Dictionary — Entry No. 0869
돌아
dolja · verb
돌아
dolja
[dol-AH]
verbbeginner
Meaning
Means ‘turn around’ or ‘come back.’ Can mean physical turning, returning to a location, or metaphorically reversing a situation. Informal present tense.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Appears in K-drama moments of reversal (returning to hometown, emotional pivot). EXO’s ‘돌아와’ (Come Back) iconic ballad uses this root repeatedly.
Example Sentences
다시 돌아왔어.
dashi dorawasseo.
I came back. (return journey emphasis)
뒤로 돌아!
dwiro dolla!
Turn around! (physical turning)
예전처럼 돌아가.
yejeon-cheoreom doragwasseo.
Go back like before. (nostalgia/return to past)
⚠️ Don’t use dolja when…
돌아 is informal; formal version is 돌아요; 돌아 can mean both ‘return’ AND ‘turn’ depending on context; past tense 돌아왔어 implies returning FROM somewhere
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Itaewon Class — protagonist’s recurring theme of returning for revenge
- K-Pop: EXO — ‘돌아와 (Come Back)’ emotional ballad about longing for return
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.