Dictionary — Entry No. 0702
자꾸
jakku · adverb
자꾸
jakku
[JAK-koo]
adverbbeginner
Meaning
자꾸 means ‘repeatedly,’ ‘keep doing,’ or ‘again and again,’ describing an action that recurs persistently — often despite a wish or effort to stop. It carries a sense of compulsion or helplessness, making it perfect for expressing obsessive thoughts, involuntary habits, or feelings that refuse to leave you alone.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
2NE1’s iconic track ‘자꾸 왜’ (‘Why Do You Keep’) puts this word front and center, capturing the maddening loop of someone you cannot stop thinking about. In K-Dramas, 자꾸 생각나 (‘I keep thinking of you’) is one of the most recognizable lines in the romance genre, marking the moment a character admits they have lost the battle against their own feelings.
Example Sentences
자꾸 생각나.
Jakku saenggangna.
I keep thinking of you. (one of the most iconic K-Drama romance lines — pure, helpless longing)
왜 자꾸 그래?
Wae jakku geurae?
Why do you keep doing that? (mild frustration or playful teasing between close friends or a couple)
자꾸 웃게 돼.
Jakku utge dwae.
I keep smiling because of you. (used when someone makes you involuntarily happy — a classic sign of growing feelings)
⚠️ Don’t use jakku when…
자꾸 implies the repetition is unwanted, uncontrolled, or compulsive — not intentional. Don’t use it for deliberate routines. Also, 계속 (gyesok) is the neutral option for ‘continuous action’; 자꾸 adds an emotional undercurrent of helplessness or frustration that 계속 lacks.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Goblin (도깨비) — Kim Shin finds himself 자꾸 pulled back toward Eun-tak despite every reason to stay away, the word perfectly capturing his involuntary emotional surrender
- K-Pop: 2NE1 — ‘자꾸 왜’ uses this word as the song’s very title to express the obsessive, recurring thoughts that make heartbreak so relentless
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.