생각

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Neung'eomgyeong eonhae (楞嚴經諺解 / 능엄경언해), 1461, as Middle Korean ᄉᆡᇰ〮각〮 (Yale: sóyngkák). The term has the shape of a Sino-Korean word, but the etymological origin is ultimately unclear. The hanja spellings of 生覺 and 省覺 are unetymological.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [sʰɛŋɡa̠k̚] ~ [sʰe̞ŋɡa̠k̚]

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul: [생각/셍각]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	saenggak
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	saenggag
McCune–Reischauer?	saenggak
Yale Romanization?	sayngkak

South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 생각의 / 생각에 / 생각까지

Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch on both syllables, and lowers the pitch of subsequent suffixes.

Noun

생각 • (saenggak) (usually no hanja; sometimes 生覺/省覺)

1. thought

   딱히 생각을 안 해봤다.

   Ttakhi saenggag-eul an hae-bwatda.

   I haven't really thought about it.

   자꾸 무서운 생각이 든다.

   Jakku museoun saenggag-i deunda.

   I keep having scary thoughts.

2. idea

   Synonyms: 아이디어 (aidieo), 발상 (balsang)

   이상한 생각 ― isanghan saenggak ― weird idea

   안 좋은 생각 ― an jo'eun saenggak ― a bad idea

3. contemplative thought, contemplation

   생각이 많은 사람

   saenggag-i maneun saram

   contemplative person

   애가 생각이 없어.

   Ae-ga saenggag-i eopseo.

   The kid doesn't think before he acts.

4. (with 을) planning to, thinking about...

   지금 갈 생각이야.

   Jigeum gal saenggag-iya.

   I'm going to leave now.

Derived terms

• 생각나다 (saenggangnada)
• 생각되다 (saenggakdoeda)
• 생각하다 (saenggakhada)