
B. "I misunderstood."
Answer
μ€ν΄νμ΄μ.
C. "Let's clear up the misunderstanding."
Answer
μ€ν΄λ₯Ό νμ΄μ.
D. "A misunderstanding arose between us."
Answer
μ°λ¦¬ μ¬μ΄μ μ€ν΄κ° μκ²Όμ΄μ.
E. "I was mistaken."
Answer
μ°©κ°νμ΄μ.
F. "Don't be mistaken."
Answer
μ°©κ°νμ§ λ§μΈμ.
G. "I mistakenly thought it was Monday."
Answer
μμμΌμΈ μ€ μ°©κ°νμ΄μ.
H. "I think I'm mistaken."
Answer
μ κ° μ°©κ°ν κ² κ°μμ.
I. "There seems to be a misunderstanding."
Answer
μ€ν΄κ° μλ κ² κ°μμ.
J. "I mistook you for my friend."
Answer
μΉκ΅¬μΈ μ€ μ°©κ°νμ΄μ.
Quick Reference
- μ€ν΄ = misunderstanding (noun)
- μ€ν΄νλ€ = to misunderstand
- μ€ν΄λ₯Ό νλ€ = to clear up a misunderstanding
- μ°©κ°νλ€ = to be mistaken
- -λ μ€ μμλ€/μ°©κ°νλ€ = "I (mistakenly) thought..."
Β
Exercise 2 β Word Recall: νμΈ, μ λλ‘ & λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ β
A. "I'll check it."
Answer
νμΈν΄ λ³Όκ²μ.
B. "It's confirmed."
Answer
νμΈλμ΄μ.
C. "Please check once more."
Answer
νλ² λ νμΈν΄ μ£ΌμΈμ.
D. "Did you read it properly?"
Answer
μ λλ‘ μ½μμ΄μ?
E. "I didn't hear it properly."
Answer
μ λλ‘ λͺ» λ€μμ΄μ.
F. "Please do it properly."
Answer
μ λλ‘ ν΄ μ£ΌμΈμ.
G. "I corrected the mistake."
Answer
μ€μλ₯Ό λ°λ‘μ‘μμ΄μ.
H. "I want to set this straight."
Answer
μ΄κ±Έ λ°λ‘μ‘κ³ μΆμ΄μ.
I. "It will be corrected soon."
Answer
κ³§ λ°λ‘μ‘μ κ±°μμ.
J. "I checked the information properly."
Answer
μ 보λ₯Ό μ λλ‘ νμΈνμ΄μ.
Quick Reference
- νμΈνλ€ = to check (active)
- νμΈλλ€ = to be confirmed (passive)
- μ λλ‘ = properly, correctly
- μ λλ‘ + λͺ» = "not... properly"
- λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ = to correct, set straight
Β
Exercise 3 β Conjugation Practice: νμΈνλ€ vs νμΈλλ€ π
A. μμ½μ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ. (I confirm the reservation. β present, active)
Answer
νμΈν΄μ
B. μμ½μ΄ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ. (The reservation is confirmed. β present, passive)
Answer
νμΈλΌμ
C. μ΄μ μ 보λ₯Ό οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ. (I checked the information yesterday. β past, active)
Answer
νμΈνμ΄μ
D. μ΄μ μ λ³΄κ° οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ. (The information was confirmed yesterday. β past, passive)
Answer
νμΈλμ΄μ
E. λ΄μΌκΉμ§ μ κ° οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ. (I will check by tomorrow. β future, active)
Answer
νμΈν κ±°μμ
F. λ΄μΌκΉμ§ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ. (It will be confirmed by tomorrow. β future, passive)
Answer
νμΈλ κ±°μμ
G. μ§μ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ 보μΈμ. (Try checking it yourself.)
Answer
νμΈν΄
H. μμ§ οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ μμμ΄μ. (It hasn't been confirmed yet.)
Answer
νμΈλμ§
I. μ κ° οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ λ릴κ²μ. (I'll check it for you.)
Answer
νμΈν΄
J. οΌΏοΌΏοΌΏοΌΏ κ²°κ³Όκ° λμμ΄μ. (The confirmed result came out.)
Answer
νμΈλ
Quick Reference
- νμΈνλ€ = active "to check" β νμΈν΄μ/νμ΄μ/ν κ±°μμ
- νμΈλλ€ = passive "to be confirmed" β νμΈλΌμ/λμ΄μ/λ κ±°μμ
- νμΈλμ§ μλ€ = to not be confirmed (negative)
- νμΈλ + noun = "confirmed ___" (modifier form)
Β
Exercise 4 β Pattern Practice: μ°©κ°νλ€ & μ λλ‘ + Negation π§
A. "I mistakenly thought it was raining."
Answer
λΉκ° μ€λ μ€ μ°©κ°νμ΄μ.
