Dictionary — Entry No. 0701
솔직히
soljikhi · adverb
솔직히
soljikhi
[sol-JEE-kee]
adverbbeginner
Meaning
솔직히 means ‘honestly’ or ‘frankly,’ from 솔직 (soljik), meaning candid or straightforward. It signals that the speaker is about to say something unfiltered and real — often something they have been holding back. It can preface a confession, an uncomfortable truth, or a refreshingly blunt opinion.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
솔직히 is the word that precedes every dramatic K-Drama confession — the moment a character stops pretending and finally says what they truly feel. BLACKPINK members are frequently praised for being 솔직한 (honest) on variety shows, often prefacing candid admissions with 솔직히 말하면 (‘honestly speaking’), making the word synonymous with their unfiltered personalities.
Example Sentences
솔직히 말할게요.
Soljikhi malhalgeyo.
I’ll be honest with you. (formal setup for a confession or difficult truth — brace yourself)
솔직히 좋아해.
Soljikhi joahae.
Honestly, I like you. (a direct romantic confession with all defenses dropped)
솔직히 잘 모르겠어.
Soljikhi jal moreugesseo.
Honestly, I’m not sure. (a candid, humble admission — refreshing in a culture that prizes confidence)
⚠️ Don’t use soljikhi when…
솔직히 carries weight — it signals something real and possibly hard-to-hear is coming. Using it casually can feel out of place or unintentionally dramatic. Also, don’t confuse 솔직히 (adverb: honestly) with 솔직한 (adjective: an honest person or thing) — they are different grammatical forms.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: My Love from the Star (별에서 온 그대) — Do Min-joon’s rare moments of emotional honesty with Cheon Song-yi are often preceded by 솔직히, making each confession land with tremendous dramatic impact
- K-Pop: BLACKPINK — ‘Lovesick Girls’ delivers an emotionally raw, 솔직히-level candor about the pain of loving someone despite knowing it will hurt
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.