Dictionary — Entry No. 0699
열심히
yeolsimhi · adverb
열심히
yeolsimhi
[yul-SIM-hee]
adverbbeginner
Meaning
열심히 means ‘diligently’ or ‘with great effort,’ derived from 열심 (yeolsim), literally ‘burning heart.’ It conveys wholehearted dedication rather than mere repetition of action. Whether studying, practicing, or chasing a dream, 열심히 implies you are giving everything you have.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
BTS has built an entire ethos around 열심히, urging both themselves and ARMY to work hard toward their dreams — their 2013 track ‘N.O’ directly critiques the societal pressure on Korean youth to study 열심히 at the cost of genuine happiness. In K-Dramas like Sky Castle, parents relentlessly demand ‘열심히 해!’ from their children, making the word central to Korea’s achievement-driven culture.
Example Sentences
열심히 연습했어요.
Yeolsimhi yeonseuphaesseoyo.
I practiced diligently. (the go-to line from idols in post-performance interviews)
더 열심히 할게요!
Deo yeolsimhi halgeyo!
I’ll work even harder! (a stock response from idols after criticism or low competition rankings)
열심히 살아야 해.
Yeolsimhi saraya hae.
I need to live diligently. (a reflective, motivational statement common in drama monologues)
⚠️ Don’t use yeolsimhi when…
열심히 describes sustained, effortful dedication — not a single moment of trying. Don’t confuse it with 빨리 (quickly) or 잠깐 (briefly). Also, 열심히 does not imply success, only earnest effort — a character can work 열심히 and still fail, which is exactly why it carries such emotional weight.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Sky Castle (SKY 캐슬) — tiger parents relentlessly push their children with ‘열심히 해!’ as the central tension of the series, making the word feel both inspiring and suffocating
- K-Pop: BTS — ‘N.O’ critiques the relentless pressure on Korean youth to study 열심히, questioning whether exhausting effort truly leads to happiness
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.