B. "I mistakenly thought today was Friday."
Answer
μ€λμ΄ κΈμμΌμΈ μ€ μ°©κ°νμ΄μ.
C. "I mistakenly thought he had already left."
Answer
κ·Έκ° μ΄λ―Έ λ λ μ€ μ°©κ°νμ΄μ.
D. "Don't mistakenly think I forgot."
Answer
μ κ° μμ΄λ²λ¦° μ€ μ°©κ°νμ§ λ§μΈμ.
E. "I didn't sleep properly."
Answer
μ μ μ λλ‘ λͺ» μ€μ΄μ.
F. "I can't see it properly."
Answer
μ λλ‘ μ 보μ¬μ.
G. "I haven't eaten properly all day."
Answer
μ€λ ν루 μ’
μΌ μ λλ‘ λͺ» λ¨Ήμμ΄μ.
H. "Please explain it properly."
Answer
μ λλ‘ μ€λͺ
ν΄ μ£ΌμΈμ.
I. "I mistakenly thought you were angry, but you weren't."
Answer
νλ μ€ μ°©κ°νλλ°, μλμλ€μ.
J. "If you don't check properly, a misunderstanding can arise."
Answer
μ λλ‘ νμΈνμ§ μμΌλ©΄ μ€ν΄κ° μκΈΈ μ μμ΄μ.
Quick Reference
- -λ/-(μΌ)γ΄ μ€ μ°©κ°νλ€ = "I mistakenly thought (that)..."
- μ λλ‘ + μ/λͺ» + verb = "didn't ___ properly"
- μ λλ‘ νμΈνμ§ μμΌλ©΄ = "if you don't check properly"
Β
Exercise 5 β Mixed Mastery: Clearing Up a Mix-Up π§©π¬
A. "I think there's been a misunderstanding between us."
Answer
μ°λ¦¬ μ¬μ΄μ μ€ν΄κ° μλ κ² κ°μμ.
B. "I mistakenly thought you were ignoring me."
Answer
μ λ₯Ό 무μνλ€κ³ μ°©κ°νμ΄μ.
C. "Let me check the message again properly."
Answer
λ©μμ§λ₯Ό λ€μ μ λλ‘ νμΈν΄ λ³Όκ²μ.
D. "Oh, I see β I was wrong. Let me correct it."
Answer
μ, μ κ° μλͺ» μμλ€μ. λ°λ‘μ‘μκ²μ.
E. "Thanks for clearing up the misunderstanding."
Answer
μ€ν΄λ₯Ό νμ΄ μ€μ κ³ λ§μμ.
F. "Let's not mistake small things for big problems."
Answer
μμ μΌμ ν° λ¬Έμ λ‘ μ°©κ°νμ§ λ§μμ.
G. "Everything has been confirmed now."
Answer
μ΄μ λ€ νμΈλμ΄μ.
H. "I want to make sure I understand this properly this time."
Answer
μ΄λ²μλ μ λλ‘ μ΄ν΄νκ³ μΆμ΄μ.
I. "It's important to correct misunderstandings quickly."
Answer
μ€ν΄λ 빨리 λ°λ‘μ‘λ κ² μ€μν΄μ.
J. "Now that it's confirmed, there's no more misunderstanding."
Answer
νμΈλμΌλκΉ λ μ΄μ μ€ν΄λ μμ΄μ.
Quick Reference
- μ€ν΄κ° μλ κ² κ°μμ = "I think there's a misunderstanding"
- -λ€κ³ μ°©κ°νμ΄μ = "I mistakenly thought that..."
- μ€ν΄λ₯Ό νλ€/λ°λ‘μ‘λ€ = to resolve/correct a misunderstanding
- νμΈλμΌλκΉ = "since it's confirmed..."
μ€ν΄λ₯Ό νκ³ λλ©΄ λ§μμ΄ νκ²° κ°λ²Όμμ Έμ β νμ΄ν
! νμ΄ν
! ππ¬β¨