Dictionary — Entry No. 0626
처음
cheom · noun
처음
cheom
[CHUH-um]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Means ‘the first time’ or ‘the beginning’ — the very start of an experience, a relationship, or a feeling. It functions as a standalone noun (이게 처음이야, this is a first for me) and as an adverb (처음 봤을 때, the first time I saw you), making it one of Korean’s most emotionally versatile words.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
처음 is one of the most emotionally loaded words in Korean romantic culture. 첫사랑 (cheotsarang, first love) and 처음처럼 (cheomcheoreom, like the first time) appear endlessly in drama confessions and ballad lyrics. TWICE’s ‘What is Love?’ is essentially a meditation on 처음 — the breathless wonder of encountering romantic feelings for the very first time through songs, films, and imagination.
Example Sentences
처음 봤을 때부터 좋았어.
Cheom bwasseul ttaebuteo joasseo.
I liked you from the very first moment I saw you. — the classic K-Drama first-sight confession, often delivered quietly for maximum impact
이런 기분은 처음이야.
Ireon gibuneun cheomsiya.
This feeling is a first for me. — used to describe unprecedented emotions, romantic or otherwise; a confession of vulnerability
처음처럼 살자.
Cheomcheoreom salja.
Let’s live like it’s the first time. — an exhortation to approach life with fresh wonder; popular in motivational speeches and drama epilogues
⚠️ Don’t use cheom when…
Mistake 1: Using 처음 as the prefix for compound nouns like ‘first love’ — the correct combining form is 첫 (cheot), so it is 첫사랑 (first love), never 처음사랑. Mistake 2: Confusing 처음에 (at first, setting a time scene) with 처음으로 (for the first time, emphasizing novelty of action) — they look similar but serve different grammatical functions.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: My Love from the Star — Do Min-joon’s stunned realization that Cheon Song-yi is the first person in 400 years to move him makes 처음 the single word that unlocks his entire emotional arc.
- K-Pop: TWICE — What is Love? (What is Love?)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.